FAQs

Booking

Arrival - which day can we start our holiday and when should we arrive?

All our holidays run Monday to Monday, except half term. You can add up to three extra nights to your holiday during certain periods. Please arrive between 5pm and 10pm to give us time to get your accommodation ready. If you are bringing a tent, caravan or tourer, please have your home erected by 11pm so as not to disturb other guests. The park gates are locked between 11pm and 7.30am so if you arrive late your vehicle will need to be left in our car park overnight.

Adding to a group – can we add to the number of people joining our holiday party?

Yes, but your party must not exceed the maximum party number. The maximum number for each BYO camping/caravan emplacement is 8. Changes made after the confirmation of your booking will incur an amendment charge of £25 and any changes made after the full payment of your balance incur a charge of £40.

Damage Waiver - why do you charge a damage waiver?

In common with many other holiday parks, we add a small amount to your holiday price to cover for accidental damage to inventory or park equipment including glasses, crockery, tents and mobile homes.

Departure – which day do we depart?

You must leave your holiday home by 10am on your day of departure. All rubbish must be removed, all crockery and cooking equipment left clean - and your accommodation left as you would wish to find it.

Group bookings – are they allowed?

Yes, and a discount is available for anyone organising a group of three units or more other than July and August.

Pets - can we bring them?

Only guide dogs and hearing dogs are allowed at Le Pas Opton.

Travel Logistics

Medical cover - do we have to make any arrangements for medical cover?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended and we will need proof of your holiday insurance arrangements at the time of booking. You will also be required to hold an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), available from the Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk.

Passports – do we need them?

Travellers to France will need a full UK passport. Children and babies who are not already included on a valid ten year passport will need their own passport, although children already included can continue to travel with that passport holder until they reach the age of 16, the passport expires or is submitted for amendment. Holders of non-UK passports may require a visa for entry to France.

Directions - how do we get to Le Pas Opton?

You can choose: your holiday includes a basic return ferry crossing for a ‘standard’ car and up to 5 passengers. Alternative channel crossing and fly/drive suggestions are detailed on our travel pages. We will also send you a travel pack containing directions.
» Maps and Directions

Driving - help! It’s my first time driving in France

Don’t worry! We’ll send you a Travel Pack to help you plan your journey. Remember to carry your driving licence: although all UK licences should be accepted, older green/ non-photo licences do not conform to the European model so it might be wise to update your licence with the DVLA before your holiday.
» Driving tips

The local area

Language - will we have to speak French?

We employ both French and English staff at Le Pas Opton and all French staff also speak English. Our programme and activities take place in English and a few are interpreted from French into English. English is usually the first language of our youth and children’s couriers.

Local taxes – do we need to pay them?

The ‘taxe de sejour’, levied by French authorities raises funds for the maintenance of the area and is already included in your holiday price.

Public Holidays - should we be aware?

Certain local businesses, including petrol stations, may be closed on public holidays. In 2012 the French public holidays are:

• Tuesday 1 May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail).
• Tuesday 8 May - VE Day - WWII Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Thursday 17 May - Ascension Day (Ascension catholique)
• Monday 28 May - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Saturday 14 July - Bastille Day (Fête nationale)
• Wednesday 15 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
• Sunday 11 November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Tuesday 25 December - Christmas Day (Noël).

Time - what about French time?

France is one hour ahead of English time - ferry timetables follow local time.

Weather - what’s it like in the Vendée?

The Vendée enjoys an excellent micro climate with 2500 hours of sunshine each year - but it does rain sometimes so we can’t always guarantee brochure weather!

Accommodation

Bed linen - do we need to bring bed linen and towels?

Fixed tents come with one pillow per bed and mobile homes come with one pillow and two blankets per bed. All Villa bookings include pillows, duvets, linen and towels. If you’d like to save space, you can hire linen and towels from us.
» Hire items

Emplacement space - how much camping space will we be allocated?

Touring emplacements vary in size starting from 82 square metres. A limited number of Premium emplacements are available. A 6amp electricity supply is available to most emplacements via a euro connector and water is available nearby.

Housekeeping - when will our accommodation be cleaned?

Housekeeping will clean and prepare your accommodation before you arrive, so please leave it as you would wish to find it to help us prepare for the next guests. If you discover any problems with cleanliness or have any accidents or spills which require major cleaning tell our reception team as soon as possible - and certainly before you leave the site. If excessive cleaning is found to be needed after your departure we will ask you to pay a cleaning fee of £25. Guests staying in one of the villas will be asked for a €100 cleaning deposit on arrival. This will be refunded on departure providing your accommodation is left clean and tidy.

