North/West France Vs South Coast of France

[HappyG]

We are planning a months trip to france in July/August with our three kids (10,5,4) and I'm currently trying to decide between going from the Tunnel round the North coast, down the West to La Rochelle and then back to the tunnel through the centre via Paris. Four weeks in 5/6 places with no more than 5 hours driving between stops. I've found some lovely campsites with lots to entertain the kids and no huge journeys to bore them.

My question is; is it worth doing the travelling to get down to the south coast and spend a couple of weeks there before slowly travelling back up? Is the south coast much better?

All input gratefully received!

 

[AJM2]

I can obviously only speak from personal experience but my preference would clearly be to go south. I would also suggest you look at sites on the south west coast (Lacanau down to Biarritz). The first time we went to France with the MH (at the same time as you will be there) we had 2 weeks in the south west then made our way further north for a further 2 weeks. We now only go south. We may have been unlucky with the weather in the north but I got fed up seeing the place we had just come from was typically 8c warmer every day with no rain. The probability of getting good weather is so much higher in the south and the beaches/lakes look so much more inviting when the sun’s shining. Travelling to the south west has never been a problem, we get the ferry to St Malo (have tried others) and, since you arrive at 8am, a good days driving, but with a few stops (lunch etc), gets us to Lacanau. My son has done this since he was 6 and it’s never been a problem. Plenty of places to stop en route if you do fancy an overnight stay.

 

[HappyG]

I can obviously only speak from personal experience but my preference would clearly be to go south. I would also suggest you look at sites on the south west coast (Lacanau down to Biarritz). The first time we went to France with the MH (at the same time as you will be there) we had 2 weeks in the south west then made our way further north for a further 2 weeks. We now only go south. We may have been unlucky with the weather in the north but I got fed up seeing the place we had just come from was typically 8c warmer every day with no rain. The probability of getting good weather is so much higher in the south and the beaches/lakes look so much more inviting when the sun’s shining. Travelling to the south west has never been a problem, we get the ferry to St Malo (have tried others) and, since you arrive at 8am, a good days driving, but with a few stops (lunch etc), gets us to Lacanau. My son has done this since he was 6 and it’s never been a problem. Plenty of places to stop en route if you do fancy an overnight stay.

Thankyou! Do you have any particular sites you would recommend down there? Ideally with lots of pools/slides etc

 

[DDJC]

I like both the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Coast) and the Med coast. So, I would do both!

You don't say where you are starting from, so I am going to agree with AJM2 and suggest Portsmouth to St Malo. It's >8 hour crossing, so if you do it overnight, you get a cabin, that is worth having, rather than the less satisfying 3 - 5 hour snoozes you get on the ferries to Dieppe, Le Havre or Caen .

From St Malo, you can be down to La Rochelle in five hours (plus stops). From there, you have easy hops to either the south west and Aquitaine, and then on to the Med coast.

Have to say, I found Biarritz to be firmly up it's own rear. Most expensive sites I have ever stayed at, and definitely not the best equipped for facilities. You pay for the name. Alternatively, I found the sites on the Med coast near Perpignan to be excellent.

And of course you can nip into Catalunya in Spain for a bit of a change.

 

[SVMC15]

On the way down to south coast I would recommend somewhere like Vallon Pont d'Arc and Pont du Gard. There are numerous other places too if you like rapids and rivers.

Great for the children and dogs to cool down in rivers. Paddle boarding down the river through the rapids is also great although my kids were teenagers.

I love the med coast, but during holidays it was a bit full for my liking. The Atlantic coast is a bit cooler and not quite as busy.

Four weeks gives you lots of options, you could look at Annecy, or Aix le bains, possibly even nipping into Switzerland. If you haven't guessed we like the water!

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[TCG]

umm july and August will be heaving on the south coast. i would potter around Brittany and then down the west coast to la Rochelle and maybe even a few days on Ile de re