Location: La Sirène Campsite in Argelès-sur-Mer on France’s Mediterranean coast.
How to get there: The nearest airport to La Sirène is 25km away at Perpignan which is serviced by Aer Lingus. Ryanair fly to Girona which is 1 hr 14 mins, and Carcassonne is 1hr 35 mins away from the campsite. We chose Perpignan which was about 30 minutes away and cost us €48 in an Uber. La Sirène provides transfers to the campsite from Carcassonne at €50 return per person.
Who went: Two adults and two children aged 10 and 7.
Why La Sirène: We had been once before and knew our kids were at a great age to really appreciate the range of activities that were on offer. It has numerous pools including three covered and heated ones, a semi-Olympic sized pool, six giant slides, a kids club, a gym, two restaurants, a bar, a takeaway, a supermarket, a boulangerie, a toy shop, a playground and an ice cream bar. Bike rental also available across the road from the campsite at Blue Bear.
We booked directly through the La Sirène website.
Accommodation: We booked the Lodge 3 Prestige Pedestrian type of home. The accommodation was located on a lovely, pedestrianised street with beautiful plants and shrubs lining the pathway. When you arrive outside the cottage you notice bicycle racks and the lodge is closed off by a private gate and fencing. A large deck includes two sun loungers, a small coffee table, two chairs and a covered area with a larger table and six chairs to dine at. There is a large barbecue with an accompanying sink at the other end of the terrace.
Our three-bed mobile included two single rooms with two beds each and a double bedroom ensuite. There was an additional shower room next to the single bedroom and a separate toilet.
The kitchen was fully equipped with a dishwasher, a hob, a microwave, a Nespresso machine and a proper sized fridge/freezer. A smaller indoor dining table, sofa and coffee table completed the space.
Towels and bedding are not included but you can rent them at an additional cost. We choose to rent the sheets at €26 per person and they could be changed five days into the stay
A welcome pack with a toilet roll, a black bag, a sponge, and a tiny washing up liquid bottle was provided.
Arriving at the Campsite: Our flight was due to land at 3:45pm on a Friday but when the plane’s wheels were mere inches off the ground it went straight back up in the air. The pilot informed us there was a cross wind and they needed to go back up. He suggested it was 50/50 if he could make another attempt, and landing at Girona was our next option. Thankfully after circling for another 30 minutes, we got down safely. We arrived at La Sirène after 5pm and the check-in was hassle free. We were given a map of the area, a Wi-Fi code, rented our sheets, and a €200 deposit was placed on the credit card for any potential breakages.
La Sirène App: The day before arrival, you receive an email containing a link to the La Sirène app and its activation code. This is invaluable during your stay as it contains the activities timetable and allows you to make bookings. As mentioned, we were here two years ago but this time we felt there was more options for us and our children. Everything is included at no additional cost with the exception of padel. Activities include football, family football, family Olympic games, basketball, archery, aqua bike, volleyball, CrossFit, mini golf and many more. I would highly recommend the family football, daily football, Olympics, Hyrox and the gym. If you fail to cancel a reservation you have made, you the run the risk of being locked out of the booking system.
The Campsite: People come to La Sirène for the activities and the pools. The campsite got updated last year and now includes six mega slides, and pretty sure I counted six pools or water areas. The new addition is the semi-Olympic sized pool. The pool area opens at 10am. You leave your footwear outside the front entrance to the pool area on the shelves. Important note for the men: Speedos are not compulsory here unlike in many other pools in France. There are no sun loungers but this is a bonus as everyone just places their towels on the lawn and no one is hogging seats with towels. Click Clack chairs are allowed. No food is permitted in the pool area which means the campsite remains immaculate.
Alfie, aged 7, and a new swimmer, particularly loved one of the pools that was the same depth the whole way round. He could stand up in it which meant that you felt he was safe. It was also a firm favourite with adults to cool off in. The large semi-Olympic-sized pool could get packed but was enjoyable for dives in the evening when it got less busy. There are also smaller pools with climbing walls and other fun tasks for little ones to enjoy. And for the parents, there’s also an adults-only area with Jacuzzis and fountains.
There are lots of lifeguards on duty too.
Playground: There’s a large playground that stays open until 10pm which boasts great trampolines and zip lines. It is located beside the crazy golf and the Kids Club. We didn’t use the Kids Club this time as the boys were very busy with the activities and we felt we didn’t need it.
Entertainment starts at 9pm on a huge, covered stage which has lots of benches in front of it. Many people brought their own wine and takeaway pizzas. A favourite was the Robot Magic Show which featured large Transformer-type costumes and a couple of tricks that I still don’t know how they pulled them off.
A bar showed all the World Cup matches and the large stage area during the day showed GAA matches.
On-site shops and restaurants: There’s a fully stocked little supermarket which opens from 7am to 8:30pm. It has higher prices than big supermarkets – but when we added in our Uber cost to go to Lidl there wasn’t much difference. For instance, two litres of water was 70c. The bakery sold croissants and fresh bread, focaccia pizza slices for €4.50, fresh cream eclairs and sandwiches. Pan Lena cost €1.60 and croissants about the same. They were all delicious.
