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holiday in SW France help

Steve Dowman
Steve Dowman Posts: 2,406
edited April 2010 in Troubleshooting
Looking at a couple of weeks late June/early July in south west France, Atlantic coast. Somewhere with a decent beach close by, any suggestions/knowledge of the area from around La Rochelle southwards?

Comments

  • razil
    razil Posts: 15,041
    I am hoping to do somewhere down there in late July early August possibly camping, I hear you can catch a ferry from Portsmouth to that area. Can't help with your request at the moment tho.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,203
    The Vendee (north of La Rochelle) is very good.

    Jard sur mer, La tranche sur mer or around there are good
  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,468
    Well worth crossing over the border and spending a day or two in San Sebastian if you're near enough.
  • SE10Addick
    SE10Addick Posts: 2,963
    Biarritz.

    Fantastic city, really smart and cultured. Has amazing beaches and also a casino. Loads of holiday places to stay from campsites to 5 star hotels.

    If you fancy a bit of a surf desitation, Hossegor, Seignosse and Capreton are really smart places as well with some of the best surf in Europe. Seignosse has a waterpark as well for the kids.
    Great golf to be had there as well.

    And you can rent an apartment pretty cheaply in those places as well.
  • Steve Dowman
    Steve Dowman Posts: 2,406
    Got a 2 year old and need to be walking distance from a decent beach, though living a couple of miles from dymchurch any sandy beach would be seen as decent, preferably small place rather than biarritz or la rochelle, somewhere in between the two would be good.
  • CAFCBourne
    CAFCBourne Posts: 3,790
    edited April 2010
    Went to just south of La Rochelle last year some very nice parts.
    Not sure what your looking in terms of kids etc

    But Le Mathes was not for me fairground amusements zoo etc
    In saying that though it had a very nice long beach and promenade to get away from that.

    Had nice woodland areas just of the beach for a walk as well though
  • SE10Addick
    SE10Addick Posts: 2,963
    [cite]Posted By: Steve Dowman[/cite]Got a 2 year old and need to be walking distance from a decent beach, though living a couple of miles from dymchurch any sandy beach would be seen as decent, preferably small place rather than biarritz or la rochelle, somewhere in between the two would be good.

    I went here for a weeks surfing, but always thought it would bea great place to take kids

    http://www.touradour.com/Towns/seignosse/seignosse.htm
  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    Les Sables D'Olonne..............If you dont mind a mobile home, stay at La Dune les Sables through the French company.........Chadotel. Always cheaper but not quite so good with a weak pound.

    Great beaches
    Nice town
    Great cycling
    Campsite has few English. Nice bar, pool etc
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,552
    jimmymelrose is moving to La Roche sur Yon around the end of May so I've just been looking on the net about the region. Seems a nice place to visit and when we do we will probably take the Fast Ferry from Poole to St Malo and then about a 2/3 hour drive down. Not a lot dearer than easyjet or RyanAir to La Rochelle with the added bonus of having your own car.
  • bingaddick
    bingaddick Posts: 8,181
    [cite]Posted By: holyjo[/cite]Les Sables D'Olonne..............If you dont mind a mobile home, stay at La Dune les Sables through the French company.........Chadotel. Always cheaper but not quite so good with a weak pound.

    Great beaches
    Nice town
    Great cycling
    Campsite has few English. Nice bar, pool etc

    That is in the Vendee which is a little north of La Rochelle. I agree with Henry, Jard is excellent. Indeed the Vendee has great beaches right up past St Jean De Monts. It also has a micro climate which gives it very high sunshine levels but just a tad cooler than the South of France.

    If you are up to days out - search out and visit Puy De Fou - its a fantastic historical theme park. Also Futurescope with is near Poitiers.
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  • Steve Dowman
    Steve Dowman Posts: 2,406
    thanks guys, all very helpful, a friend has mentioned this place, any first hand experience out there?

    Arcachon
  • daveroan
    daveroan Posts: 230
    Anyone mention St Georges de Didonne? Great beach (5km) smallish place and typically french.
  • northstandsteve
    northstandsteve Posts: 14,327
    what's that rude barstewards that don't know how to queue
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,141
    [cite]Posted By: Steve Dowman[/cite]thanks guys, all very helpful, a friend has mentioned this place, any first hand experience out there?

    Arcachon

    I was there years ago, and remember the beach was huge. Its famous for its oysters.
  • jimmymelrose
    jimmymelrose Posts: 9,740
    I don't believe this thread. I'm going there on Wednesday to find a place to live. How many bedrooms do you lot want me to get?

    Without knowing that we were going to move west a year later, we went last year to Isle d'Oleron which is south of La Rochelle as SD requested. It was a nice holiday - excellent if you like cycling. The beaches were very windy though, even in July. Check out Royans, a bit further south, which is meant to be nice.
  • jimmymelrose
    jimmymelrose Posts: 9,740
    [cite]Posted By: razil[/cite] I hear you can catch a ferry from Portsmouth to that area. .

    I very much doubt this. Surely you mean to Normandy or Britanny.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,552
    [cite]Posted By: jimmymelrose[/cite]
    [cite]Posted By: razil[/cite]I hear you can catch a ferry from Portsmouth to that area. .

    I very much doubt this. Surely you mean to Normandy or Britanny.

    Weymouth or Poole to St Malo and then about three hours south by car to La Rochelle.
  • razil
    razil Posts: 15,041
    [cite]Posted By: jimmymelrose[/cite]
    [cite]Posted By: razil[/cite]I hear you can catch a ferry from Portsmouth to that area. .

    I very much doubt this. Surely you mean to Normandy or Britanny.

    Its an overnighter apparently, but I think goes to Northern Spain
  • Shag
    Shag Posts: 4,554
    Santander I believe
  • razil
    razil Posts: 15,041
    decided on le shuttle to calais then by road to west coast instead
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  • falconwood_1
    falconwood_1 Posts: 7,368
    I'm taking the firm down to Biarritz for 2 weeks in August (seeing the start of their rugby season too....)

    Highly recommend, ile de Re, a small island off La Rochelle.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,552
    [cite]Posted By: falconwood_1[/cite]I'm taking the firm down to Biarritz for 2 weeks in August (seeing the start of their rugby season too....)

    Highly recommend, ile de Re, a small island off La Rochelle.

    off to see jimmymelrose and family at La Roche sur Yon in September. May visit ile de Re if have the time.
  • falconwood_1
    falconwood_1 Posts: 7,368
    Its worth the £17 to go over the bridge.

    Have been there twice, stayed next to the lovely beach by the lifehouse.

    Really looking forward to Biarritz.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,203
    Bumped for Matt Addickted
  • jimmymelrose
    jimmymelrose Posts: 9,740
    I've been living in La Roche sur Yon for two months now and I've made the half hour trip to the coast quite a few times. There are miles and miles of sandy beaches with a little surf (not great but OK for bodyboards). There are also lots of other nice places to visit like the Marais Poitevin and some amusements for kids. It seems like a great place for a holiday. NB: This is the driest region in France.
  • QatarNapsy
    QatarNapsy Posts: 998
    Looking at heading out to this area next summer with 2 young kids (eldest will be pushing 3 by then).
    Either this or Brittany.

    Anyone have experience of these areas with young kids?

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