Campsites on the Côte d’Azur, around Fréjus and St Tropez

L’Étoile d’Argens (Sandaya), Saint-Aygulf, Fréjus

I spent six months living at L’Étoile d’Argens during my 2014 season, so it’s no surprise it’s my top pick round here. It’s set in 16 hectares of green between the vineyards, the river and the sea. The best bit is the shuttle boat down the river to the beach, which means you skip all the summer traffic into Saint-Aygulf.

Our very first photo together was taken here that summer, so it’s got a special place in our hearts. It’s run by Sandaya now and it’s a five-star site with ecolodges and a Green Key eco label. The pools are a lap pool, a heated family pool, whirlpools and a paddling pool for babies, all treated with very few chemicals. It’s more relaxing than slide-mad, and there’s a spa too.

The kids clubs are free all season: a Kids Club for 5 to 7s, a Juniors club for 8 to 12s with a mini disco, and a Teens Club for 13 to 17s. There’s also a bouncy castle, trampoline, crazy golf, archery and an outdoor escape game for the kids. The river shuttle to the beach is paid and runs until mid September, and the beaches are about 3km away. One thing to know before you go: Sandaya say there’s no mobile phone signal on the campsite itself. It’s open from early April right through to early November, much later than most sites here.

La Baume, Fréjus

La Baume is where Mike and I met, at the start of the 2014 season, so it’ll always have a soft spot for us. It’s a big, busy resort of 780 pitches with six pools and five waterslides. There’s a lagoon pool, a covered pool on two levels and a toddler splash zone. There’s an indoor play centre for the kids too.

There’s loads for older kids: archery, tennis, football and bike hire, then live shows or the disco at night. Kids clubs run in five age groups, from babies right up to 17. It’s one for families who want everything on site, not a quiet week. There is some road noise on certain pitches so request to be away from it if it bothers you. Cannes is about 40 minutes away, and Fréjus train station is 2km.

Holiday Green, Fréjus

Mike worked at Holiday Green as well as La Baume, and it’s just up the road. The big draw is the huge Californian-style pool complex, with three big slides for the whole family, water games and small slides for little ones, and a covered heated pool. Look out for the quirky sculptures dotted between the pitches.

In July and August there are swimming and scuba lessons, free evening entertainment and a bus into Fréjus for the beach. The kids club is for 4 to 12 year olds. The pitches are on a steep hillside, and the beach is around 7km away, so you’ll want the car outside the summer holidays. It scores 4.3 on Google from 1,889 reviews.

Esterel, Agay, Saint-Raphaël

Esterel is a definite good one. It was the first five-star campsite on the French Riviera, set on a steep, flowery hillside looking out over the red Esterel hills. Little ones get their own indoor jungle-themed pool with mini slides. Outside there are three pools, a splash park with a tipping bucket and eight waterslides, plus a sandy beach area right in the pool complex.

There’s a baby club, kids clubs up to 17, mini golf and a massage centre. It has 495 pitches, Agay is about 3km away and it scores 4.2 on Google from 2,121 reviews. The terraces are steep, so it’s worth bearing in mind with a pushchair.

Les Prairies de la Mer, Port Grimaud

Les Prairies de la Mer is another I’d always recommend, especially if the beach is top of your list. It’s a stroll through the palm trees to the sand, and St Tropez is under 20 minutes away by car. It’s huge, with around 3,000 pitches and six beachside bars and restaurants. Kids get a petting zoo and pony club, and there are sports from jet skis to a tennis academy.

The main pool is a big fan-shaped one with a children’s pool beside it, but there are no waterslides, so slide fans might be better at Esterel. I first discovered this campsite when we were staying on the site next door and sneaked on here for a look around. At the time it didn’t have its own swimming pool, but Mike and I found it an absolutely stunning and well maintained campsite. the addition of the swimming pool has made it even more superior.

Domaine des Naïades, Port Grimaud

We haven’t been to Domaine des Naïades, but it’s a good option if you want St Tropez nearby and slides too. It’s a wooded site above Port Grimaud, about 900 metres from the beach. There’s an Olympic-sized pool, two 75m waterslides and a toddler pool with a mini slide. In July and August there are dance nights and an open-air cinema, and you can catch a boat from Port Grimaud to St Tropez.

Les Collines de Castellane, Castellane

Castellane isn’t on the coast at all, it’s up in the hills about an hour and 25 minutes inland from Fréjus. I’ve included it because it’s a really good one and the Gorges du Verdon is right there. The site is terraced 1,000 metres above sea level. There’s a big lagoon pool and a racer slide, plus horse riding, archery and even paintball.

It’s small and calm, around 158 pitches, with a kids club and mountain views from the pool. Kayaking, rafting and canyoning in the Verdon are all close by. It suits active families who’d rather swap the beach for the mountains for a week.