Pierre & Vacances Village Normandy Garden

A small, hedge-lined country lane leads to a large pair of gates that mark the entrance into the expansive and self-contained holiday resort of Pierre & Vacances Resort Normandy Garden. The look and layout is that of a small town, with a series of interlinking pathways lined with cottage-style houses and apartments, all set within a lush and hilly 12-hectare estate consisting of eight "districts." Most of the grounds are well-maintained with nicely tended lawns and shrubs, and include a pond skirted with trees. Interiors lean towards a faux-country feel with exposed brick and semi-timbered paneling alluding to the traditional Normandy architecture of the area, while clientele leans heavily towards vacationing-family-with-kids from around the continent.  

The resort is surrounded by woodland and fields in the middle of Normandy countryside in the north of France. It is accessible via a small country road but fairly easy to find and not too far from the A13 highway that connects directly to Paris in about two hours. The popular tourist destinations of Trouville-sur-Mer and and Deauville are around 20 minutes by car, while the D-Day landing beaches can be found along the same stretch of coastline within about one hour to 90 minutes. At Lisieux train station, about 15 miles away, visitors can arrange a taxi transfer to the hotel, however a private car is recommended. 

There are two levels of accommodation at the resort: Select and VIP. While VIP houses are tastefully finished in bright modern tones with earthy, contemporary furnishings, the Select option tends to be pretty basic with dated interiors and occasional signs of wear. VIP accommodation also tends to be better located in the complex, and all include wooden terraces. Self-catering facilities come as standard and include ceramic cooktop stoves (or hot plates in cottages), dishwashers, microwaves, kettles, and coffeemakers. Flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi are available, though television channels are only national and there is a charge for Internet. 

The resort provides an extensive range of sports and activities, including tennis and basketball courts, quad biking, and horse-riding. The main feature, however, is the covered "Aquagarden" -- a covered water park with whirlpool, kids pools, and heated outdoor lagoon pool with numerous water jets. Child-friendly facilities cover all ages, from baby-clubs to teen discos, as well as activity programs for the whole family's participation. There is a restaurant on-site offering an a la carte menu and buffet-style dishes, as well as half- or full-board options. Wi-Fi is available, though it's on the pricey side, and many of the resort activities also incur a fee.