Camping Les Prairies de la Mer Eurocamp near St Tropez: review
Our original planned stay at Port Grimaud Camping Les Prairies de la Mer started with a bang – literally. We were initially supposed to stay at the campsite near St Tropez, back in 2022. The car was packed and we were all set for the ferry when Eurocamp called to say there had been an explosion/fire incident and the entire campsite had had to be shut down. Given the fact our ferry to France was leaving the next morning, we quickly scanned the Eurocamp website and chose Camping Le Brasilia in Canet-et-Roussillon in its place (which turned out to be one of our best-ever holidays, so no hard feelings).
So the following May, we finally made it – 960 miles and roughly 15 hours of driving from Somerset, with three children (then aged 9, 7 and 2) and a car full of camping kit. Below is my honest review of this beachside family campsite on the French Riviera, and everything you need to know before you book.
Les Prairies de la Mer sits between Port Grimaud and St Tropez on the Côte d’Azur – one of the largest and most-visited family campsites in the south of France, with a private beach, two heated pools, six restaurants and direct access to one of the prettiest canal towns on the coast.
I picked this parc after searching the Eurocamp website for somewhere in the south (a trusty location for sunshine and hot weather), and it looked stunning in the photos. I knew the area of Riviera coastline from Cannes to Monaco quite well after camping there for a month when I was at University, but had never ventured as far as St Tropez.
➤ Check availability at Les Prairies de la Mer via Eurocamp
Les Prairies de la Mer at a glance
| Les Prairies de la Mer: At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Route de Briande, 83310 Port Grimaud, South of France |
| Our rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) |
| Best for | Families with children of all ages, mixed-age groups who like to be able to walk out to dinner, explore the French Riviera, love a good dollop of culture with their beach holiday |
| Private beach | ✅ Yes – white sand, calm sheltered water |
| Heated pools | ✅ Yes – two outdoor pools (main + children’s) |
| Nearest town | Port Grimaud – walkable (5 min from the gate) |
| St Tropez | Short ferry from Port Grimaud harbour (~15 min) |
| Nearest airports | Toulon (45 min) · Nice (90 min) · Marseille (2 hrs) |
| Book via | Eurocamp |
In this review:
- Location & getting there from the UK
- The campsite: what to expect
- Accommodation options
- Swimming pool
- The beach
- Playgrounds & fairground
- Kids’ clubs
- Restaurants & bars
- Day trips: Port Grimaud, St Tropez, Fréjus & more
- Pros & cons
- Our verdict
- How to book
Where Is Les Prairies de la Mer Eurocamp? Location & Getting There
Studded by palm trees, surrounded by the azure blues of the French Riviera, the Massif des Maures mountain range and the pretty medieval lagoon of Port Grimaud (France’s little ‘Venice’, walkable from the parc), Les Prairies de la Mer is tucked into a gloriously scenic stretch of the Côte d’Azur.
It’s a beautiful, tropical-feeling parc, which makes a perfect base for exploring the seaside towns, stunning landscapes of the French Riviera and basking in some pretty reliable sunshine. St Tropez is a short boat ride away and ice creams in the area come topped with macarons!
Driving from the UK
In May half term 2023, we travelled from Somerset, all the way to the very bottom of France – some 960 miles and 15 or so hours each way with three kiddos – with a one-night stopover in Bourges to break the journey.
Making this trip is definitely up there in my top parenting achievements, and not nearly so ageing as I thought it might be.
We crossed to France via the Poole to Cherbourg overnight ferry with Brittany Ferries (book here – we’d highly recommend this route for families). Yes it’s a long way for a week, but it’s our preferred way to travel for Eurocamp holidays as we prefer the flexibility, it’s slightly cheaper and we like being able to take all our equipment with us.
We survived on allowing endless device time, snacks and giving in to sweets with an appalling amount of E numbers. The achievement actually felt all the sweeter, given that a couple of months ago I was in constant agony, sick as a dog and praying to the universe that the pesky hole in my spinal membrane would be fixable (it was!)
If you’re coming from the southeast of England, the Dover to Calais crossing with DFDS or P&O are the cheaper routes (book travel through Eurocamp for big savings!)
