Bontempo Village La Yole Review: Why We Keep Returning to This Family Campsite in France

Why We Keep Returning to Bontempo Village La Yole

Comfort in the familiar: The joy in going back to the same place again, and again… 

Most of us fall into one of two camps. We’re either bagging countries like peaks, never returning to the same place twice, our holidays made all the more thrilling by a further notch on your travel tally. Or, we find a place we like that suits us in climate, cuisine and convenience, somewhere we make friends, know the ropes, get a discount – and return year after year.

I was firmly sat in the first camp for my 20s and most of my 30s. Several holidays a year, ticking off European cities with gusto and not wanting to waste a minute of my precious time on earth visiting the same place twice. But at some point, the overwhelming choice involved in booking a trip, the arrival of a young child, and finding somewhere that ticked most of our boxes, and we’ve just found ourselves booking a return trip to the same site in Vendée, France, for the third year on the bounce.

It’s taken somewhere special to get me off the research bus and onto a repeat ferry route, but I think we’ve found somewhere worth it. So, if you are looking for a French campsite that makes it ever so easy to press the ‘book now’ button, here’s the low down on what makes Bontempo Village La Yole your next top choice.

Caravan Pitches, Mobile Homes and Glamping at La Yole

A range of accommodation…

We lug our 7.25m long caravan, Dave, all the way down from Northern England, so it’s pleasing to get a huge pitch to set up on. When you’re staying for two weeks, you want to get your set up right. This year was our first with our giant new awning (also called a divorce in a bag, and I understand why!). The pitches have plenty of space for your van, awning, car, spots to pop your camping chairs and table and even our clothes maiden. It doubled up as a bike park and a miniature football pitch at times too.

Large pitches are not the norm on the continent, they’re often quite tight and don’t leave you much room. If there’s the option on this or any other site, always go for the comfort pitch. Large family groups of all ages are quite common, so you’ll often see large dining set ups and people gathering at someone’s pitch for the evening whilst the kids whizz around on their bikes. If there’s the option, always go for the comfort pitch, as there are a couple on the smaller side.

There are also static caravans, or ‘mobile homes’ as they are called in France, as well as a gorgeous glamping set up in ‘the Hamlet of La Yole’.

Toilets, Showers and Family Facilities

Stop, shower time…

There are a couple of big toilet and shower blocks which are clean and spacious, and a couple of family rooms – but these were never free when we went up. One thing I will say though is get used to unisex if you’re not a frequent traveller in this way, and don’t forget your flip flops!

Fellow Girl About Hannah, aka The Tiny Caravanner, has some amazing tips for campsite showers – one of which is to buy some cheap suction hooks to take with you so you’ve always somewhere to hang your clothes and washbag etc. Absolutely genius!

Swimming Pools and Water Fun for Kids

Just keep swimming…   

There are four swimming pools to cater for whatever your child’s ability is. We were repeat visitors to the heated middle pool. Our little boy loved being able to walk into the pool without having to navigate steps or an icy jump, and as a timid non-swimmer, it meant we could let him build up his water confidence without having to be alongside at all times. It even had a lazy river, jets and some chilled wave action. Then there’s a baby pool with a slide, an indoor pool, a water slide, and the main pool which even offers Aqua aerobics a few mornings a week.

This area is home to many busy resorts of varying sizes, many of which have their own small scale water park equivalents on site. That’s too hectic for us, so La Yole offers the right blend of variety and fun.

Kids’ Clubs and Family Fun

That’s entertainment…

Speaking of fun, we noticed that since our trip in 2025, their entertainment programme had been extended and there was much more going on. I know for a lot of people that is their idea of hell, but it’s set at the top of the park quite separate to the majority of the accommodation – and it’s very family orientated.

If you love bingo (and who doesn’t?) then come on over, it’s on the menu! There are also live performances, special cuisine evenings and of course, a weekly kids disco. I thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into some English kids disco classics, sung in French but with the same routine. A highlight for this 43 year-old…

There is also a small games room with air hockey, pool and a couple of other bits, and once of the loveliest additions is that every child gets a token for one of the games if they buy a kids meal. We played many, many games of air hockey!

If you want to get into the full French spirit, there is a pétanque pitch which was always busy – there was even a tournament whilst we were there which was fun to watch.

Restaurants, Food and Drink at La Yole

Food, glorious food…

The on-site bar and restaurant are the perfect size – busy without being manic, and feel personable. You can get pizzas, moule frites, steak and a range of appetisers. They also do their own lager, La Yole beer, that we partook in many times!

Bookings aren’t necessary, though advised for special evenings. It is the perfect place to unwind with a drink and sometimes a meal after a busy day in the sun, catching the last of the rays before pottering back to camp.

