Le Clos Fleuri, Medis

BEWARE OF THE ADVERTISEMENT

Our original booking was via the Web. We asked for a large pitch if possible with some shade, particularly in the mornings. Our requirements and bookings were confirmed, complete with reserved pitch number, via e:mail, but only after we had provided a Euro-cheque for the hefty deposit and booking fee.

On arrival at this campsite we were told that the pitch that had been reserved for us was occupied, we had e:mailed 48 hours previously confirming date and time of our scheduled arrival. This didn?t concern us much, there were plenty of others to choose from and we are realistic enough to accept that minor errors do occur. After a little effort we selected the best pitch available. I was a little concerned that NONE of the alternatives we were offered were anything like the size we had asked for. All pitches are advertised as large, at least 100 square meters in the sites literature. The pitch measured 7m x 7m and was typical of those on offer.

Not too bothered by this we erected our large folding camper and the usual bits and bobs. The pitch wasn?t large enough though to get the car on as well, without having it on top of us. I parked on a vacant, adjacent pitch. We set off to the site restaurant (as per literature) as it was now getting late. Unfortunately the restaurant (a few tables in the bar, serving snack type food) was closed. ?We do not have a chef? was the reason given. Not deterred we went into town and found a suitable place to eat, relatively easily.

The next day, we were asked to move our car from the vacant pitch. We imagined this was because someone wanted to use the pitch and thought no more about it. The car was then parked, as best it could be, on our own pitch. One of the front wheels was just onto the track/road. On the pitch opposite we erected our daughters badminton net, which was subsequently used by other families as well as ourselves. At this time there were approximately 5 vacant pitches in our ?row?. Later in the afternoon the same person, who had told us to move the car from the vacant pitch, approached us and in a most aggressive manner and informed us that he wanted paying for the pitch with badminton net on it. We apologised, at this point we realised that the person was the proprietor, and removed the offending net. The proprietor still insisted on payment and then, getting more heated, began to kick the tyre on our car that was on the track, also insisting that this was paid for as it was not on our own pitch and ALL these things would have to be paid for.

At this point we produced the literature and contract for the pitch and pointed out the size of pitch booked and paid for (100 square meters). We further pointed out that both pitches together did not make the 100 square meters advertised (and paid for). At this point the proprietor became violently abusive and screamed obscenities at the top of his voice. Unfortunately, having worked on French speaking building sites when I was young, I was able to ?give as good as I got?. He ordered us off the site.

All in all, the experience with Le Clos Fleuri wasn?t all bad. The site was pleasant enough, though the management style deplorable, the rest of the staff were very pleasant. The pitch sizes need no more comment. A nice large playground, if a little remote from most of the rest of the site, perhaps the exception of the small and icy cold pool, which the children refused to use.