For tips on surviving the drive itself with young kids, I’ve written a full guide to road tripping with a toddler from the UK to France after years of roadtripping with littles!
Flying to Les Prairies de la Mer
If you’d rather not drive, the closest airports are Toulon-Hyères (around 45 minutes by road), Nice Côte d’Azur (approximately 90 minutes) and Marseille Provence (about two hours). Budget airlines including easyJet and Ryanair serve all three from various UK airports. You’ll need to hire a car to get to the site and to make the most of the surrounding region.
Les Prairies de la Mer Campsite: What to Expect
Les Prairies de la Mer Eurocamp is a gigantic five star campsite – far bigger than we had expected, it seems to sprawl for miles. With over 3,000 pitches, the parc is dotted with soaring palms, subtropical plants and winding paths that make it feel more like a tropical village than a campsite.
The campsite is operated by Riviera Villages and bookable through Eurocamp (which is how we went), or directly via the Riviera Villages website for a wider variety of accommodation options – including some rather spectacular beachfront lodges.
It’s also very popular, so to fit campers in, some of the Eurocamp accommodation is squeezed in fairly tightly together, which is not unusual, but our decking was directly overlooking another family’s. If you like spacious pitches around your mobile home, this campsite might not be for you. If you’re okay with being close to your neighbours – perhaps if you’re travelling in a group – you won’t find it a problem. Or, take a gander at the main Riviera Villages campsite website, to see the other lodges on offer (some of them are right on the beach!)
We were initially disappointed with our spot as the caravan looked straight onto another family’s, but our children ended up making friends and the dad, who was a farmer, provided us with some combine harvester magazines, to the delight of our vehicle-obsessed toddler. More accommodation was being built during our stay, so the site continues to grow.
On the other hand, if your ideal holiday is brilliant facilities, a private beach, reliable Riviera sunshine and enough onsite activities to fill a week without once getting in the car, you are in the right place!
There is a large outdoor fan-shaped pool, and a large outdoor children’s pool beside it, a spa with hammam, gym and jacuzzis, kids’ clubs, beachside cafe (six restaurants in total), mini supermarket, hairdresser (!) and gift shop, two bars, washing machines, two playgrounds, sporting activities like volley ball, bike hire, a miniature train, pedalos, fairground area and lots more! It’s the type of campsite you could happily stay for a week without leaving but still have lots of activities to do, if that’s you’re thing.
We had expected the place to be quiet, as Le Brasilia had been during May half term the previous year, but there were lots of groups of students, and families from all over Europe staying during this time, so it was busier than anticipated. I expect this is very much the vibe in peak season,
Campsite bracelets are issued on check-in and need to be worn to allow access to all the facilities (mine fell off one day and I wasn’t allowed into the swimming pool until I’d replaced it).
Accommodation Options: Eurocamp Mobile Homes & Riviera Lodges
We stayed in a three-bedroom Comfort XL mobile home via Eurocamp (browse Eurocamp accommodation options here), which was clean and spacious for five of us – a main double bedroom, a twin room, a single, and a decent living and kitchen area. There’s a wooden decking area with table, chairs, a toddler gate and you can pre-order a free high chair and baby bath in advance, which is a useful touch if you’re travelling with a toddler. We saved a bit of money by taking our own bedding for the kids (bonus of having the car).
Downsides: sadly no dishwasher and no ensuite for the main bedroom – this was due to the level of accommodation we booked though, which was at the cheaper end of the scale. There wasn’t as much privacy as we might have liked, but luckily we got on well with our neighbours.
The broader Riviera Villages portfolio goes considerably further, though. Browse their full range here – beachfront Roka Lodges sitting directly on the sand; garden villas with hot tubs; treehouse-style lodges that sleep larger groups. Some areas near the river had a whiff of drains, so I’d avoid that accommodation if you can.
➤ View Eurocamp accommodation at Les Prairies de la Mer
The Swimming Pool
There are two heated outdoor pools: a larger fan-shaped main pool and a shallower children’s pool beside it, the two overlapping to create a waterfall effect between them. The pools are surrounded by sandy areas, sun loungers and more palms, giving the whole area a properly tropical vibe. Opening hours run approximately 9am to 6pm, which means no sneaking out for a quiet early-morning swim before the kids wake up.
