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Chill Out While the Kids Go Clubbing ; Sarah Batley Found Two Weeks of Holiday Fun Changed Her Son From a Boy to a Proper Teenager

Posted on: Monday, 17 January 2005, 18:00 CST

YOU'RE almost a teenager, and looming on the horizon is a fortnight away with parents and little sister. For the past couple of years you've been dumped in the holiday clubs, while your parents sunbathed and went shopping.

Once you were the only British boy. Not that it mattered - everybody understands: "Whatever. "

This year it will be worse. Holiday clubs are really boring aren't they? Nothing to do, except sit and paint, or play silly join- in games, run by teenagers who think they're grown-up, wearing brightly coloured tops, and way too cheerful. And it's bound to rain.

That, basically, was the gist of my 12-year-old son's lament this time last year, summing-up why he was torn between coming on holiday with us (food, late nights, swimming pool on hand) and staying home with his older sisters (food, late nights, Sky TV).

He hates ferries - they make him sick - and car trips because of squabbles with his little sister Cora, 10. He really wanted to go to Spain, by plane.

After lots of persuasion, Greg finally agreed to join us driving south to Brittany where we planned to stay in a Keycamp luxury holiday caravan. The fast catamaran across the Channel, from Poole to St Malo, helped to clinch it as he knows it doesn't make him queasy.

The crossing was quick, while the Saturday evening drive south through Brittany to Benodet was easy, thanks to Keycamp's detailed directions. We arrived at La Pointe St-Gilles late at night, to be met by a courier, who helped carry our bedding plus an overnight bag (plus much needed bottle of wine) through the camp - as cars are barred after 11pm - to the caravan.

It gave us chance to get our bearings - which helped in the morning, as we blearily wandered out to grab fresh croissants.

Two days into the holiday, and Greg decided holiday clubs are brilliant. The change of heart was mainly thanks to Keycamp courier Rosalyn Cameron and her Base Club for young teens, plus Cora joining a younger group, the Fun Station.

Meals out as a group, off cycling round the nearby village, sport contests on beaches and in parks, pool games, go-karting. All they had to do was suggest it, and Ros went away and organised it.

Sometimes they even let parents join in.

With just the right level of supervision, the members, mainly aged 11-15, could do what they wanted in safety. Ros, a qualified lifeguard, could beat most hands-down at sports and was "cool" according to Greg's new-found friends.

We hardly saw Greg, as he suddenly grew up from being our young son to being a fully-fledged teenager, capable of handling his holiday euros, and talking his own version of Franglais in village shops.

He knew the quick ways into town, where to find the best beach and when to cross the tidal channel separating a little harbour from a long spit of sand.

I understand this year Base couriers will be organising events for whole families, not just teenagers.

The highlight for him was saving his dad from drowning in the channel as he tried to wade across it, as it flowed fast out to sea. Greg's a strong swimmer, but my husband Tony is not, and was also hot from sunbathing. Walking into cold sea water without a pause wasn't a good idea.

Realising his dad wasn't swimming towards him, but was instead being pushed out to sea, Greg used his big inflatable play-tyre to float him to safety.

I was accused of staying on shore to work out the pension, endowment plus holiday insurance pay-outs. Greg, proud of the rescue, demanded a reward of 10 euros.

We also spent time as a family, with trips to chateaux, local markets and nearby towns - such as the historic Quimper, with its Max Jacob, Remi Blanchard andBrittany art exhibitions. My nerve failed at Penmarc'h lighthouse, with hundreds of steps spiralling upwards, but Tony and Cora managed to climb to the top.

You could spend a year here, and not visit the same beach twice. Each evening, a different restaurant or cafe, with the four of us taking turns to choose. That way we got to try the pizzeria, Tex- Mex (yes, Greg's choice) and top- no sh fish restaurant complete with fruits de mer.

Benodet is near perfect, with an arc of silver beach, plus clear safe water to swim in. The sand is great for sand castles - a semi- pro made a reasonable living, sculpting dragons. Little boats bob about, and kayaks, wind-surfers, pedaloes and sea canoes are for hire.

The port's marina holds hundreds of pleasure boats. Glass- bottomed boats leave for the Glenan islands, with underwater panoramas, plus along the bay to Pont-L'Abbe and Loctudy (just think oysters) or up the River Odet to Quimper.

Mainly hot and sunny, it did rain a couple of times, so we headed for the indoor pools in neighbouring towns, and for Benodet's thalassotherapy sea-water centre.

The site was great for kids, although the crush of walkers, bikers and cars near the entrance at busy times can be unsafe.

Two weeks is probably long enough in a caravan, though this had everything - a heater for the couple of nights it got colder, a CD player, plus cooker, fridge, freezer and microwave, and a gas- powered BBQ for the fresh fish from the nearby markets.

I would prefer a bit more room between each mobile home, but there was plenty for Keycamp's sun loungers and tables.

The site has its own swimming pool with slides to keep all ages happy, with a bar complex overlooking it. There's also a playground, tennis courts and fitness trail.

The camp is an easy flat 20-minute walk into the town, or there is a land-train.

Part of the holiday is the drive to and from Brittany - the early morning run back to the ferry was breathtaking, as the sun rose above misty hills.

We took the slow crossing back to Portsmouth, but with all the activities on board, plus the luxury of a cabin, it passed quickly. I forgot to put swimming things handy in our luggage, so we missed out on trying the ship's pool, but Cora joined the on-board kids club, ending up meeting the captain and helping him steer.

So for this year's holiday, with Cora now planning her own break into adolescence, Greg's looking forward to another Base Camp adventure somewhere, preferably with Ros rather than his parents! And he still wants to go to Spain.

travel detailsA 12-night Keycamp holiday at La Pointe St-Gilles starts at around pounds 649 per family inclusive of mobile home accommodation and return Dover-Calais ferry crossings in May, rising to pounds 1, 191 in August. Also included are age-banded Fun Station children's clubs, Base Club and Mini Fun Station for toddlers. Further information from Keycamp Holidays, tel 0870 7000 750 or www. keycamp. co. uk

Source: Daily Post; Liverpool

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