Eurocamp Holiday Review: Saint Avit Loisirs, the Dordogne, France

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If you’re looking for fun base for a family trip to the Dordogne in France, this Eurocamp Holiday review is all about Saint Avit Loisirs. I’ve included our experiences, photos, details about the Eurocamp accommodation, what there is to do locally, driving time from Calais, the closest airport and everything else that you need to know. The pool was fantastic for the kids on this one! We always try to travel on a budget, so if you’re looking to explore the UK and Europe with the kids (in an affordable way!) then have a browse around my blog for loads of money saving tips and budget holiday reviews. And if you have any recommendations, please let me know – you can follow our travels on Instagram too!

Holiday: June/July 2025

Saint Avit Loisirs Campsite Review

In June 2025, we embarked on a little road trip to France using Eurocamp campsites to hop between as usual. We drove from Calais to Vendée to spend seven nights at Le Pin Parasol Campsite (absolutely amazing – make sure you read my review!), before driving on to the Dordogne for five nights at Saint Avit Loisirs. So here’s my review and everything that you need to know about staying with Eurocamp at Saint Avit Loisirs in the beautiful Dordogne region of France.

What was Saint Avit Loisirs like?

Saint Avit Loisirs is located in the Dordogne countryside – though it’s not too far to drive to visit the gorgeous surrounding towns, if you’re looking to do some exploring, and it’s certainly best to have a car to make the most of it. The site is well laid out, with the huge swimming pool complex, the shop, the restaurant and the entertainment all at the top of the site – just along from the reception area where you first come in. This works particularly well when it comes to enjoying some peace and quiet. Our holiday home was down by the lake and, though it was a little bit of a walk up to the pool area, it was so quiet in the evenings which we loved and we slept really well. The swimming pool complex is the star of the show at Saint Avit Loisirs so I’m going to do a bit of a photo dump in the next part of my review.

The prices in the shop were reasonable and it was well-stocked – we shopped on-site for our first night and could get everything that we needed for a meal. Lola and Jay also got a baguette for lunch each day (about £1) and the kids bought some floaties which were only about £8, so not bad at all. We did our full shop about 15 minutes away in Le Bugue – there was a Lidl, a Hyper U and a petrol station there. The staff were all really friendly at the campsite, and there was a small park area and games room by the shop. They had a large area of cabins for kids’ clubs too – the only thing that we felt was a bit lacking was the size of the play area.

What were the swimming pools like?

As I mentioned, the huge swimming pool complex is really what Saint Avit Loisirs is centered around – it was one of my daughter’s favourites from our travels. They have just added some brand new (big!) waterslides for 2025 and they were fantastic – there was a tube slide and some open slides for racing. The kids went on them over and over again, and they were great fun! We spent most of our time in the bottom swimming pool near those slides, I’ll pop a picture below, as it felt a bit tropical and the kids were in and out making the most of the slides.

Just along from there was a fantastic splash zone for little ones, so toddlers are catered for too. We felt like the pool area really lent itself to kids of all ages and they’d thought of something for everyone. At the top of the pool complex there were several swimming pools and a toddler paddling pool, as well as a few smaller waterslides perfect for the ‘in between’ sort of age if you’ve got kids not quite brave enough for the bigger flumes. There was also a lazy river – though it was far from lazy! 😂 Parts of it were actually pretty speedy and Finn and Lola loved it. You do need a floatie for those slides, and they’re not provided, but you can grab one cheaply in the shop and they have a pump available at the top of the pool area.

My kids were delighted about the floaties – as so many swimming pools don’t allow them – they were allowed on both the lazy river slides and in the pools. There was also an indoor swimming pool too, so if you’re visiting and the weather isn’t great that would also be an option. The sun bed situation was great here – they had loads of them (free) and some umbrellas – despite it being really busy we always managed to get enough sun beds. I think because the pool area is so vast, it didn’t feel crowded which was nice as there was plenty of space to spread out. It was also open until 8pm which was amazing! And, given that there was a 38 degree heat wave when we visited we were really grateful for it.

There were very friendly life guards dotted around but they were wandering, rather than watching specific pools, so do make sure that you keep a close eye on the kids. You’ll be pleased to know that, unlike a lot of the campsites in France, they did allow normal swimming shorts at Saint Avit Loisirs. My husband and son are always a bit grumpy about the speedo situation, so I think they were rather relieved to be able to wear their normal swimming shorts. The vibe of the site was pretty relaxed and easy-going.