People get there early to snap up a lounger and we witnessed at least one full diplomatic incident over a sunbed situation, so I’d suggest arriving before 9am if you have strong feelings about your spot and don’t ‘bagsy’ them when you’re not there.
Our Eurocamp accommodation was a stone’s throw from the swimming pool, but if you get peckish, a snack bar (Le Bain) sits right beside the pool.
Camping Prairies de la Mer beach
The beach is, without question, the star of the show – and the main reason to choose this campsite over over alternatives.
Prairies de la Mer Grimaud has direct access to a beach – a sweep of pale sand, fringed with palms, and gleaming turquoise water. Its wonderfully calm and people float around on paddleboards, pedalos and inflatables. Across the bay, white sails and distant yachts cut through the blue.
Les Baigneuses beach bar sits right on the sand, with wooden decking, canvas shade and a menu running from ice cream through to pizza to full cocktails. I had a mojito on our first evening and while a tad pricey, it was excellent. Pull up a chair under the canopy or take your snack to the beach.
Playgrounds & Fairground Area
There are two playgrounds on site – a fenced-off wooden structure close to the bar area with a bouncy green floor (excellent for younger children), and a more natural play area set under trees near the swimming pool, with a sandy floor that was wonderfully quiet in the evenings. Both are well-maintained.
Near the shop and main bar, there’s a small fairground area that our children loved. You can buy a strip of tokens to cover the week – trampolines, a bouncy castle, a miniature train, various other machines – and it makes for a fun evening ritual: stroll out for an ice cream, let them loose on the fairground for twenty minutes.
Kids’ Clubs at Les Prairies de la Mer
The campsite (rather than Eurocamp) runs its own children’s clubs, included in your stay.
Babyland, for 0-5 year olds, is a supervised space near the central square where little ones can play with a parent or carer present.
Kids’ clubs for 5-11 year olds offer nature workshops, creative activities, sports, pony rides and treasure hunts – though these run primarily in July and August. We visited in May, when the club wasn’t yet open.
Teens aged 12-17 have their own programme: sports challenges, jet skiing, karting, paintball and a weekly Friday barbecue and bivouac with instructors from 9pm to 11pm. If you’re travelling with older children who want a bit of independence, this could be a holiday-maker.
Wifi
Paid WiFi is available onsite, though 4G signal is strong enough throughout that most UK mobile users will find a roaming data add-on a simpler and cheaper option.
Restaurants, Bars & Supermarket
Six restaurants onsite is impressive by any campsite standard. In practice, we mainly stuck to Les Baigneuses beach bar and Le Bain by the pool – both more relaxed, easier with small children and better suited to our budget. Eating out for five in this part of France adds up quickly!
Other options include Le Sun, set on a wooden terrace directly on the beach; and the Canopy sky bar, hidden in the treetops overlooking the sea with views over the Gulf of St Tropez (for ages 16 and above).
Two onsite supermarkets are well-stocked and open daily, with fresh bread and pastries each morning. For a larger shop, the Géant Casino in Gassin (120 Rdpt de la Foux, 83580 Gassin) is about an 11-minute drive.
What Is There to Do Near Port Grimaud? Day Trips & Excursions
We didn’t venture too far from the campsite during our trip as we’d already spent a long time in the car crossing France from the UK. But there was so much to do on our doorstep and the surrounding Provence region.
Port Grimaud: France’s “Little Venice”
The pedestrianised provençal town of Port Grimaud is walkable from the campsite and an absolute must-visit.
Known as France’s “little Venice”, the canal town is a hotchpotch of brightly-coloured houses, buzzing eateries, little shops, bobbing boats and beautiful buildings perched on the water’s edge. Built in the 1960s to look as though it’s always been there, it’s incredibly photogenic.
You can only get around on foot or by electric boat – hire one at the harbour and zip along the canals at your own pace. Time your visit for market day (Thursday mornings) if you can, or stroll over in the evening for macaron-topped ice cream and the sight of the pretty dwellings gelaming in the golden light.
Grimaud Village & the Petit Train
The medieval hilltop town of Grimaud sits above Port Grimaud, overlooking the gulf of St Tropez. Pretty houses cling to the hillside, which is topped with an 11th century castle. The easiest and most enjoyable way to get there with children is the Petit Train Touristique, which departs from the campsite. It takes you on a commentated tour of the area, all the way to Grimaud village, where you have the option to hop off and explore and back before catching a later train back.
St Tropez by Boat
Glamourous St Tropez – the so-called playground of the rich and famous- is a short boat ride across the bay from Port Grimaud. Arrive early in peak season to buy tickets at the harbour ticket booth in Port Grimaud – sailings fill up fast.
Gawping at the massive yachts in the harbour, exploring the pretty, narrow flag-bedecked, flower-filled streets and finding a spot for lunch is a lovely way to while away a few hours.
Fréjus: Roman History & Aqualand
Founded by Julius Caesar, the bustling port town of Fréjus is a 25-minute drive from the campsite and holds some remarkable Roman history. A 12,000-seat Roman amphitheatre and sections of an ancient aqueduct are free to visit and explore.
For families with older children, Aqualand Fréjus is a large and well-regarded water park that makes an excellent day out in the heat of June or July.
Pros & Cons of Les Prairies de la Mer
What we loved:
- Private beach with calm, warm, shallow water – brilliant for all ages
- Tropical setting: palms, exotic plants, gorgeous light and reliable warmth
- Port Grimaud is five minutes from the gate – a beautiful canal town with macaron-topped ice cream
- Enough onsite facilities and activities nearby to fill a week without getting in the car
- Six restaurants including a beach bar
- The Petit Train to Grimaud village is a low-effort, high-delight day out
- Beachfront lodge accommodation (via Riviera Villages) is spectacular
- Teen programme gives older children independence
- Playgrounds and fairground were a massive hit with the kids
- The onsite shops are really well-stocked and brimming with rose wine!
Worth knowing:
- Pitches are close together – limited privacy
- Very busy, even in May – I imagine peak season will be hectic
- Some spots near the river can smell of drains – specify when booking
- Sunbed competition around the pool gets lively early in the day
Is Les Prairies de la Mer Worth It? Our Honest Verdict
Yes – Camping Les Prairies de la Mer is a parc for families with kids of all ages who want everything on their doorstep rather than those who prefer something quieter and more intimate.
The location is exceptional. makes a great base for exploring the many beautiful towns and landmarks of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region. And being so far south, you are likely to have reliable warm weather.
The beach is a huge attraction and Port Grimaud being walkable from the gate is a real bonus. The surrounding region gives you as much or as little to explore as you want: St Tropez for glamour, Grimaud for history, Fréjus for Roman ruins and water parks.
For us, the campsite felt a bit too big, but that’s just personal preference – we prefer a slightly smaller, more intimate site like Le Brasilia or Camping le Capeyrou, Beynac France or Le Castellas Eurocamp for the age of our kids. We also relish a bit more privacy and space to camp in.
All in all though, we had a brilliant holiday – it was a beautiful spot and there was no shortage of things to do.
If you’re travelling with older children who want independence, a group who’ll make the most of the range of facilities, or you simply want a reliable, high-quality beach holiday in the south of France with everything taken care of, this is an excellent choice.
How to Book Les Prairies de la Mer
There are two main ways to book, depending on what you’re looking for:
Via Eurocamp – the simplest option for UK families, with mobile home accommodation, UK customer support, flexible cancellation policies, huge discounts on ferries and the reassurance of booking with a familiar British tour operator. If you’ve not stayed at a Eurocamp site before, this is the easiest way in. Browse and book Eurocamp Les Prairies de la Mer here →
Getting there: We’d recommend the Poole to Cherbourg overnight ferry with Brittany Ferries (book here) for families driving from the west of England or Wales, or the Dover to Calais crossing with DFDS if you’re coming from the east or southeast. Both routes are straightforward, and driving gives you the flexibility to stop where you want and take all your kit.
Ready to book?
Check dates, availability and prices via Eurocamp – the easiest way to book for UK families. ➤ Check prices at Eurocamp Les Prairies de la Mer
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book via one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend places and products I genuinely rate.
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