Hi all. We have been lucky enough to holiday in France each Summer (except Covid) for the last 10 years. We have visited Brittany, Vendee, Dordogne, Landes and this year the Royan area (south of La Rochelle). We have sailed Plymouth / Roscoff as we live in Somerset, but last couple of years have done Portsmouth / St Malo as it avoids a bit of the drive on the other side. We do a night crossing out, Day crossing back. Looking for some inspiration for next year. We are a family with 2 teenagers 18 and 14 this year but probably will be just the 14 year old and a mate for him (they will be 15) then.
Bonus if it is within about 6/7 hours (towing caravan inc stops) from St Malo. Not looking for actual site recommendations but just general areas really. Many thanks Fiona.
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We had four teenagers once. One who was into A level art history and dragged us around tedious art galleries, another who was happy to ride cable cars up to glaciers in the Alps and walk a little way, one who was slothful and was content to lie in the sun on a sun baked beach all day, and a teenage daughter who just wanted to meet Dutch boys. What are your teenagers into?
We tended to end up in Drôme around Nyons or the Enclave du pape.Lovely weather and very good wine. Were going to buy a house in Valreas until the Bank of Grandparents had a different call on the money.
The other area was around Le Barcarès near Perpignan - marvellous cycling
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Hi Fiona,
May I suggest getting your offspring to do the research, based on their own likes/preferences? Are they into sports, water sports, entertainments, countryside, history, theme parks? Favourite scenery, sea or mountain?
As for range, input it into an app called Smappen which gets you about to Limoges. You could look at Futuroscope, great for teens and adults alike; and a pilgrimage to the Martyrs Village at Oradour would be instructive. The Vienne is a bit off the beaten track so good for exploring.
Somewhat biased in favour of the Dordogne as we now live here following numerous holidays which our kids loved. However it would really require an overnight stopover - we drove St Malo to home last week after visiting family in the UK and it took over 8 hours (not towing).
Other areas our kids used to like at approx that age were;
Ile de Re on a site with direct beach access and cycle hire - island pretty flat and has extensive network of cycle paths, safe gently sloping beaches, great ice cream at harbourside in St Martin.
Loire Valley - castles / chateaux galore, garden festival at Chaumont, Maison de Magic at Blois, Da Vinci's old house in Amboise, riverside walks etc.
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Tarn, especially Millau, lots of campsites along the river that are within walking distance of an interesting town. And Herault with its towns & beaches. Our children have grown up going to Les Sablons at Portiragnes Plage, which has something for all ages.
But both are probably too far from St Malo
My favourite part of France is the Port of Calais viewed from the aft rail of the cross channel ferry.
Having spent many years driving through Europe, The view home is always the best.
------------- Knowledge is recognising that a tomato is a fruit: experience is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thank you to all with your great suggestions lots to go on here. Luckily researching holidays is one of my favourite hobbies. Teenager likes anything sporty, football, mountain biking, kayak etc. I like to be by the sea but it’s not a “must have”.
I agree with you Jimff5 have never found a bit that we didn’t enjoy.
Thanks for the app suggestion MorePints, it will definitely help narrow our search a bit. Husband who does the towing blanched when I suggested the Ardeche 😂
Quote: Originally posted by Fee Fi Fo on 16/8/2022
Thanks for the app suggestion MorePints, it will definitely help narrow our search a bit. Husband who does the towing blanched when I suggested the Ardeche 😂
Absolutely get hubby to take you to the Ardeche.....! It is absolutely beautiful. Our kids (not kids anymore!) loved swimming in the lakes and rivers; amazing locations to visit to walk and cycle, fantastic villages to visit. The Caravan Club book at Les Ranchisses. We do it with one overnight stop from Calais. And it is definitely worth the trek.
------------- Glyn W.
What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?
Hard to say really, as each region we've visited has its own special charm.
I love the lakes nr Lacanau in Aquitaine.
Enjoyed many stop overs in Beaune ( Savigny les Baune).- Burgundy.
Loved Gordes, Provence.
Enjoyed exploring the environs of Annecy (not so much the campsites nr Lake Annecy).
Find Eguisheim in the Alsace stunning. Its a great half way point when drive through to Limone sul Garda. In fact this time next week we'll be sailing from Hull.
Saumur in the Loire is a gr8 stop over, well just outside Saumur in St Hilaire.
The only areas we really didnt enjoy were the north a west coast of Brittany.
Too many Brits, too flat and in some places it was like being at home...just not a true French feel at all
Sailing from Hull we dont go near Brittany.
We used to drive from Zeebrugge but of course this crossing is no more, so we'll becsetting off from Rotterdam...Arlon, Colmar....the Swiss border and on into Italy.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Recommend your favourite part of France
via mobile 15/8/2022 at 11:36pm
