Sandaya Côte de Nacre – 5-Star Campsite — Hotel in Caen

I, like others who have left a review, was taken in by the stunning photos on the website. These photos don't reflect the reality of this site at all, and I don't agree with the 5 star rating.||The site wasn't all bad but I have been left feeling disappointed and feeling like I need another holiday to actually relax a bit.||||We booked our holiday around 10 months ago. We asked for two touring pitches together, because we were on holiday with family, and we have a 4 year old who would have been able to go from one pitch to the other. ||On booking we were told there was a 2 shell and a 3 shell pitch together and duly paid for them.||However, on arrival we found that we were given two pitches that were a significant distance apart, requiring us to walk down two paths and past several pitches to visit each other. This was a huge disappointment.||Our pitch was 170, and at first we were happy with it, as it is a large pitch with hedges around 3 sides. However, it is adjacent to a very busy path which has a constant stream of people walking up and down it, to and from the toilet block in one direction, and the pool, bar and shop in the other.||Basically between 8am and 11pm you have little to no privacy on this pitch. Everyone who is tall enough to look over the hedge, does so as they walk past.||Then there are the gangs of children. ||I have a 13 year old and a 4 year old, so I'm not anti-children in any sense, but these child gangs were incredibly loud, and tended to congregate outside the toilet block and at the end of the two paths every evening that we were in the campsite. I never saw any adult/parent about when they were at their loudest. I'm pleased to say they were not English.||This brings me onto the issue in the pool. ||I spent quite a bit of time in the pool with my 4 year old, who had a great time in all areas. Although I felt the pool area was a bit small for the size of the campsite, it was well designed for all ages, a nice temperature, and mostly well maintained. ||Sadly, my 13 year old son only went in for 10 minutes. He, his 16 year old cousin and both their fathers were then told to get out because they weren't wearing Speedo's!! These two polite, well mannered CLEAN young men, who come from a country where Speedo's are not the norm and felt too self conscious to wear them, had to go without the pool.||Meanwhile, the same loud teens who ruled the campsite in the evenings, were allowed to use the pool because they wore tight trunks. ||THEY were allowed to throw themselves down the slides in such a manner that they sent water cascading over several people walking past in ordinary clothing, and I had to stand at the bottom of the slides, ready to pull my 4 year old out of the way because these teens weren't waiting for anyone to move and they would have hurt my daughter. But that's ok apparently, because they were wearing Speedo's.||I saw others pulling strands from the palm trees and dirt from the base of the trees and putting it in the lazy river, but that's ok, because they were wearing Speedo's.||Others who were not English but knew plenty of English swear words were loudly Effing and Jeffing and laughing at their use of the language, within easy hearing of the lifeguard..... but this must be acceptable - because they were wearing Speedo's. ||Makes an absolute joke of the Speedo rule when other behaviour is allowed to go unchecked.||The shop is ok but again, small for the size of the campsite and the queues in the morning were silly. Quicker to walk into the lovely town and buy your breads there. ||Bar is not well stocked - there is little to choose from. ||Restaurant was not used but the takeaway took a long time.||Launderette was a good size - plenty of machines.||The children's park/play area was great, but again the older kids spoiled the experience for the younger ones because they would commandeer the inflatable castles and cause them to cave in by pushing the sides down to the floor. ||NEEDS MORE STAFF SUPERVISION!||This campsite seems to be the Haven holiday for the Dutch. ||Incredibly crowded, unbearably noisy, oh - and the pitches don't drain when it rains so bring ya mop!||Such a shame because the area is outstanding, every attraction we visited we loved, and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer is delightful!||We did have wood pigeons nesting in the tree on our pitch, which was great, but we didn't quite get to see the young fledge, and it was interesting watching the European Hornets on the Eucalyptus tree. I like that side of the wildlife on the site, but please sort out the human wildlife and the place would be...

