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I need your agony aunt/first world problem support in getting together some holiday ideas for 2019 summer holiday. As ever I have not booked early enough. Planning to go end of July.
A loose plan exists to take the ferry to France and do a chalet (camping chalet, not the posh ones) type holiday. Family of 4, two kids (6 & 3). We are intending to take our bikes (the kids loved that last year) and bike trailer (for the longer distances that the kids can not manage). We would likely need a pool (or rather it would be nice to have one).
Now last year we did a Eurocamp holiday in a chalet (i.e. a static caravan) on Ile de Re. Worked fine, but sites are pretty cramped and this year would be going for a bit longer (hopefully almost 2 weeks), so I would personally prefer to have some sort of view/breathing space (and it does not need to be camping). Kids loved making friends and learning to ride bikes/scooters more confidently.
I was thinking of trying to convince Mrs G to go to the Alps/foothills, but it is not working. I know we won't be able to get any proper mtb riding in, but I would be happy with a lake, or mountain views etc. Realistically the kids will prefer to swim in a pool, rather than the sea anyway, so I am not so fussed about being on the coast.
Any other hidden gems in France that come recommended for family holidays? My wife wants guaranteed good weather. I am happy with a pool, medium warmth and somewhere with something to do; kids were happy to be on their bikes for much of the day, so somewhere with some flat space would be a bonus. Anything that involves flights looks out of budget.
Burgundy, there's a lovely pool/lake at Autun. We stay in a place about 20 mins away. But plenty closer. Have a look on Air BnB
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/3191059?location=Autun%2C%20France&adults=1&guests=1&s=imrdPm5N
St. Jeans de Mont area of the vendee, beautiful coast, great weather, not too far driving from ferry, my kids loved it round there when they were young
I love Brittany. la trinite sur mer and carnac are always nice. la Rochelle is nice too. been twice.
also gerardmer in the vosges was a nice place. bike park near and a ace lake for swimming and boats.
We've stayed at Parc St. James in Gassin. Lovely area and a great site but it is Cote d'Azur so a long drive with kids. But the weather is guaranteed. It has two pools and accommodation from small chalets to static caravans.
I stayed a week on Lake Annecy last summer, and it's bloody fantastic. Busy, but beautiful and has a great cycle path from on end to the other on an old railway line. views are amazing and the water is nice and warm!
Loads of campsites which most have cabins as well.
We stayed here http://www.campinglaravoire.com/fr/
Wow, thanks all. Some fantastic ideas here. Some of the campsites look really nice. I will look properly later today/tomorrow. Really appreciate the suggestions.
(OP apols for butting in) Ton, can you tell me a bit more about La Rochelle please? I'm about to book and it's one of the bits we've never been to 🙂 cheers
Massif Central in the Auvergne - around Super Besse or Chambon sur Lac
Hot.
Hills.
Some mtb.
Amazing (tepid) rivers to swim in.
We just booked a chalet - but some of the campsites on the rivers were brilliant.
Still the best holiday we have had (better than Morzine/Les Gets!).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/albums/72157655197686658
La Bresse. Spent a week there last year for the WC. Lovely place slightly off the beaten track. Lots to do from swimming, boating and the best bit is that there are several bike parks and looks to be some good off piste riding
We stayed near Carcassonne in the Pyrenees foothills last summer. Mediterranean warmth, but easy to escape to the mountains in 30 mins.
Lovely cycle rides along canal du midi. Carcassonne and other towns to explore. Narbonne for mdterranean beaches about 40 mins away. More castles than you can imagine. Amazing wine. Incredible views. Gorges. Loved it!
Stayed here. We were camping but they had chalets too, pool, good pizza restaurant, little shop etc
https://m.yellohvillage.co.uk/camping/domaine_d_arnauteille
Would recommend the area we live in and specifically Camping Aux Memes in Masseube, Gers. The site featured in Cool Camping France a few years ago, has a great pool and a gite. The owners are brits and very friendly, helpful and just nice people. They usually have bands playing in the summer too. We stayed for a week a few years back when we were house hunting.
There are swimming lakes nearby, the Pyrenees in about 45 mins and if you're planning for the last week of July, early August, the Jazz Festival in Marciac. Well worth a visit even if you don't like jazz (I don't, but always go for the atmosphere and a few 'proper' bands).
There's a VTT club 20 mins away that have marked routes and there may be some organised rides on in villages nearby that the kids might be able to do. Ainsa in Spain is about 2 and a half hours drive, if you could wangle a day pass too!
It's very rural France, the weather should be good, the last two summers have been superb, but being close to the mountains you can get the odd poor day.
