Camping OSTREA ****

With our children aged 8 and 13

Camping Ostrea: ideal for family holidays in the heart of Île d’Oléron

• A 4-star campsite on Île d’Oléron, set in unspoilt natural surroundings with direct access to the sea and views of the Marennes-Oléron lagoon as the tides ebb and flow.
• A quiet and secure family campsite, ideal for families with children and teenagers looking for relaxation, freedom and nature.
• A comprehensive wellness area with a spa, hydrotherapy, sauna, steam room, treatments, massages and a gym, all accessible directly on site.
• Heated indoor swimming pool with a paddling pool, massage jets and a relaxation area reserved for campers.
• Bike hire available directly at the campsite, making it easy to explore the cycle paths and the island’s iconic sites.
• Ideal location near the Cabanes de Baudissières, Château-d’Oléron, Vert Bois beach and excursions to Fort Boyard.
• A friendly atmosphere around the Cabane Ostrea, with concerts, musical entertainment, a snack bar and meeting areas for holidaymakers

A campsite designed for the whole family

We went on a family holiday with our two children, aged 8 and 13, for a week on Île d’Oléron in the middle of July. We were mostly looking for a quiet campsite, close to nature, that would appeal to both our daughter and our teenage son.

We quickly chose Camping Ostrea. Unlike some sites that focus on large water parks, this one prioritises a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere – exactly what we were looking for.

We were won over by its wellness area with a spa, hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, as well as the gym, which allowed my husband to keep up with his training during the holidays.

We’d booked a Comfort-range mobile home with two bedrooms, air conditioning and a dishwasher. The shaded terrace meant we could eat all our meals outside, with a superb view of the unspoilt natural landscape surrounding this part of the island.

Very quickly, everyone settled into their own rhythm.

Our daughter joined the kids’ club for several days. Between arts and crafts, games and sports activities, she quickly made new friends.

Our 13-year-old son enjoyed the independence the campsite offered him. He would meet up with his friends in the teens’ area, which had table football and board games available for everyone to use, or at the multi-sports pitch and the volleyball court.

This freedom within a safe environment meant we could let him get on with things on his own with complete confidence, which was exactly what he wanted from his holiday.

Whilst the children were enjoying their days, we enjoyed truly relaxing moments. A few sessions at the gym, some time in the pool’s massage jets or at the wellness area: everyone could finally take some time for themselves.

The aquatic area is particularly pleasant, with its heated indoor pool, paddling pool for the little ones and sun loungers reserved for campers. The atmosphere remains calm even in peak high season.

One of the campsite’s great assets is its direct access to the sea. La Brande beach is right at the edge of the campsite, and every day we could admire how the landscape changed with the tides.

We hadn’t brought our bikes so we made use of the bike hire service available on site. This allowed us to explore the island without using our car.

Thanks to the many cycle paths, we easily reached the Cabanes de Baudissières and the Château-d’Oléron, two iconic sites nearby.

One of our fondest memories is a late afternoon spent in the oyster-farming area. We took part in an oyster tasting session in front of the producers’ colourful huts. The children tasted their first oysters and loved this quintessentially Oléron experience.

The campsite had also pointed out a magnificent viewpoint from which we could see the Île d’Aix, Fort Boyard and the Moëze-Oléron nature reserve. A superb panorama that we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own.

In the evening, life at the campsite naturally centred around the Cabane Ostrea, the open-air snack bar located at the heart of the site.

Concerts and musical entertainment were regularly held there in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The venue is situated right next to the playground, allowing parents to enjoy a quiet evening whilst the children have fun.

When we didn’t feel like cooking, we could also enjoy the dishes available to eat in or take away.

We also really enjoyed the large communal barbecue. Several families would gather there at the end of the day to prepare their meals. It was there that we got to know another family, with whom we later played a game of pétanque overlooking the sea.

The reception staff suggested we booked a boat trip around Fort Boyard.

Seeing this legendary fort in the middle of the ocean was a magical moment for the whole family, and especially for our son, who has been watching the TV show for years.

This outing will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable moments of our holiday.

The unique atmosphere of July 14th on the island

We were also lucky enough to be staying on the island during the July 14th celebrations, France's Independence Day.

The magnificent fireworks display and the dance session organised that evening provided the perfect end to our stay, in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.

Our stay at Camping Ostrea gave us exactly what we were looking for: peace and quiet, nature, space for the children and some proper downtime for the parents.

Between bike rides, learning about oyster farming, trips to Fort Boyard, evenings at the Cabane Ostrea and moments of relaxation, everyone found their own space and pace.

A human scaled campsite, perfectly integrated into its surroundings, where you can fully enjoy the ocean, the Île d’Oléron and the simple pleasures of a family holiday.

Anonymised interview, conducted by the editorial team at Camping Direct following a stay in a Comfort mobile home at Camping Ostrea, in Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron.