Les Prairies de la Mer: Port Grimaud camping 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 us 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 its place (which ended up becoming one of our favourite French campsites of all time, so no hard feelings).
We decided to continue with our plans the following year and finally made it to Les Prairies de la Mer in May 2023. Below is our review of this beachside family campsite in the south of France.
Campsite Port Grimaud: Les Prairies de la Mer
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 in a car with three kiddos. Yes it’s a long way for a week, but it’s our preferred way to travel (see this post on Tips for surviving a road trip with a toddler: UK to France) and we survived on endless device time, snacks (French service stations are so great for this) and giving in to sweets with an appalling amount of E numbers. Making this trip is definitely up there in my top parenting achievements, and not nearly so ageing as I thought it might be.
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!). We chose to drive, with a stopover in Bourges, as we prefer the flexibility, it’s slightly cheaper and we like being able to take all our equipment with us. If you’d prefer to fly, the nearest airports to Les Prairies de la Mer campsite are Toulon, Nice and Marseille.
I’d picked it 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.
The location: Les Prairies de la Mer, Port Grimaud Eurocamp
Surrounded by palm trees, the Massif des Maures mountain range and the azure blues of the French Riviera, Les Prairies de la Mer camping is a beautiful, tropical-feeling spot, perfect for exploring the seaside towns, stunning landscapes of the French Riviera and basking in some pretty reliable sunshine.
The beautiful medieval lagoon town of Port Grimaud (France’s little ‘Venice’) is walkable from the campsite, St Tropez is a short boat ride away and ice creams in the area come topped with macarons!
The campsite
Les Prairies de la Mer is a gigantic five star campsite – far bigger than we had expected (3000 pitches and counting), it seems to sprawl for miles. The place is dotted with palm trees and exotic plants, giving it tropical vibes.
It’s also very popular, so to fit visitors in, some of the Eurocamp accommodation is squeezed in quite tightly together. If you like big 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 becoming 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.
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
We were staying in Eurocamp accommodation on the campsite, although there is a huge variety of lodges and holiday companies to choose from. From beachside Roka Lodges, to garden-dwelling villas with hot tubs, to standard mobile homes (the cheapest option). Some areas near the river had a whiff of drains, so I’d avoid that accommodation if you can.
We had a three-bedroom Comfort XL mobile home, which as mentioned, was placed quite close to our fellow Eurocampers. It had a wooden decking area with table and chairs and shade, a toddler gate, but sadly no dishwasher or ensuite for the main bedroom. It was clean and spacious for the five of us, although those extra last bits would have been the icing on the cake.
We pre-ordered our free high chair and baby bath and saved a bit of money by taking our own bedding for the kids (bonus of having the car).
There wasn’t much privacy, but luckily we got on well with our neighbours.
The playgrounds
The playgrounds here are really nice. You’ll find a fenced-off wooden playground close to the bar area, which has a bouncy green floor. There’s also another natural wood play area located closer to the swimming pool, under the trees, with a sandy floor. In the evening this one was really quiet.
Fairground area
There is a mini fun fair on the park near the shop and bar, which our kids loved. You can buy tokens to last you the week, and it was a fun thing to do after strolling out for an ice cream in the evenings. As well as a mini train, there are trampolines, a bouncy castle and various other machines they can have a go on.
The swimming pool
There are two heated outdoor pools, one of them shallower for young children, which overlap, creating a waterfall between the two. The pools are surrounded by sandy areas, deckchairs, sun loungers and palm trees, giving it a tropical vibe. There are specific opening times (9am-5/6pm if I remember rightly), so it’s not somewhere you can sneak out early for a morning dip before the kids wake up.
People get there early to snap up a lounger and we witnessed at least one ‘sunbed stealing’ incident kicking off between two families. So beware of trying to ‘bagsy’ them when you’re not there.
Our Eurocamp accommodation was a stone’s throw from the swimming pool, but if you get peckish, there is a snack bar beside the pool.
