Decisions Decisions!

[lmh242000]

Good Afternoon

We have decided to holiday in France next year for the summer holidays, first 2 weeks. I will be travelling with 2 young children age 5 and 2. I have had a very good recommendation to south Brittany which looks great. I will be travelling on the tunnel and will therefore have about 490 miles to drive.

What we are concerned about is the weather, this year we had really bad weather in Cornwall and want to try the best we can to make sure we have some nice weather.

Therefore I have not booked yet as I am not sure if we should travel further down to south Vendee Region, or another area perhaps. Can anyone help me?, is the weather much different in the Vendee Region?

Thanks

Lisa

 

[CarolineSimon]

Hi Lisa,

We have a 4 and a 6 yr old and went to Brittany this year via Dover/ Calais ferry.

Sorry to say the weather was awful ( 1st 2 wks of Aug) so much so the children couldn't go in the outside pool as it was too cold, very overcast, little sun and rained most days!

After a week we could take no more and left our prepaid pitch and drove south to the Vendee on spec.

What a huge change - hot sunny days hardly any clouds - loved every minute of it.

We are in the process of booking for the Vendee again for 2010 at the moment.

Yes Brittany is lovely but the weather can be very similar to Cornwall hence the rain which was what we wanted to avoid so personally I would recommend you go further south to the Vendee is you want to make sure you get good weather.

I am sure someone else will be along soon with advise too!

Happy Hols.

 

[Guest]

The Brittany Region will be similar to Cornwall, so a bit of 'hit and miss'. If it is good, it is great, if not, then you are miserable. Similarly a lot of northern and south western France can get hit by Atlantic Lows during July and August which can be frustrating. It does not happen every year of course, but if it is your turn, again you are miserable. This year anywhere from te Dordogne south had excellent weather, hot and sunny throughout July and August and even into September, but for example in 2008, it was wet and cool.

Sorry, but if you really want a guaranteed sun then you need to head south, real south. Probably within 100 km of the Med is where it starts. After that it is Ambre Solaire all the way.

Many people bite the bullet and hit the roads hard from Calais and get south in 36-48 hours. You have the advantage that if you hit the sun sooner you can always stop, but there is nothing worse than sitting on a site watching the rain and thinking 'it will clear tomorrow' but never does. You also secretly know that 200 km south it is probably hot and sunny.

I agree for 2 weeks that is a difficult choice to make, but we have found from past bad experiences with kids that having 10 hot hot days was better than 14 so so.

By the way I note you have decided against Cornwall. Do not blame you as it is a rip off. In France the ice cream is brilliant and cheap and what you save on wine to drink there, and of course bring back, makes it even better.

I suggest try for the Dordogne for a 1st go as it is very beautiful, the food and wine are great and there is a lot for kids to see in the many castles, caves and river boating etc. It will also be very warm, even when wet. Sites are plentiful and excellent.

 

[Guest]

By the way I mentioned your question to the 'boss'. Her answer? Tactful as usual.

Don't even bother. For 2 weeks with 2 young kids she states 'take a 2 week package in the Costas or equivalent'. At the end of the day the cost will be similar and you do not have the headache of travelling and keeping kids amused. Get them on the beach and sit back with a cool drink.

Merely a mother's thoughts.

 

[JulieT1]

Hi Lisa

We were in Brittany (near Benodet) from the 4th to the 19th of Aug this year. Temps ranged from around 18c to 25c over the 2 weeks, some overcast days, only rained a bit on 2 days but it was beautiful when the sun came out. Friends in the Vendee and others in Vannes said it was warm & sunny there for the same 2 weeks, but complained about the wind - we didn't have any windy days at all, well not outside anyway!

We've had several holidays in Brittany, once we had perfect weather but the rest have been mixed - more sun than rain though. Spent the last 2 nights near Roscoff, sunny there but cooler at night. I've read other threads and most say Brittany is prettier than Vendee, depends what you like I suppose.

Another friend went to Norfolk and weather was great, 24 - 25 each day, might be going there next year if the Euro gets much worse!!

Julie

 

[Chrissylizzie]

I agree with Mrs Scotch Lad. Obviously costs are a consideration but going that distance with two very young children may be very hard work. We went to the Dordogne this May and compared to previous years, found it very expensive.

In total with fuel, eating out only occasionally, and effort, we wondered whether it was worth it. However, the year before we went to Cornwall and found that equally expensive as it rained for the whole time and so you go into places you probably wouldn't go otherwise. With children your ages, I would be tempted to look for some sort of package deal and do the longer journeys when they are a bit older.

 

[lmh242000]

I agree with Mrs Scotch Lad. Obviously costs are a consideration but going that distance with two very young children may be very hard work. We went to the Dordogne this May and compared to previous years, found it very expensive.

In total with fuel, eating out only occasionally, and effort, we wondered whether it was worth it. However, the year before we went to Cornwall and found that equally expensive as it rained for the whole time and so you go into places you probably wouldn't go otherwise. With children your ages, I would be tempted to look for some sort of package deal and do the longer journeys when they are a bit older.

Thank you all very much for your comments, it really does help me. Its given me plenty to think about.

Thanks

Lisa

 

[EvansofSprot]

The area west of La Rochelle has elegedly the second best climate in France. I'm going there next year!

 

[EvansofSprot]

The area west of La Rochelle has elegedly the second best climate in France. I'm going there next year!

I of course meant east not west.

The latter would give you a very wet holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SteveW77]

I have always found the area to the west of La Rochelle a little to damp for my liking.

Steve W

 

[Suzac]

We have taken our caravan to St Georges De Didonne (Bois Soleil Site) in June most years since 1990. We have had a few "iffy" days but on the whole we have always enjoyed good weather. It's a nice area along the coast thro' Royan to La Palmyra. If you are already travelling 490 Miles to South Brittany however then the extra distance might prove too long for two young children. As a general rule however most people consider the weather changes once you get south of the Loire and several times we have noticed this once we are the other side of Nantes. If you do consider the Vendee have a look at Les Brunelles at St Jard Sur Mer. Nice site - super pool and close to the beach.

 

[nelmo]

By the way I mentioned your question to the 'boss'. Her answer? Tactful as usual.

Don't even bother. For 2 weeks with 2 young kids she states 'take a 2 week package in the Costas or equivalent'. At the end of the day the cost will be similar and you do not have the headache of travelling and keeping kids amused. Get them on the beach and sit back with a cool drink.

Merely a mother's thoughts.

'Similar price' - are you sure? A quick check on Thompson website and 2 weeks in Spain in August next year for a family of 4 is

 

[EvansofSprot]

I have always found the area to the west of La Rochelle a little to damp for my liking.

Steve W

Think I made that joke before you!

 

[Denise4]

we were in southern brittany from 5th aug until 28th aug and had rain on just two occasions. The weather was beautiful and we are going back next yr. I have been to the Vendee and agree that Brittany is much prettier and I also remember the wind in the vendee. We sail to Roscoff and are at La Baie within 23/4 hrs towing. Denise.

 

[otherclive]

When our kids were young we had good sunny holidays in Venee, Dordogne and Cevennes. We did not bother hauling the van fora 2 week stay as pre erected tents via Canvas Holidays etc were better value and saved an overnight stop, or two. My daughter did Cantobre with Canvas Holidays this year in June and the all in deal was cheaper than using the van.