Inventory - how will our holiday home be equipped?

Your home will be fully equipped as described in this brochure and in the travel pack we will send you before you leave home. If anything is missing when you arrive or you should lose or break anything during your stay, let our reception team know as soon as possible so that we can put things right.

Parking - where can we park our car?

Each emplacement has space for one car - additional cars need to be left in the car park at the front of the park. We encourage you to leave all cars in the car park after unloading - it’s safer for all park users and gives you more space.

TV - will we have a TV?

TV is provided in the villas but not in the mobile homes or tents. However, our bar has satellite TV, which we can use to show major sporting events at the park manager’s discretion. Evergreen deluxe mobile homes also have a CD player and radio.

On-site facilities

Internet - do you have Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is available in the bar. Vouchers for use are available at Reception.

» Wi-fi in the bar

Money - where can we change our currency?

You can change money at the Post Office in nearby St Gilles Croix de Vie, although you may need some Euros en route for road tolls (you can also pay by card) and for refreshments. There are plenty of cash machines in nearby towns; the nearest one is just five minutes drive away in Le Fenouiller village.

Rating - does Le Pas Opton have a star rating?

Yes, it has a top 4 Star French government rating (on a scale of 1-4).

Smoking - is smoking allowed in the park?

The swimming pool area, all buildings and accommodation at Le Pas Opton are strictly no smoking areas.

Swimming pool – when is it open?

The pool is open from mid morning to around 7pm daily. Adults must supervise children at all times - the safety of all parties is the responsibility of the lead name on your booking form. For health and safety reasons appropriate swimwear (trunks, suits, bikinis, lined shorts) must be worn at all times. No nude or topless sunbathing is permitted.
» Swimming pool

Telephone - is there a public telephone?

There is a French public telephone, for which you need a phone card, purchased from Reception. There’s also a UK payphone (no need to dial international codes), that accepts euro coins.
» Telephone box

Wheelchair access - how accessible is the park?

Our bungalow, Le Printemps is ideal for wheelchair users, with a specially adapted bathroom. We now have a fully adapted mobile home, the Beechwood, which includes a ramp to the balcony and a layout that is suited to wheelchair users. Ask our Customer Services team for more info. We also have accessible toilets and showers in our main building, swimming pool complex and one amenity block.

General

Can friends visit us at Le Pas Opton?

Certainly! Just ask them to park in the main car park and sign in and out at reception. Local regulations do not permit visitors to use the swimming pool.

What can we do on a rainy day?

Hopefully there won’t be any! However, our reception team have written a handy leaflet on things to do in the area on rainy days and a great selection of board games is available in the bar.
» Activities

Are there shops on site?

We operate an on-site bakery, take-away and small shop. You can buy baguettes, croissants and pastries, food and drink basics, toiletries, Christian books, souvenirs, postcards, stamps and much more. There is also a laundrette on site – tokens can be purchased from Reception or the bar.
» Shop & Bakery

Are their special guidelines for parents and carers with regard to the children’s clubs?

Yes. Please read this information carefully. Parents are responsible for their children at all times. We share that responsibility with you during supervised activities as detailed in the guidelines. Please remember that for safety reasons numbers may be limited for children’s activities.

• Under fives activities are designed for your child and you - except for special sessions in the Toddler Week
• Children are invited to join sessions for their own age group only
• Off site activities for older teenagers- e.g. paintballing may incur a cost and require an accompanying adult
• Open air activities are always subject to change
• No alcohol is permitted for under 18s - except at your own accommodation with parental permission and supervision
• Parents are responsible for their children at all times: please stay in the park during children’s sessions.

What do we need to be aware of to ensure a safe and happy holiday?

As a team we make every effort to enable you to have a safe and trouble-free holiday. For your part, please take reasonable steps to ensure that the members of your party act in a safe and responsible way. We want all our guests to enjoy their holiday, so would ask that you do not behave in ways that might be considered noisy or unsociable by others. We have an 11pm-7am quiet rule for all accommodation areas, which we ask all guests to respect.

Driving is not permitted in the park during these hours and the park gates will be locked - although pedestrian access is allowed at all times and there is an external car park.