Just got back from a week at the Normandy Gardens. We chose it for the price and the easy travel from the UK. We wanted somewhere close to the ferry at Caen but with entertainment for the children who are older now and want some time on their own or with other teenagers.
We had a two bedroomed house and we found it was small but private and with reasonable facilities. For self catering we would have preferred an oven instead of just a microwave but everything worked and it was reasonably well equipped. Beds were a bit hard but far better than Butlins and on a par with Center Parcs.
The site was excellent I though with all facilities in proportion to the number of guests. We always got loungers by the pool and could use the sports facilities when we wanted. For the size of the resort (far smaller than we expected from the web site) the entertainment is amazing. There is a reasonably sized indoor pool and two outdoor pools with loungers. There is also a sports complex with a fantastic indoor play area for kids plus two indoor tennis courts, a trampoline, a circus school and a badminton court , some exercise machines, an outdoor 5 a side/basketball court and also outside facilties for volleyball. All of this, including equipment loan, is included in the price - and as I said, not overly used. Just the tennis courts alone with the pools would have made some people happy.
We have a little French but the entertainment in the evenings I thought was excellent. It was run by the entertainment team and consisted of a comedy night, cowboy night, and a revue - It was delivered with loads of energy, lots of creativity and a bit of French-flair/improvisation - which is what we want in France right? It sounds naff but I would heartily recommend trying it oif you decide to go. The kids clubs seemed OK - lightly attended sometime and the teens club had lots of people drifting in and out. There were only maybe five English families when we were there (mainly French and Belgians - some French families own aprtments there) and none with teenagers but our kids waded in and had a good time - making some new friends and improving their French at Le Spot which ran from 9pm to midnight with actiivites in the afternoon also - younger children may find it more challenging but the staff were very friendly and welcoming. In addition there was an introduction to archery, circus skills and tennis tuition provided if you wanted it.
On the site was a friendly and reasonably priced supermarket (which does roast chickens, croissants etc) - helped me out with one coffee filter on day one - thank you, a pizza, ice cream and coffee stall, and a restaurant /bar which we didn't try.
Overall, if you want something quite French with lots of activities and not too large I would have no hesitation in recommending the resort
