Want to take family to south of france next week - advice
Discussion
crazy work month has suddenly got a gap so am planning to chuck the kids in a car and get to the south of france (on the basis its the nearest place with beach and sun??? wrong??)
My plan is to stop on the way overnight so the drive isnt to bad..then what? just rock up at a hotel? where to go? anyone been and know somewhere nice?
Was looking at villas but thinking it might be cheaper to hotel it for the week?
My plan is to stop on the way overnight so the drive isnt to bad..then what? just rock up at a hotel? where to go? anyone been and know somewhere nice?
Was looking at villas but thinking it might be cheaper to hotel it for the week?
If you go weekend of the 25/26 remeber that its the last day of French holidays and the roads and hotels will be full on the way south. Happened to me a few years ago and had to drive 4 hours south before we found a (s
tty) hotel on the Saturday night.
Also, look in The Lady as there are some private houses and stuff which you won't see anywhere else. Have you considered Noirmoutier on the west coast. Its a bit closer, has far better food and is cheaper. It also has its own very favourable microclimate. A couple of brilliant hotels there and great food.
tty) hotel on the Saturday night.Also, look in The Lady as there are some private houses and stuff which you won't see anywhere else. Have you considered Noirmoutier on the west coast. Its a bit closer, has far better food and is cheaper. It also has its own very favourable microclimate. A couple of brilliant hotels there and great food.
EDIT - feel free to ignore my post below, sorry thought I read you would be camping - worth a thought maybe??!
Probably the worst (busiest) time to go to the South of France due to the whole of Europe all beng on holiday at the same time!
If it helps, we're planning to go to Port Grimaud/St Tropez next June - there are a fair few campsites in the area - make sure you check in advance and book to get a plot - if you look online you can find a campsite on or very near the beach at both Grimaud or Pampelonne. We're probably going to stay in a Campanile/Formule1 cheapo hotel on the way, or even stay over in Chamonix or Annecy instead as a stopover - both have campsites, Annecy you can be camping right by the lake.
If that doesn't sound any good - we camped at the cooler and quieter les Pinedes at le Colle sure loup about 20 mins outside Cannes in the mountains where there are quite a few campsites - swimming & canoeing in the river made a refreshing change to the sandy, overcrowded coast.
Probably the worst (busiest) time to go to the South of France due to the whole of Europe all beng on holiday at the same time!
If it helps, we're planning to go to Port Grimaud/St Tropez next June - there are a fair few campsites in the area - make sure you check in advance and book to get a plot - if you look online you can find a campsite on or very near the beach at both Grimaud or Pampelonne. We're probably going to stay in a Campanile/Formule1 cheapo hotel on the way, or even stay over in Chamonix or Annecy instead as a stopover - both have campsites, Annecy you can be camping right by the lake.
If that doesn't sound any good - we camped at the cooler and quieter les Pinedes at le Colle sure loup about 20 mins outside Cannes in the mountains where there are quite a few campsites - swimming & canoeing in the river made a refreshing change to the sandy, overcrowded coast.
Edited by prand on Monday 20th August 13:41
Don't know if this will help but I booked my France holiday couple of months ago for a real good price, some bits and bobs of advice..
The sooner you booked, the cheaper its likely to be as these things usually go on a 'demand driven prices' basis, unless you find a very last minute offer which I personally, have never done. I don't like risking!
How will you be getting to France? If you fly, I suggest you take a look at sky scanner, comparison websites are really good for getting a good deal. I see you mention you will be driving so it might be worth checking www.ferrysavers.co.uk , or http://www.aferry.co.uk/ferry-to-france-ferries-uk... , I booked my Dover-Calais trip from there for something like £30 return for 5 of us. Not bad at all!
As for hotels, it becomes a bit trickier, as they run out of space really fast! We have booked a bungalow at Le Hemmes de Marck which is very peaceful and pleasant. A bit of lovely french coutnry side! You might even want to try some gites/bed and breakfasts?