Local Area: What is there to do near Saint Avit Loisirs?

Chateau de Castelnaud

Perched high above the Dordogne River, Chateau de Castelnaud offers sweeping views and hands-on fun – it’s around a 40 minute drive from Saint Avit Loisirs. Inside, you’ll find a fascinating museum of medieval warfare packed with weapons, armour and full-scale trebuchets. Kids will love trying out the wooden games in the courtyard and watching live demonstrations in peak season – see what’s on if you’re visiting over the school holidays. Bring a picnic to enjoy by the river after your visit for a full afternoon of history and stunning views.

Prehistoric Caves

The Dordogne region is famous for its underground world. 50 minutes from the campsite, you’ll find Lascaux IV in Montignac – an ultra-modern replica of the original cave, complete with interactive exhibits and stunning prehistoric art. Whilst Rouffignac is just a 25 minute drive and offers a cave train ride to see ancient mammoth carvings. Or head to Roque Saint-Christophe, around 35 minutes away, with its cliffside shelters which offer a unique look at how prehistoric people adapted to their surroundings. You’re utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to cave adventures in the Dordogne!

Plage de Limeuil

Just a 15 minute drive away you’ll find the gorgeous town of Limeuil – honestly it looks like something from a romance movie. We had a lovely evening wandering the town and the picturesque riverside beach is where the Dordogne and Vézère rivers meet, making it ideal for gentle paddling, skipping stones and lazy picnics. It’s safe, shallow and free to access, with ample space for kids to run about. From there you can also rent a kayak – perfect for adventures on the river – or visit Le Bugue (also a lovely town just 10 minutes away).

Parc Le Bournat

Step into 1900s France at this living museum park in Le Bugue – Parc Le Bournat is just 10 minutes away from Saint Avit Loisirs. There are farm animals, vintage fairground rides and workshops for things like traditional bread-making and glass-spinning. It’s packed with interactive exhibits and hands-on fun – ideal for curious kids. Tickets are good value considering how much there is to do, and you’re welcome to bring your own picnic. Certain dates offer events and fireworks too – so plan your visit around these if you can.

Beynac et Cazenac

Around half an hour’s drive away, you can hop aboard a traditional Gabarre boat at Beynac and float along the Dordogne River for a truly relaxing family experience. The views of the cliffs and castle are stunning from the water, and the calm pace means even toddlers can enjoy the ride. It’s a peaceful way to end a busy day of exploring — and a great chance to rest little legs while soaking up some local history.

For even more ideas on things to do in the Dordogne area – make sure you check out my article: The 10 best things to do in the Dordogne with kids.

Was the accommodation good?

We booked with Eurocamp, choosing a Premium Exclusive accommodation for our stay at Saint Avit Loisirs. Our holiday home had a central living and kitchen area with a dining table, 3 bedrooms, a shower room, a separate toilet and an ensuite off of the main bedroom. It’s such a bonus to have two bathrooms on holiday – as that’s something that we usually really miss when we travel – even if the kids often end up using ours! 😂 In the kitchen we had an electric kettle, a microwave, a decent size fridge/freezer and a hob – unfortunately not all holiday homes come with an oven but we’re pretty used to it so I tend to cook lots of curries and pasta dishes when we travel.

Because it was a premium exclusive model, the holiday home also had a dishwasher – though it didn’t work particularly well in this case and we did end up washing up. (In fairness, it’s the first dodgy one that we’ve had on our travels.) We appreciated the comfy fabric sofa area, and it also had a TV but all of the channels were French so it wasn’t that helpful. 😂 We always bring the Roku with us to solve this but the internet was non-existent on the site (even the WIFI) so that definitely didn’t go our way. Though, we tend to play card games in the evenings anyway, or head off exploring. We did lots of our wandering in the nearby towns in the evenings due to the daytime temperatures being so high. There was also air-conditioning (thank goodness in that heat!).

The beds were all comfy and they were made up on arrival which is always a nice touch. I must mention that the holiday home that we had was definitely older than other Premium Exclusive models that we’ve stayed in (we loved our accommodation at Domaine des Naiades). Though it was perfectly adequate, the photos on the website for Premium Exclusive at Saint Avit Loisirs actually look pretty posh so I thought it was worth mentioning so that you can see what to expect. I did also notify Eurocamp about this and they have assured me they’re working on making sure the photos actually reflect the specific accommodation on their sites.