Cycling and Activities Around the Campsite

An active holiday…

A few years ago, as well as refusing to visit a country twice, I would have also scoffed at the idea of exercising on holiday. That is not what breaks are for, right? Well, I’m a grown up now, and I actually enjoy exercising (in moderation!) so this being an incredibly popular place for cyclists added a new dimension to our trip.

We liked what we saw last year, and with a bit of trepidation on my part, we got stuck in and hired two adult bikes direct from the site (we brought Tom’s with us). This cost us less than 15€ a day, and was a real game changer for us. It’s the best way to explore the local area, as France really is made for cyclists. With spacious cycle lanes, cycle stores at every shop, park, beach and bar, it’s just a different attitude to how it feels in the UK.

If cycling isn’t your thing, we also saw many shirt less men jogging through the 30C+ heat, and there’s on site gym and tennis court. No excuse not to get your steps in if you want to…

Beaches Near Bontempo Village La Yole

Where to go and what to see…

La Yole is located seemingly on the edge of everything that is beautiful in this area. There are a number of nearby beaches, the nearest is just under 1.5 miles away – a short cycle and under a 30-minute walk. Depending on what you like, you can find a huge expanse of golden sands up in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, stunning – but busy. A short cycle in either direction from the campsite will give you access to some smaller, but no less lovely beaches with a touch more tranquillity. Most of them have refreshments of some type, facilities such as toilets and bike parking, all of them are beautiful.

As well as the coastline, you’re on the edge of the pine forests that this region is famous for. There are many routes through or alongside the forests, many of which take you into neighbouring resorts and towns.

Things to Do Near La Yole in the Vendée

Out & About…

It’s the type of area you don’t have to go far to see great things, but equally, going a little further out opens up your options. We visited the nearby harbour town of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, with its quaint streets, market, and beautiful old buildings heading out towards the seafront, it’s well worth a day out. It’s also got a long accessible beach lined with cafes and restaurants.

At Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, an island about 45 minutes drive north of the campsite, you can visit salt marshes, centuries old churches and chapels, alongside fantastic seafood and of course, more coastal views. We visited on our first trip before the bikes – but this would have been an ideal place to cycle round and take it all in.

Even further afield, but well within scope for a day trip, is the phenomenal Puy du Fou. Described as a historic theme park – it’s an out of this world experience set in hundreds of acres of parkland. We visited last year, and to say we were blown away is an understatement. You are transported through the centuries in live shows, reconstructed places and themed hotels; from the Vikings, the Legend of King Arthur to the Romans and so much more. If you do one thing in the Vendée, let it be this one. Read my full review here.

Everything you need

Back at camp, there’s everything you need to have a comfortable and relaxed stay. A children’s playground with huge ball court, climb on equipment, ping pong table and seating areas (some in the shade – result!).

There’s a morning kids club – we didn’t use it but were told they speak French and English if you were fancying a couple of hours chilling, or maybe even doing Aquafun?

The shop on site sells everything you could need until you can get to the supermarket – and then top up with morning bread and pastry orders, cold beers, and of course, fridge magnets for your friends back home.

It’s worth mentioning too that it feels like a very safe site. I’m a notoriously anxious parent, and we’ve felt comfortable letting Tom bike around on his own round the site – with parameters of course – but it feels calm, which is important to us. No worries about cars coming flying round the corner, you’re more likely to get knocked off your bike by someone cycling with a baguette in their arms.

Our Verdict: Why We’ll Be Back Again

A thank you to Thierry and team

So, what is it that really has made us book for the third year running? Yes, it’s got everything we need. It’s located on the edge of some stunning scenery and is a perfect base for exploring this region of France. It’s not too busy, not too quiet. Not too expensive. Not too near, not too far. It’s unlike Brittany where it’s possibly going to rain for a fortnight, and unlike the South where we might struggle with the heat.

Where once upon a time I would have got the horrors going to a place where ‘everyone knew my name’, as a chaotic, busy full-time working mum, not spending every evening for weeks trying to find the ‘perfect’ holiday is not the one for me anymore. There is no such thing as the perfect holiday – particularly when you’ve got kids. Anything can happen, and often does, and when it does, I’d rather it does in place where I know my way around.

Call me boring, call me unadventurous – but there’s comfort in the familiar, and if you want to squeeze the most out of your time with your family, why waste it trying to work out where the shop is? This isn’t us forever, I’m not sure I could cope with being on the same pitch for 20 years. There are many people there that have been, and it’s no slight – I get it. There’s still a big world out there, but for now, we’ve found the bit of it that works for us.

A big thank you to Thierry and the whole team at La Yole, for everything they do to make your holiday the best it can be. We’ll see you all next year!

By Amy Blackburn

Images credits Amy Blackburn & Dreamstime