I, like others who have left a review, was taken in by the stunning photos on the website. These photos don't reflect the reality of this site at all, and I don't agree with the 5 star rating.||The site wasn't all bad but I have been left feeling disappointed and feeling like I need another holiday to actually relax a bit.||||We booked our holiday around 10 months ago. We asked for two touring pitches together, because we were on holiday with family, and we have a 4 year old who would have been able to go from one pitch to the other. ||On booking we were told there was a 2 shell and a 3 shell pitch together and duly paid for them.||However, on arrival we found that we were given two pitches that were a significant distance apart, requiring us to walk down two paths and past several pitches to visit each other. This was a huge disappointment.||Our pitch was 170, and at first we were happy with it, as it is a large pitch with hedges around 3 sides. However, it is adjacent to a very busy path which has a constant stream of people walking up and down it, to and from the toilet block in one direction, and the pool, bar and shop in the other.||Basically between 8am and 11pm you have little to no privacy on this pitch. Everyone who is tall enough to look over the hedge, does so as they walk past.||Then there are the gangs of children. ||I have a 13 year old and a 4 year old, so I'm not anti-children in any sense, but these child gangs were incredibly loud, and tended to congregate outside the toilet block and at the end of the two paths every evening that we were in the campsite. I never saw any adult/parent about when they were at their loudest. I'm pleased to say they were not English.||This brings me onto the issue in the pool. ||I spent quite a bit of time in the pool with my 4 year old, who had a great time in all areas. Although I felt the pool area was a bit small for the size of the campsite, it was well designed for all ages, a nice temperature, and mostly well maintained. ||Sadly, my 13 year old son only went in for 10 minutes. He, his 16 year old cousin and both their fathers were then told to get out because they weren't wearing Speedo's!! These two polite, well mannered CLEAN young men, who come from a country where Speedo's are not the norm and felt too self conscious to wear them, had to go without the pool.||Meanwhile, the same loud teens who ruled the campsite in the evenings, were allowed to use the pool because they wore tight trunks. ||THEY were allowed to throw themselves down the slides in such a manner that they sent water cascading over several people walking past in ordinary clothing, and I had to stand at the bottom of the slides, ready to pull my 4 year old out of the way because these teens weren't waiting for anyone to move and they would have hurt my daughter. But that's ok apparently, because they were wearing Speedo's.||I saw others pulling strands from the palm trees and dirt from the base of the trees and putting it in the lazy river, but that's ok, because they were wearing Speedo's.||Others who were not English but knew plenty of English swear words were loudly Effing and Jeffing and laughing at their use of the language, within easy hearing of the lifeguard..... but this must be acceptable - because they were wearing Speedo's. ||Makes an absolute joke of the Speedo rule when other behaviour is allowed to go unchecked.||The shop is ok but again, small for the size of the campsite and the queues in the morning were silly. Quicker to walk into the lovely town and buy your breads there. ||Bar is not well stocked - there is little to choose from. ||Restaurant was not used but the takeaway took a long time.||Launderette was a good size - plenty of machines.||The children's park/play area was great, but again the older kids spoiled the experience for the younger ones because they would commandeer the inflatable castles and cause them to cave in by pushing the sides down to the floor. ||NEEDS MORE STAFF SUPERVISION!||This campsite seems to be the Haven holiday for the Dutch. ||Incredibly crowded, unbearably noisy, oh - and the pitches don't drain when it rains so bring ya mop!||Such a shame because the area is outstanding, every attraction we visited we loved, and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer is delightful!||We did have wood pigeons nesting in the tree on our pitch, which was great, but we didn't quite get to see the young fledge, and it was interesting watching the European Hornets on the Eucalyptus tree. I like that side of the wildlife on the site, but please sort out the human wildlife and the place would be...

We recently stayed at Sandaya Côte de Nacre for a family holiday and overall had a pleasant experience — but it wasn’t perfect. While the campsite offers many good things, there are also areas that could use improvement, especially for a 5-star rating.

Location & First Impressions The campsite is well located, just a 10-minute walk from the beach of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. It’s a great base to explore Normandy’s coastline and D-Day history. The site itself is quite large, with nice landscaping and clearly marked zones for accommodation. Check-in was smooth, although not especially warm or personal — very “by the book.”

Accommodation We stayed in one of the premium mobile homes. It was clean, well-equipped, and modern, with a decent outdoor space. However, the layout felt a bit tight and the beds were on the small side. Sound insulation isn’t great either — you’ll hear your neighbors. For a 5-star site, I expected just a little more space and comfort.

Facilities & Activities The water park is definitely a highlight, especially for kids. There are multiple pools, slides, and an indoor area that’s great on rainy days. That said, it can get overcrowded, especially during peak hours, and securing a sun lounger is a challenge unless you arrive early.

Activities for children are well-organized, and the animation team puts in a lot of energy. However, for adults or teenagers, the activities felt more limited. The evening shows were okay, but nothing special — more of a distraction than real entertainment.

The on-site restaurant and snack bar are convenient, but the food is average and the prices are on the high side. Service can be hit-or-miss: sometimes friendly, other times rushed and impersonal. It doesn’t feel like guests are treated as “kings,” which is something you might expect from a 5-star establishment.

Shops & Practical Services There’s a small grocery shop with the basics, and fresh bread in the morning — a nice touch. Laundry services and bike rentals are available, and reception staff speak English and are helpful, though not particularly warm or welcoming.

Cleanliness & Maintenance Overall, the site is clean and well-maintained. Public areas are cleaned regularly, and trash collection is efficient. However, we did see some wear and tear around the pools and sports areas that could use an upgrade.

Noise & Atmosphere The atmosphere is family-focused and relatively quiet at night. However, during the day, it can be quite busy and noisy, especially around the pool area. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this may not be ideal.

Final Thoughts Sandaya Côte de Nacre is a good family campsite with solid facilities, but it doesn’t quite live up to the full “5-star” expectation. While we had a nice holiday and the kids enjoyed themselves, the customer service, food quality, and overall atmosphere didn’t feel premium. You’re paying for location, infrastructure, and brand — but not necessarily for top-tier experience.

Would we return? Possibly, but we’d also consider other options...