Nova Lodges

The location is stunning, and that was the one thing that helped. We only needed to put up with an uncomfortable night, then get out and explore France. I stayed all four days because I was with friends and didn’t want to make a fuss. If you’re after a luxury campsite, don’t stay here. The rooms are basic and tiny. Ours barely had space to walk around the double bed, so our cases and other things had to go in the kitchen/living area. We paid €51 for bedsheets for four people over four days, but the sheets were torn, stained, and mouldy. The replacement set was the same. The campsite is covered in gritty grey sand that gets everywhere, so the lodge keeps getting dirty even if you leave your shoes outside. The pool looked lovely on the website, with a kids’ pool too, but it’s shared with the other campsites and packed with hundreds of people. There was no room to swim, and children were screaming all around, so it wasn’t relaxing. The warm water might sound appealing, but with so many people and cloudy conditions, it looked like a breeding ground for infection and I was afraid to get in. If you want an overcrowded, rubbish version of Centre Parcs for a stay with your children, this place might suit. For a luxury campsite, don’t waste your money.

We stayed in a three-bedroom lodge as a family of five, and it was modern, spacious, and had a large veranda. Nova Lodges is part of a huge camping ground in Port Grimaud. You can walk to the giant pool, which serves the whole site, the beach, and Port Grimaud’s walking areas in just a few minutes, so you can leave the car parked. There are several charging stations for electric cars too. The grounds are really big, with rows and rows of lodges and bungalows, so expect some walking. The pool is huge, though it can get crowded in high season.

The rest of the stay was amazing. The beds were super comfortable, there were mosquito nets and AC, and they gave us a complimentary bottle of Rose. I’d stay again. We arrived without reservations and they booked us into lodges right away. The woman at reception spoke amazing English, which is rare, and her patience made our stay much better. Check-in, though, was a tragedy. They said they’d message when the lodges were ready, but nothing came. I had to Google that check-in started at 16:00. At 16:30 we went to the concierge, and they sent us back to our cars, saying they’d send someone, as if they knew where we were parked, even though we didn’t know either. Staff took another half hour to find us and the cars. Since checkout is at 10:00, it would be much better if check-in started at 13:00 or 14:00.

The lodges are clean and roomy enough for the four of us, and nights are peaceful and quiet. It’s beautiful and feels safe, with friendly staff. I first came here 40 years ago and have just returned with my own children. We can’t wait to come back.