Have a look a Camping Port de Limeuil near Le Bugue. It’s right on the Dordogne. Good campsite with chalet/mobile homes. Has a pool
and is fairly level. It’s close to some fantastic attractions- amazing chateau, prehistoric caves and Sarlat is a short drive away. Le Bugue also has a pretty good aquarium.
Ed. La Rochelle is lovely. Great to walk around the harbour and side streets. There is also a fantastic aquarium. If you have transport Rochefort maritime museum is def worth a visit. They have built a full size sailing ship but it’s a type of ‘Go Ape’ type of attraction-brilliant!
If you can live without mountain biking then this place is fantastic, we stayed last year....
Run by the loveliest family you'll wish to meet, and their kids are very friendly and will probably entertain yours all day. If you have a road bike, take it down and Martin, who owns the place will take you out with the local expats road club, the Charente Wheelers. Some beautiful road riding around there, some flat as a pancake, some with a few rolling hills depending on your preference. Loads to do in the area as well.
Another one for La Rochelle and the Aquarium
In the time honoured tradition of recommend where you've been -
http://www.camping-haliotis-mont-saint-michel.com/
Cheap, and a great location - 6 miles south of Mont Saint Michel.
We had two holidays here in 2014/2015 - only downside is the weather can be a bit 'English'
https://www.lesalicourts.com/en/
Alicourts is the best French campsite we've been to - 6 hours drive down from Calais, fantastic pools and a nice freshwater lake.
We had two holidays here in 2016/2017, and will go back.
The Weather can be amazing - we had 32/33 degrees for quite a few days on both trips (last two weeks of Aug)
Location is the only downside - you can't walk/cycle anywhere goos as it is a bit remote - but if you like cycling on endless straight forest fire roads this is the place for you..
https://www.saint-avit-loisirs.com/
A bit further south, in an amazing location (Dordogne) loads for everyone to do, and a huge waterpark. The weather was very good in Aug-18, +30 on quite a few days.
Lots to do in local area - canoe trip was a highlight.
If you do go for a French campsite, book direct with the site rather than via Eurocamp/similar - you'll save 30% and there are no disadvantages.
Last year we spent 2 fantastic weeks at Les alicourts. The Great weather helped of course, but the big site, amazing swimming pools and water slides and the regular footy games kept our 2 kids (10+2) busy. We stayed in a chalet which was pretty good, but could have done with air conditioning (available on some). Took our bikes and we managed a few rides. There's a good, family friendly ride to the closest village across fireroads and pine forest (10 mile loop). I also managed an xc ride one morning (included wading through River!). I'd recommend visiting Chambord chateaux. We parked outside Tours, and cycled there which was lovely (ready to find cycle routes), my wife loved it and she hates cycling on UK roads. So friendly and quiet out there. Also, if your eldest is brave enough, the Labyrinthe de Beaugency is amazing! You'd never find something so terrifying with no age restriction in UK! Really good costumes and a few plays.
We booked through Brittany and saved ourselves the cost of the ferry compared to direct or eurocamp etc.
La Rochelle is great but if I wanted to be in that area I'd 100% recommend staying on Ile de Re...which doesn't help the OP much.
Re. the wonderful aquarium - be prepared for 3 hr queue to get in in peak summer. I can't remember the details but check the tips on line on how to avoid the queues. I seem to remember advanced tickets were still a bit of a nightmare for some reason and an evening vist was the best plan (think it's open till 11 pm)
Camping Le Retourtour in Lamastre in the Ardeches. Lovely site, river to swim in, lots to do in the area, smashing pizza place next door for the nights you can't be arsed cooking.
And Carcassonne is also a good shout.
In fact, anywhere in France is a good shout...
South Brittany is fantastic https://www.villagelaplage.com/ really nice high quality well run site right on a safe sheltered beach. Kids can safely run wild, free kids clubs and activities also,, lots of local off road bike routes I've ridden with my kids. Some quite fun along to point du raz for when the surf goes flat...
(We did about 12 years of similar at various points down the Atlantic coast and this is where we came back to most.)
Where I live, Millau.
Lots of campsite with pools, nice river with les gorges du Tarn.
Cycling is brilliant, on and off road. The méditerranée is 1h30 away if you fancy a day there.
Lots to do with kids. Via ferrara, canoeing, tree climbing etc...
La Rochelle is great but if I wanted to be in that area I’d 100% recommend staying on Ile de Re…which doesn’t help the OP much.
I was just going to say the same! Not all of the campsites on the island are cramped. We've been to Les Varennes a couple of times, you get a good sized pitch (and shade if you ask) and the pools on site are very nice. Beach is a short walk, Le Bois Plage has a fantastic indoor market and is an easy walk or cycle.