Summer Sun in France?

[MiniMan64]

Bit of a wide ranging this one given I’m talking about a whole country!

Thinking about a week in France driving from Dieppe in the summer but have no idea of where. We drove down to the Pyrenees for a ski trip at New Year with my better half and two boys (7&11) and the travel was fine and it’s made us think that a trip to France in terms of accommodation rental is price wise is not too dissimilar to a week in the UK in a nice spot that we were initially looking at but with much better weather!

Thing is, I’ve absolutely no idea where would be interesting/good to go, basically been trawling AirBnb across the country for a week in self catering preferably with a pool that doesn’t cost a fortune

Med coast? West coast? Central?

Help.

[Metric Max]

We have enjoyed many holidays in France, from the Alps to the Med and Brittainy and many other parts.
It might help if you give an indication of what your family like to do on holiday. Is it swimming in a warm sea off a sandy beach, or sightseeing?
If you only have a week for the whole thing I think that the south is out. You'll spend the whole time driving which the boys (and therefore the adults) won't enjoy.
IMO you need a fortnight to do the south, a week there and 2/3 days ech way
Also for accomodation I use Booking.com

[Bill]

Although I don't mind doing longer days in the car so happily do the south for a week.

[Metric Max]

Bill said:

Although I don't mind doing longer days in the car so happily do the south for a week.

Ll you would hear is;
"are we nearly there?" Time and time again

[Bill]

My lot take the travel days as chilled tablet days.

Think the OP is near Plymouth, so overnight to Roscoff and Brittany or the west coast is his oyster.

[MiniMan64]

We did wonder about the south coast being a bit much, we did the Pyranees to Dieppe in one day but only bit that made it stty was the weather which hopefully wouldn’t be a problem in August.

I suspect it’s going to come down to picking some accommodation we like and treating it like a bit of an adventure! A pool is my only must have but there’s so much choice it’s a bit bewildering.

Of course the really important question that’s far more pressing is if I need to upgrade the car for said trip!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Puggit]

Use a long trip to find a Table d'Hote and expierence some French hospitality. We've had so many great memories from random stops.

[ClaphamGT3]

If you want sun, a great, relaxed holiday environment for children of that age and not to long a drive from Dieppe, you won't go wrong with Il de Re - about 6 hours drive from Dieppe on the Atlantic coast

[Bill]

Agree, but in August with a pool it'll be eyewateringly expensive!

[okgo]

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you want sun, a great, relaxed holiday environment for children of that age and not to long a drive from Dieppe, you won't go wrong with Il de Re - about 6 hours drive from Dieppe on the Atlantic coast

What’s this place like?

[Puggit]

okgo said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you want sun, a great, relaxed holiday environment for children of that age and not to long a drive from Dieppe, you won't go wrong with Il de Re - about 6 hours drive from Dieppe on the Atlantic coast

What’s this place like?

Flat, windy at times, often sunny, full of little villages with cafes and restaurants, lots of seafood. It's a holiday destination for the French. We are big fans.

[towser44]

Bill said:

Agree, but in August with a pool it'll be eyewateringly expensive!

We paid £1,700 for a 3 bedroom villa with private pool in Provence last August. It was well over a £1,000 for just a static caravan in Cornwall/Devon for the same week.

[Bill]

towser44 said:

We paid £1,700 for a 3 bedroom villa with private pool in Provence last August. It was well over a £1,000 for just a static caravan in Cornwall/Devon for the same week.

Ile de Re is another level.

[pissonheads]

Provence is lovely and superb rose obviously, going further West and keeping some distance from St Tropez/Monaco helps to make it somewhat affordable. West coast sea is much colder than the Med equivalent but Brittany has some great places and closer to Calais. Cap Ferret also getting a lot of headlines but not been.

If you don't mind being away from the beaches the Loire valley is great, though I really enjoyed a long weekend in Burgundy around Beaune a few years back. Lots of cycling around the vineyards and some great food/wine, though kids might be a bit bored of the adults wine tasting every 10 minutes. Alsace also good for this type of holiday.

[MiniMan64]

Bill said:

towser44 said:

We paid £1,700 for a 3 bedroom villa with private pool in Provence last August. It was well over a £1,000 for just a static caravan in Cornwall/Devon for the same week.

Ile de Re is another level.

Wow, that looks a hell of a spot, a French Scilly isles….

[okgo]

MiniMan64 said:

Wow, that looks a hell of a spot, a French Scilly isles….

Any hotel recommendations for those that have been? Or is a villa the better idea

[Puggit]

okgo said:

Any hotel recommendations for those that have been? Or is a villa the better idea

Ile de Ré is all about camping and Airbnb/Vrbo accomodation.

[hellorent]

Vendee or Biarritz. anywhere south of La Rochelle is nice and weather should be good

[Den Den]

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you want sun, a great, relaxed holiday environment for children of that age and not to long a drive from Dieppe, you won't go wrong with Il de Re - about 6 hours drive from Dieppe on the Atlantic coast

Never miss a chance to have lunch/dinner in this place if we're anywhere near Dieppe



and another vote for the Il de Re/La Rochelle/Vendee, a wonderful part of France.

[bennno]

Serviced apartments often with pools - good for family holidays

https://www.pierreetvacances.com/gb-en