South of France - Languedoc-Rousillon

[oldbanger]

I was thinking of visiting the Languedoc-Rousillon coast in Whitsun week. The budget would basically cover a mobile home or similar. The other half doesn't like sand and therefore has to have a pool, plus we have small kids, and I don't see any other way of getting there unless we go to one of those big holiday camp type places.

I've never really visited France and it's been on the list for some time. Can anyone offer any suggestions for good sites or places to book through? How easy is it to get about? I'm assuming a hire car would be a requirement as I think we'd probably fly to Montpellier. Where should we be looking to visit?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 30th December 10:13

[oldbanger]

Just a quick bounce in case any of tonight's dirty stop-ins can help

[ubbs]

Hi we go to France every year but always to a different site/area in the big static caravans, the one year we went to that area the campsite was called Domain de la yole nearest town was a place called valras plage we flew to Perpignan from Manchester to a pre booked hire car, we went back end of August 2010 for 10 nights we were a large group (4 families) and we all came in from different airports (gerona, Perpignan, carcassone, bezziers,) by far the cheapest option (further drive but flights and car hire much much cheaper) was to fly to gerona in Spain pick your hire car from there and cross the border into France, for the 3 of us it was £850 for the car and flights then £950 for the accommodation so it wasn't cheap but it's a nice part of the world down there and the weathers always good the company we always use is called lifestyle holidays based in Manchester they don't have accommodation on that particular site they contract it out to a Dutch partner.
Hope this helps
Ubbs

[iiyama]

http://www.ourhouseinaveyron.co.uk/

Any good?

[silverthorn2151]

Canvasholidays.co.UK is where I would direct you.

We used them many many times over the years when the kids were small in most areas of France. Really nice company to deal with and we went to some great sites in that area.

If you are down near Angeles the weather can be affected by the pyranees. To be honest we just drove into Spain at those times. You can fly drive, but we always drove.

[oldbanger]

I notice that they include Dover to Calais crossings in the price. How is the drve down to the bottom of France? We were thinking that you'd probably need 2 days each way if you wanted to be civilised?

[iiyama]

I can do Le Havre - Toulouse in a Day but that's pretty spirited driving, stopping only for fuel. Two days each way is pretty leisurely if that's what your after!

[silverthorn2151]

oldbanger said:

I notice that they include Dover to Calais crossings in the price. How is the drve down to the bottom of France? We were thinking that you'd probably need 2 days each way if you wanted to be civilised?

I have found 2 days to be too long unless you ant to zig-zag your way down.

If it was me I would have a single overnight stop and I tend to pre-book something around Lyon. Having something booked means there is no stress about finding a hotel if you get delayed. It also stops you pressing on further than you should if things are going well. It's easy to underestimate how tired you ar, particularly with kids in the back as the roads are so damm good. Up early the next day and you are ready for the Autoroute de Soleil (?). When the overhead gantires start showing the temperature we always kow we are getting close to holiday time.

[Le TVR]

ubbs said:

Domain de la yole nearest town was a place called valras plage

Also stayed there a few times. They have a website : http://www.campinglayole.com/en/Home/
but there may not be much in the way of caravans or chalets to rent. Loads for the kids to do there.

2 days to drive down would be 'leasurely'. I have taken the 06:30 tunnel crossing and been home near Castelnaudary by 7pm (with petrol+coffee+lunch stops).

Another popular destination is Argeles : http://en.argeles-sur-mer.com/tourisme-sommaire.ph...

[silverthorn2151]

Le TVR said:

Another popular destination is Argeles : http://en.argeles-sur-mer.com/tourisme-sommaire.ph...

Stayed at the Canvas Holidays site at Argeles, excellent area but we had to nip through to Spain a few days for some sunshine. Good Rugby country as I recall too! As I said and in agreement with Le TVR 2 days is too long. I have done Barcelona - Calais in a single overnight drive but that's a bit much. Those W124 Mercedes estates were like express trains on the Autoroutes! Generally I hit Lyon around 4:00pm after an early Dover - Calais crossing. Then and early start gets you to either end of the med coast, Argeles or Antibes mid afternoon without blasting it too much.

God it makes e want to hop in the car and head off right now. I love those drives and those family holidays just have the best memories. Look forward to doing them again with the kids and their kids! I now have a doofah for the toll booths, but I have not had a chance to try it out as things got changed last summer.

[DJRC]

oldbanger said:

I notice that they include Dover to Calais crossings in the price. How is the drve down to the bottom of France? We were thinking that you'd probably need 2 days each way if you wanted to be civilised?

Its a haul, especially from Calais. I did it last summer and Ive got 20yrs of doing long haul through Europe.
I stopped off overnight nr Perigueux, but thats because that is where our house is. You are basically looking at 8hrs down to Peri from Calais and then 4-5 hrs from Peri down to Carcassone.

Whilst down there I would recommend Narbonne, by far the nicest, loveliest of the cities down there.

