Camping Le Suroit

The facilities have clearly been neglected. Over the last two days the power kept cutting in and out, and the water to the closest facilities was off for 24 hours, sending people to queue elsewhere. When it came back, it wasn’t heated, and the pot-washing sinks were filthy. I also saw an award at reception naming it among France’s top 100 campsites. I wouldn’t put it in the top 100 on ile d'oleron. Apparently it’s been bought by a chain, and it needs a lot of investment. The beach is quiet and relaxing, with sand and rock pools, though it’s not great for swimming. Oleron itself is beautiful. The campsite was only okay for us: the old toilets were often dirty, toilet paper was frequently missing, and the old crouching toilets feel decades out of date. It’s a family site with animation, if that’s your thing, but a teenage summer camp spoiled it for us. Older teens roamed and ran around the site, overfilled pitches, and showed little respect, especially in the evenings. At nearly midnight I could hear them shouting. The pool opens at 10 and they were already queuing, so we skipped it and went to the beach instead. If I’d known about the camp, I’d have booked somewhere else. It could be much better, but we won’t return.

The restaurant was the biggest disappointment on our return. It used to be busy, with nightly specials and a lively atmosphere, sometimes with a band at the weekend. Now the food is basic and not very good, and the poor DJ-style acts draw local teenagers. It’s a shame, and I think I’ll leave it a while before coming back. We first stayed here for four years running before Covid, and it was our first visit back. The site still has a lovely feel, great motorhome pitches and very nice staff, but the toilets and showers haven’t changed and are now old. I think the new owners need to take the latest feedback seriously, unless they’re aiming for a different crowd.

The team made our holiday: reception were welcoming, the restaurant staff friendly, and the animateurs went out of their way to make things memorable. Léo was fabulous with the kids, encouraging them into activities and even getting the adults involved. Antoine brought loads of fun to the evening bar entertainment with his gold coins and lively spirit. We’ve just had a fantastic two weeks at Le Suroît with our family of two adults and three children, aged 10, 13 and 15. The pitches gave us room to relax, and getting around the island was easy with a beach entrance, a lovely cycle path and a free shuttle just outside the gate. We’re already thinking about coming back next year. The wonderful people there are what make Le Suroît special.

We called about 40 minutes before arriving to check for space, and they had room for us. We stayed two nights, moving between two pitches because of prior bookings, which was fine. The pitches were lovely and big, with plenty of space for our 6m camper van. There’s a handy little shop for essentials, plus a restaurant and takeaway pizza. The campsite has a friendly family-and-dog atmosphere, lots of kids on bikes, things for children to do and a bar for adults. You get beach access with a fob and pay a deposit that’s fully refunded. The beach is sandy and rocky, and access runs from 6am to 11pm. Nothing to fault for us, and I’d stay again if I’m in the area.