Petite Suisse

Camping Petite Suisse sits in a peaceful, scenic part of the Ardennes forest, and the pitches are orderly and well kept. Reception staff were friendly and spoke Dutch and English. Restaurant staff mostly spoke French but tried to help in English. The Dutch-speaking animation team was enthusiastic and keen to keep the children entertained, though much of the program seemed aimed at kids aged 6 and up, so it was less suited to our 3-5-year-olds. The main problem was the facilities. The showers and dishwashing areas felt dated and didn’t work well. Timers cut the water off, and the boilers couldn’t keep up, so showers were often lukewarm or cold. That was especially difficult with small children and babies. Even the supposedly new facilities already showed wear, and the showers and toilets were cramped and awkwardly laid out. After heavy rain, the water supply became contaminated and wasn’t safe to drink unless boiled for 15 minutes. Management handled this badly: no free bottled water was provided, and new arrivals weren’t told about the issue. Several people who had just arrived got sick after drinking it. Bottled water at the campsite shop also cost more than at the local supermarket. We’re unlikely to return soon, though the campsite can work as a base for visiting the area. Just don’t expect the standard of a four-star place, it felt more like two or three stars.

The glamping tents offer good value, and it’s lovely having the Ardennes right on the doorstep. The restaurant is just okay, but it does the job. The little on-site shop has limited stock, although there’s a bigger supermarket close by.

The kids had fun with the animation team, and we liked the restaurant, but I probably wouldn’t recommend this campsite to friends. Our tent pitch was smaller than the 100m2 listed on the website, leaving barely any room to sit outside. There were several errors with our booking, and the electricity didn’t work on the first day. They sorted everything out eventually, but it made for an uncomfortable start to the holiday.

The surrounding countryside is beautiful, with forested hills, viewpoints, and small nearby villages where you can get a feel for local culture. The campsite itself was very busy and noisy, with lots of children around. Its small pool was packed too. If you’re after a quiet campsite and don’t have kids, this probably isn’t the place for you.