Avoid Argeles if possible, its hell. Collioure is lovely, highly recommended.

[oldbanger]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far.

I'm just looking at the Yelloh web site.

One thing though, would we need air-con at the end of May or is it likely to be comfortable without? I don't do hot climates, one of the reasons why we're not considering a July or August trip.

[oldbanger]

Also, how much in tolls to get from calais down to Beziers please? I've been looking on the AA website, but not entirely sure how to calculate.

[Sharted]

Have used Yelloh a couple of times at Lacanau, found them to be fine - the larger caravan we used had a dishwasher try getting an apartment as large or well-equipped.

Not absolutely sure about tolls, wasn't cheap and my Mrs reckons around £200 - knowing her this will be an exaggeration!

Stayed near Argeles last year and found it a bit boring, great for kids but not much in the way of great restaurants.

The last bit of the drive down after the Millau bridge was spectacular and brought on the 'brakes worn out' light on my car due to enthusiastic downhill, bendy stretches.

[Arbathnot]

Sharted said:

Have used Yelloh a couple of times at Lacanau, found them to be fine - the larger caravan we used had a dishwasher try getting an apartment as large or well-equipped.

Not absolutely sure about tolls, wasn't cheap and my Mrs reckons around £200 - knowing her this will be an exaggeration!

Stayed near Argeles last year and found it a bit boring, great for kids but not much in the way of great restaurants.

The last bit of the drive down after the Millau bridge was spectacular and brought on the 'brakes worn out' light on my car due to enthusiastic downhill, bendy stretches.

I havn't done it for a couple of years but seem to recall £100 each way so swmbo does not sound far out. Collioure is worth a visit.

Edited by Arbathnot on Sunday 27th January 17:19

[ClaphamGT3]

Spent a lot of my childhood and youth in that area, usually driving down. it's a long drag in one day. Depending on where you are in the UK, you can take a bit of the pain out by going Portsmouth/Poole/Weymouth to Brittany overnight and lopping off about 4 hours driving.

Lots of camp sites around there. Look in the 'belt' from Beziers to Carcasonne. look around Lac du Salagau and Villeneuvette both of which are lovely.

Also, bear in mind that, at that time of year it may well not be massively warm

[DJRC]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Spent a lot of my childhood and youth in that area, usually driving down. it's a long drag in one day. Depending on where you are in the UK, you can take a bit of the pain out by going Portsmouth/Poole/Weymouth to Brittany overnight and lopping off about 4 hours driving.

Lots of camp sites around there. Look in the 'belt' from Beziers to Carcasonne. look around Lac du Salagau and Villeneuvette both of which are lovely.

Also, bear in mind that, at that time of year it may well not be massively warm

It may also be absolutely boiling.

Air con...yes.

OP, you arent looking at doing the Chartres-Montlucon-Clermont Ferrand-Millau-Beziers route are you?

If you are...dont. Words cannot describe how frigging dull you will find that journey. Chartres to Clermont-Ferrand is through the middle of nowhere and you will feel like its not a pretty journey, just that its a big waste of time. The middle of France is basically empty, there is fk all to see there.

Tolls depend how much you use the Autoroute. Budget about €100 each way on average.

Be aware though...and I can state this enough...whether you are comming down via Caen/St Malo or Calais - this is a haul. If you have kids and are in just a dull family-mobile...it will be dull and irritating, because kids in a long hot car for this distance and this time are. If you are driving something interesting then at least you can try and keep something interesting.

This isnt like driving in the UK though, nor is it like the Le Mans/Normandy hooners who think they know about driving in France. Its long haul, grande routing, long legged loping. The mindset is very different, its damn nr a 1000klicks down there, 10hrs or so in one stint.

[ClaphamGT3]

Arbathnot said:

Sharted said:

Have used Yelloh a couple of times at Lacanau, found them to be fine - the larger caravan we used had a dishwasher try getting an apartment as large or well-equipped.

Not absolutely sure about tolls, wasn't cheap and my Mrs reckons around £200 - knowing her this will be an exaggeration!

Stayed near Argeles last year and found it a bit boring, great for kids but not much in the way of great restaurants.

The last bit of the drive down after the Millau bridge was spectacular and brought on the 'brakes worn out' light on my car due to enthusiastic downhill, bendy stretches.

I havn't done it for a couple of years but seem to recall £100 each way so swmbo does not sound far out. Collioure is worth a visit.

Edited by Arbathnot on Sunday 27th January 17:19

The thing about the area is that, unlike Provence, the weather is unpredictable; it makes planning very hard.

[RVVUNM]

Another one here recommending Canvas holidays, in fact we booked up yesterday for S/E France.

[silverthorn2151]

RVVUNM said:

Another one here recommending Canvas holidays, in fact we booked up yesterday for S/E France.

OO, which site? I spend a happy time on the loo each January when the brochure drops through the door.

Not going with them this year but it doesn't stop me thinking about it. Terrific company that we have been going with for over 30 years. In fact, 35 years last summer!