Just as a side note, if you’re looking at other accommodation types for your trip to Saint Avit Loisirs, for some reason (even though cleaning is included in all other countries) in France you can only get the cleaning service included if you book from Eurocamp’s higher level ranges of accommodation. So, to have it included as standard, you’ll need to book a Premium Exclusive holiday home or something from their Ultimate range. If you book from their other ranges you can pay extra to add the end of stay cleaning on, or tackle it yourself if you want to. This is why we tend to book a Premium Exclusive in France to solve this issue, whereas for other destinations we’ll opt for Comfort, Comfort XL or Premium as it’s included anyway.

For more info on the accommodation options, and to find out what to pack / what’s included, read my post: Eurocamp Holidays: Which accommodation should I choose? What’s included?

What facilities are on site at Saint Avit Loisirs?

As I mentioned above, the shop on-site was well-stocked and they had freshly baked bits too. Though we did our main shopping for the week at Lidl, which was 15 minute drive away and generally priced similarly to our usual shopping back home. We stocked up on things like ice-creams too (as the holiday home fridges have a freezer section) and it definitely saves a lot compared to buying them from the resorts.

We were able to park directly next to the holiday home that we stayed in, making it easy to load and unload the car of luggage and food shopping. Most Eurocamp accommodation doesn’t come with a TV – it’s only included with their higher ranges – so it’s handy to take a tablet or laptop with you with some movies for when you want a quiet evening if it’s not included with your holiday home type.
Though we didn’t eat in the restaurant, I did have a quick glimpse at the prices for you. I was actually pretty impressed with the cost of the food there – they had some great food deals – things like a main, a drink and a dessert for €14, and the same for kids at €9.90. So, if you were planning to eat out whilst you’re away, this would be a great site to do it at. (Bonus points for being so affordable!)

Getting to the Dordogne, France, from the UK

Saint Avit Loisirs is about a 8.5 hour drive from Calais if you’re taking a road trip for your holiday in the Dordogne. Your SAT NAV might take you through an emissions zone along the way, so make sure you check the route and get a Crit’Air sticker if needed. I think this resort is a pretty good road trip destination – we drove back in one day and caught a late ferry so it was doable without needing a hotel to break up the journey. If you’re new to road trips, this article is a great place to start: How to road trip on a budget around Europe – the ultimate family guide! You can book your ferry / Eurotunnel travel directly through Eurocamp, or check out the Direct Ferries website to compare prices across routes and providers.

If you’re wanting to fly to Saint Avit Loisirs then the nearest airport is Bergerac – it’s about 40 minutes away from the site. If you’re flying I’d definitely recommend hiring a car for this one to make the most of what the Dordogne has to offer as it’s a beautiful place to explore. It’s also a rural area, so I think getting around without a car would be quite tricky. Use the Skyscanner website to find the cheapest flight prices – it’ll compare airlines, airports, dates and times for you without you having to do all of the leg work! And, check out the Sun Transfers website to see prices for airport transfers, or Expedia is a great place to start if you plan to hire a car.

How much does a Eurocamp holiday at Saint Avit Loisirs cost – was it good value for money?

Hopefully my review has been helpful – our 5 night stay at Saint Avit Loisirs in the Dordogne, France, in a Eurocamp Premium Exclusive holiday home cost around £430. This worked out at around £86 per night which certainly wasn’t bad for the time of year. We travelled right at the end of June and into the beginning of July and the kids had an absolutely brilliant time in the pool. For families who like a more rural, adventure kind of holiday the region is really interesting too. The heat really stopped us exploring as much as we’d have liked to but the Dordogne is a beautiful part of France and there’s a lot to do in the surrounding area. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Saint Avit Loisirs on the Eurocamp website.

As we home-educate the kids, we are fortunate to be able travel term-time which is a great money saver, but if you’re restricted to school holiday dates then look for May half-term getaways – they’re always so much cheaper than the summer holidays! But, having said that, affordable school summer holiday travel is possible – I went hunting on the Eurocamp website and found 50 family holidays under £1k for August 2026 – with prices starting from less than £300! (There were more but I ran out of steam! 😂) You might also want to check out my article: The 25 best Eurocamp family holidays in France for kids for more great family-friendly getaway options in France, or if you’re set on the Dordogne check out: Eurocamp France: The 5 best Dordogne holiday parks for families.