Hot food Takeaway: We often got rotisserie chicken and chips to have for lunch. It was pricey enough at €12 for a small chicken and €8 for large chips but it fed all four of us, and you can’t beat the French for their salty rotisserie chicken. They also sell pizzas from 6pm at the same price, approximately €15, as Josette restaurant next door. Many people bought the pizzas and ate them while watching the evening entertainment.
On-site restaurant: Josette. We ate here a good bit, and the kids enjoyed the pepperoni pizza, chicken and chips. The gnocchi dish was also very tasty. We actually never made it to the restaurant by the pool, Claude, as we kept forgetting that the on-site eating spots close for a few hours from 2pm. While Josette offers mostly Italian options, Claude has more salad and fish choices as well as burgers and chips. Upstairs from the theatre there is a restaurant with a set menu. From there you get the best seats in the house to watch the evening entertainment.
Bike Rental: We rented bikes from Blue Bear next door to La Sirène’s sister campsite, L’Hippocampe. They are affiliated with the campsite. I believe there are two other options nearby that may be slightly cheaper. We got two adult city bikes and two kid bikes for nine days for €210. The bikes’ lights didn’t work but I remembered from previous trips to pack my own. You definitely need lights if heading out to Argelès in the evening as it gets dark around 9:30pm in June. The cycle paths are in good condition and are generally separated by a small wall from oncoming traffic. You still have to use zebra crossings to get across the roads, so care is needed with children. The trip to Argelès should be nine minutes but it took us about 20 minutes as our boys aren’t that fast. The campsite can get a little busy with children zipping up and down on bikes, so I’d keep a hold of toddlers.
Argelès-Sur-Mer: We wish we spent more time here, but the lads were generally wrecked in the evenings. The cycle there is pretty with picturesque views of the Pyrenees and you pass along a stunning sandy beach. Loads of restaurants are lined along the beach with all similar fare. We did have a nice meal in La Cocina. Steak was about €25 a head and the kids menu, at €12.50, included a drink of squash, chips and nuggets or a burger, with a scoop of ice-cream for dessert. On our previous trip two years ago we went to La Canne à Sucre for a tasty and tender steak. I heard many people mention Caffe Mamma as being nice too. Be prepared for all the trinket shops which are a magnet for kids.
Nearby Restaurant: L’Arbor & Sens was about a five-minute walk from the campsite. The garden setting is really beautiful, and you can walk around the grounds and see where they grow their own fruit, veg and herbs. Alfie loved seeing the vines with grapes growing on them. We went there twice as it was so handy, but it isn’t cheap. The burger was €24 and the mains were around €30 but they have a great kids menu for €15. The chocolate dessert was pleasantly rich.
Nearby activities: Two years ago, we went to the Argelès Aventure (zip-line adventure park) and really enjoyed it. You need about four hours and we were turned away the first time we went there as we got there two hours before closing. We went back earlier the next day and had a blast. It was too hot for us to visit the park on this trip but I would highly recommend it. On our last evening, we went to the fairground, Luna Park, which is about a 10-minute walk from the campsite. There is no admission charge and most rides are €5. The insane vertical catapult ride was €15 per person. Joseph went on it three times. He paid twice and they threw in the third for free as there weren’t many kids willing to be flung into the sky on bungee cords. I loved the ride that was like a bus on a rotating arm that spins you upside down. Don’t worry: you are inside a cage! Alfie was mad for the zorbing, the bumper cars and the room that vibrated and shook all kids to the ground. I’d recommend doing this on the last night as you will spend loads of money and you’ll only be begged to go again.
What we loved about the holiday: We loved the range of activities. Some of my favourite memories were the two-hour football sessions at L’Hippocampe on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. L’Hippocampe is where most of the activities for the children take place and it is directly across the road from La Sirène entrance. Remember to bring even more water to the games than expected as it is hot work. The pools are brilliant and there literally is a pool for everyone – from babies to little swimmers and adults. The place was also spotless, and you don’t have to fight with your neighbour over sun loungers as there aren’t any. You also really don’t need a car if you just plan on using the campsite and the nearby restaurants. A car is a bonus for exploring nearby towns like Collioure (beautiful French town famous for its pastel coloured houses), Argelès and of course doing a cheaper Aldi/Hypermarche shop.
We extended our holidays by three days and spent those extra days at L’Hippocampe across the road. Our accommodation was more modest but did the job. The handy part was the boys could run up to play football ahead of us. The evenings were a little livelier with teenagers at L’Hippocampe as they seemed to hang out there. The Wi-Fi was awful at L’Hippocampe but great in La Sirène. You get to add two devices to the Wi-Fi. One small quibble I have is that I wish they had a vending machine with water beside the sports area as there is no supermarket in L’Hippocampe. Water from the nearby Bamboo restaurant is €4 a bottle. Also, the coffee isn’t great – at €4 euros a cup you’d expect a lot better.
I have to commend the staff for always being friendly, helpful and really invested in the activities with the children.
Tips: I’d recommend packing a few tea towels and dishwasher tablets. Lather yourself in mosquito spray as you may think you have escaped them – but by Day 7 they’ll have got a hold of you. I also wish I packed a hat or scarf as my scalp got a little scorched by the 33-degree heat. A double-adaptor is also handy so you can charge a few devices at once. The Facebook group Friends of La Sirène can be used to give away your unwanted items when you leave.
La Sirène … until we meet again.
Read previous review at RTE Lifestyle
the edit notes 