Camping Prairies de la Mer beach
Prairies de la Mer Grimaud has direct access to the sea and a gorgeous private beach with white sand, which coupled with the palm trees, feels wonderfully tropical. The sea water here is calm and people float around on paddleboards, pedalos, inflatables and watch yachts pass by in the distance. The beach bar serves up everything from ice creams to pizzas to delicious cocktails (Mojito for me!) and has tables and chairs on wooden decking if you want to have a sit-down meal.
Kids Club
The campsite, rather than Eurocamp, runs its own kids’ clubs which guests can use during their holiday.
Babyland, dedicated to 0-5 year olds, is close to the central square and is somewhere little ones can enjoy themselves, accompanied by their parents.
Kids Clubs are aimed at different ages – for 5-11 year olds, there are nature workshops,
creative workshops, sports workshops: pony rides and treasure hunts on offer throughout July and August (we stayed in May, when it wasn’t open).
For teens aged 12 to 17, there are free activities such as sports challenges, Jet Ski, paintball, karting sessions and every Friday evening, the Teen’s club organises a barbecue and bivouacs between 9pm to 11pm with the instructors.
Wifi
There is paying Wifi available, although my phone could easily access 4G internet and I just paid my UK mobile provider for data top-ups.
Restaurants
There are a whopping six restaurants to choose from onsite, but we mainly stuck to the beach bar (Les Baigneuses) or Le Bain (snack bar by the swimming pool), just as they’re more relaxed and easier with young kids. I’d rather be sat enjoying my cocktail while my toddler plays in the sand than chasing him up and down a restaurant and trying to get him to sit in his seat! Plus dining out for five did seem very pricey in France.
Other eateries include, Le Sun, which is set on a wooden terrace directly on the beach, Canopy sky bar, which is hidden in the tree tops, overlooking the sea with a view over the Gulf of St. Tropez (for ages 16 and above).
Where is the nearest supermarket?
There are two small supermarkets onsite, which are really well-stocked, and have bread and pastries in the morning. We also visited the Géant Casino (120 Rdpt de la Foux, 83580 Gassin, France), which is an 11-minute drive from Prairies de la Mer.
What is there to do near Port Grimaud France?
We didn’t go too far from the campsite during our trip as we’d driven from the UK (some 960 miles and 15 or so hours in a car with three kiddos), with an overnight stay in Bourges and had had more than enough time in the car. But there was lots to do on our doorstep and the surrounding region of Provence.
Port Grimaud
The pedestrianised provencale 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 and beautiful buildings perched on the water’s edge. It’s incredibly photogenic and I never tire of looking at the stunning photographs. You can only get around on foot or by electric boat, and visitors can hire their own to zip along the waterways.
Time your visit with market day or stroll over in the evening for a macaron-topped ice cream and watch the pretty dwellings gleam during golden hour.
Grimaud
The medieval town of Grimaud is perched on a hill above Port Grimaud, overlooking the gulf of St Tropez. Pretty houses cling to the hillside, which is topped with an 11th century castle. For a fun, adventurous way to see the town, hop on the Petit Train Touristique which leaves from the campsite and takes you on a commentated tour of the area, all the way to Grimaud (where you have the option to hop off and explore) and back again.
St Tropez
Glamourous St Tropez, the playground of the rich and famous, is a short boat ride across the bay from Port Grimaud. Make sure you arrive early at the ticket booth in Port Grimaud (by the harbour) to get your boat tickets in advance or book ahead of time in order to get on your chosen sailing.
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.
Frejus
Established by Julius Caesar, this bustling port city retains echoes of its Roman origins. The remarkable 12,000-seat amphitheatre and aqueduct stand as enduring testaments to its ancient past, and are free to explore. For families, there’s also the Aqualand water park and a zoo.
Final thoughts on Prairies de la Mer
Camping Prairies de la Mer is a great campsite for families with children of all ages. With a beach, swimming pool and activities on your doorstep, there are plenty of ways to entertain them at any time of day. The campsite also 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.
For us, the campsite was a bit too big – we prefer a slightly smaller, more intimate site like Le Brasilia or Camping le Capeyrou, Beynac France 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, felt really tropical and there was no shortage of things to do.
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