Another top tip, check Trip Advisor before you book anywhere, it's really helpful reading genuine reviews from other travellers stay. However, don't take the complaint ones too seriosuly, people write them when they are really angry so therefore a bit of exaggerating will be added!
The sooner you booked, the cheaper its likely to be as these things usually go on a 'demand driven prices' basis, unless you find a very last minute offer which I personally, have never done. I don't like risking!
How will you be getting to France? If you fly, I suggest you take a look at sky scanner, comparison websites are really good for getting a good deal. I see you mention you will be driving so it might be worth checking www.ferrysavers.co.uk , or http://www.aferry.co.uk/ferry-to-france-ferries-uk... , I booked my Dover-Calais trip from there for something like £30 return for 5 of us. Not bad at all!
As for hotels, it becomes a bit trickier, as they run out of space really fast! We have booked a bungalow at Le Hemmes de Marck which is very peaceful and pleasant. A bit of lovely french coutnry side! You might even want to try some gites/bed and breakfasts?
Another top tip, check Trip Advisor before you book anywhere, it's really helpful reading genuine reviews from other travellers stay. However, don't take the complaint ones too seriosuly, people write them when they are really angry so therefore a bit of exaggerating will be added!
Easiest way for us is to hit the autoroute at Calais. Stop in Beaune after six hours (Novotel is excellent) and then another six hours of autoroute next day to get to our holiday place in St Maxime
The leg to Beaune is very easy. Things get much more congested from Lyon onwards as you have traffic from all over Europe converging on the Autoroute du Soleil.
Fill up when you leave your mid-way stop as the filling stations further south get very busy.
A Sanef Telepeage automatic toll dongle makes the trip much easier and quicker in a RHD car.
We avoidLyons Centre by taking the A46 which loops around the city (follow signs for A46 Marseilles).
We also find taking pre-packed food in a coolbox and stopping at the Aires (rest areas) is less stressful than stopping at he filling/station restaurant complexes which, at this time of the year, are mobbed.
Also, take LOTS of bottled water in the car. It's VERY hot in France now
If it's your first time on the autoroute you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lane discipline. Everyone moves back over once they've made their overtaking move Don't dawdle in the 'fast' lane as within seconds you'll have 10-year-old Twingo rust buckets sitting on your bumper no matter how fast you go!
On the other hand you could avoid all this by finding a beach resort in the North , eg the D-Day area in Normandy
The leg to Beaune is very easy. Things get much more congested from Lyon onwards as you have traffic from all over Europe converging on the Autoroute du Soleil.
Fill up when you leave your mid-way stop as the filling stations further south get very busy.
A Sanef Telepeage automatic toll dongle makes the trip much easier and quicker in a RHD car.
We avoidLyons Centre by taking the A46 which loops around the city (follow signs for A46 Marseilles).
We also find taking pre-packed food in a coolbox and stopping at the Aires (rest areas) is less stressful than stopping at he filling/station restaurant complexes which, at this time of the year, are mobbed.
Also, take LOTS of bottled water in the car. It's VERY hot in France now
If it's your first time on the autoroute you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lane discipline. Everyone moves back over once they've made their overtaking move Don't dawdle in the 'fast' lane as within seconds you'll have 10-year-old Twingo rust buckets sitting on your bumper no matter how fast you go!
On the other hand you could avoid all this by finding a beach resort in the North , eg the D-Day area in Normandy
Edited by audidoody on Friday 24th August 12:02
audidoody said:
We avoidLyons Centre by taking the A46 which loops around the city (follow signs for A46 Marseilles).
Also, take LOTS of bottled water in the car. It's VERY hot in France now
Don't tell the world about avoiding the A7 through Lyon : that's why the A46 is getting crowdsed !!!Also, take LOTS of bottled water in the car. It's VERY hot in France now
Edited by audidoody on Friday 24th August 12:02
And it is v hot in the south at the moment - wife and kids have been down since end of term and it's been hitting 40 recently. I'm off tonight !!!
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