Camping Château des Marais

The safety problems at the pool worried me far more than the swimwear rule. During a very busy bank holiday weekend, lifeguards sat in the shade chatting while too many people went down the slides at once. Kids jumped in and dunked each other; I saw a boy gasping for air who then vomited by the side. Adult men went down together and ignored the red and green slide signals. A teenage girl repeatedly took what looked like her little brother, still in nappies and armbands, down a slide and threw him into the water at the bottom. I saw no lifeguard respond, and throughout our week I never heard a whistle or any sign of concern. After that busy weekend, though, they began enforcing the swim shorts rule. On Friday, our last day, the staff stopped the young boys in our group, not even teenagers, from using the pool. Their shorts were sold and labelled as swimwear and came above the knees. A lifeguard called the manager, who said the shorts were unhygienic because people might wear them outside the pool and an inspector could close the site. There were plenty of small children who'd probably peed in the pool, and people in other permitted swimwear also went outside the pool area, but the baggy shorts were treated as the hygiene problem. I haven't had this issue at another French campsite. I asked the manager to let the kids play for ten minutes since it was our last day; she refused any compromise. When I raised the safety concerns, she said they monitored the pool. In the six times I visited, I never saw that happening. The lifeguard kept harassing our group and telling the boys to get out. We finally pointed out that other adult men in the pool were wearing the same kind of baggy shorts they said were forbidden. I also signed my two 8-year-old girls up for the Tuesday kids' club through the Sandaya app. I was told they spoke English and couldn't leave on their own, but staff let them leave with friends. Luckily, nothing happened and I caught up with them in time, but I was furious they'd been allowed out. Check-in was unclear because our ferry delay meant we arrived late. There was no key for us at reception, but a helpful security guard opened the door and told us to check our cottage. The next day, reception charged another 8.40 euros, calling it tax even though I'd paid in full and showed my invoice with taxes included. She never got back to me. The cottage cleaning instructions were extremely detailed: clear the shower drain, clean the mirrors, mop, and so on. That made me think they do no cleaning between guests, not even bleaching or cleaning the toilets. I wouldn't stay at a Sandaya again.

It's been 34 days and my partner still hasn't received the 400 euros this campsite took without her permission. It was supposed to be a security deposit for hiring two bikes for the day. If you haven't seen our earlier reviews, I suggest reading them along with the other negative ones. They've admitted in writing that they were at fault, but still won't say when they'll pay. We won't accept the director's sarcastic replies to our reviews, and we'll recover the money owed to her. Her bank has already advised her, and the police are involved too. We'll post more updates about this French saga. Stay away, and don't book at this resort or campsite. There are other places in the area where you can spend your holiday.

I rented two bikes for a day trip to the Chateau of Chambord. The Sandaya Chateau des Marais representative said they'd hold 400 euros on my card as security, and I agreed. When we returned the bikes, they assured me the deposit would be released. Instead, three days after I left, they charged the full amount. Nadia Kasmi emailed to say the administration would refund me. It's now been more than two weeks, and I've had no further message or refund. This company took money from my account. Stay away.

The price is far too high for what you get. Hand dryers and other things are broken, and the staff are pretty rude. They even made people leave the pool because their shorts were too baggy. Save your money and stay somewhere else.