Eek!!! France in 2 weeks!!!

[lilypink1977]

Well we're off to Vendee in 2 weeks!!! Hoping this time in 2 weeks will be all chilled out supping wine by the tent whilst kiddiwinks are fast asleep?!!!

Any top tips? Recommendations? Soooooo stupid excited!!!!!!!! Thanks everyone for your help so far you've been amazing!! Xx

[Happy36]

How old are your children? If they're below junior school age don't expect to sleep on the flight and also you don't really need to pack any toys for the flight as stuff like the pull down tray, safety card, inflight magazine, complimentary headphones will keep them occupied(i.e. fiddling) for the short flight. Some airlines give out free colouring books. Also have a bottle for babies and juice boxes with straws for toddlers as sucking reduces ear pain for take off.

Finally, a long sleeved t shirt on a child is easier for parents than rubbing in suncream every 30 mins when they're playing in a swimsuit. Sticks of colourful sunblock for the face help you spot any gaps and little ones will self-apply with enthusiasm!

Have a super holiday!

[lilypink1977]

Thanks for your reply! Kids are 5 & 1! We're EuroTunnel-ing so long journies ahead but our kids are used to it!
Thanks for your tips!! X

[Happy36]

Ah ok sorry for the flight tips! Eurostar is much better than a plane, they can walk around and look out of the windows and more. So you don't need to have toys out en route. Bonnes vacances!

[RaisingSteam]

We're off to central/west in 2 weeks as well - so looking forward to it.

What we learnt from last few years - Shade shade shade. have an awning (we pinned up gazebo sides as a tarp) or get a pitch under a tree.

Campsite croissants and baguettes for breakfast will add up to a lot of euros - have them every so often for a treat, but find a supermarket (& take your bags for life)

Have some thin long sleeved/long trousered clothes to avoid sunburn on one arm/leg during the drive (always seemed to be my side for some reason!)

The French do camping better than we do, look up the nearest Decathlon before you go for anything you've forgotten

Also it's usual at motorway services to have a picnic blanket and a picnic - everyone will be heaving cold boxes and deckchairs out of their car and making for the grass rather than eating inside - saves you money.

er, the French supermarkets seem to have nappies and wipes but no nappy sacks (anti plastic bag perhaps?) so take some.

Have fun

[lilypink1977]

Oooh thanks so much for your super helpful tips!!! Great stuff!!! Getting soooo excited!!!

Our main concern is the drive but we're hoping we've got the route sorted now plus our euro tunnel time has been moved to earlier meaning we'll get more time to drive through France!!

Just looking forward to sitting down with as super large glass of vino..... Bliss!!!!

[RaisingSteam]

oh and another thing - plenty of medicines, including Calpol and liquid Ibuprofen.

DS1 fell over on a tiled floor in a French cafe: huge bump on the head, it has gone into family folklore as the holiday of the "bottom medicine" (ibuprofen only prescribed as suppositories).

[Hanginggardenofboobylon]

The drive is really easy, the auto routes are fab. You may get snarled up in traffic round Rouen so bear that in mind re your stops/breaks etc.
ipad and movies/games kept out 3yo happy in the car to the vendee last year.
The other trick we used for journey was a bag of new toys/books that we brought out at intervals so there was always something new for DS to look at/play with.

The vendee is lovely so much to do, have a great time!

[lilypink1977]

Medicines already on the list ta!!! As is plasters!!!

Fabulous tips! We're trying to find a route that avoids Rouen as we've heard that (on here!!!)

Any particular attractions/ places worth visiting? Best beach?
Excited!!!!!!!!!!!! Xxx

[Howaboutthisone]

Oo and another day trip that I've not been on- parents and siblings have and its a bit of a longer drive- is Puy de Fou

[Howaboutthisone]

Should have read man made beach at apremont!

[Stengor]

In-car DVD player was the best thing we ever purchased for long drives in France when our kids were young, plus you can use it in your tent when you arrive!

[zimbomaman]

We had a lovely holiday in the Vendee last year. Some of the highlights were:

The market at Challans on Tuesday mornings. It is a large animated market which includes horse and cart rides, big slides for kids, people dressed in traditional/peasant dress, music etc. We didn't buy groceries as such but had a wonderful time wandering around enjoying the atmosphere.

A canoe trip in Sallertaine (la Route du Sel). A very gentle paddle around the canals. With a one yr old you'd probably give the canoeing a miss but the village itself is full of arts and crafts shops which was great to take a lazy walk through and pick up a couple of souvenirs. As evening settled there was live music in a restaurant and the village dance was being set up - locals said we were most welcome.

Taking the Passage du Gois at low tide to Ile de Noirmoutier. Ask about the tide time and it's a great experience for the kids to cross the sea and observe everyone fishing along the way. You could stop yourselves if the timing and weather are right. The island is great although finding a free table at a restaurant was difficult for us (2 families looking to eat towards the end of traditional lunch hours). The beach there was beautiful.

We found that the beach at St-Jean-de-Monts was windy and couldn't buy a wind break from any of the shops a walkable distance away so don't forget yours. Our landlady recommended the beach at Le Golf (less people). You follow the signs to the golf club, park in their car park and walk around the restaurant, over the dunes and the beach is there. You don't have to be member to eat at the restaurant (not fancy) either.

St-Jean-de-Monts has a lot going on at night - all the shops are open selling holiday tat and there are fun fair stalls etc. It wasn't our thing but the kids enjoyed being out and about at night.

Hope that the weather is kind for you. Have a great holiday.

[sunshinemeg]

There is an amazing crazy golf site in St Jean De Monts, good to do late afternoon then spend an evening in the shopping area of St Jean, there is also a very good restaurant area there, Le beuf (sp) plage is great!

If looking for a quiet swimming area, there is a lake in Apremont with a beach and shaded area, the swimming section is marked out. You can also hire peddle boats there.

Further afield you could spend a rainy day going to Futuroscope in Poitiers.

[Hanginggardenofboobylon]

Ooh yes apremont is lovely the chateau is worth a visit too.
I would also second the ideal of Ile de Noumoutier

[Flappingandflying]

I'm there now! Lovely beaches called Dunes 1 and Dunes 2 at Bretignoles Sur Mer. Avoid Rouen and go via Le Mans and Angers to Roche Sur Yon.

Research the vendeen masacres. The Vendeeians don't see themselves so much as part of France and although it happened hundreds of years ago, the awful things done to them still rankle. If you are coming to La Garangoire then PM me for tips.

[lk26]

Boring reply but if you have an electric hook up do you have the adaptor for it so it goes into French socket.
Also if your swimming in their pools men/boys have to wear tight budgie smuggler trunks or they can't swim.
The sights we saw round the pool :()

Find aldi /lidl as they are cheap. The prices on the French markets were eye watering !

We ate out at lunch as so much cheaper and usually 3 courses and wine about 12/15 euro each.

Also if there are any local vineyards about its a great visit and you can taste and buy the wine really cheap there.

Enjoy.

[lilypink1977]

Thanks again for your fab tips! We're going to RCN La Ferme du Latois! V excited! Hoping we've got everything we need now incl adapter thanks!!!

Trunk shopping here we come!!!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

I second the vineyards, we cycled there sometimes! And yes Rouen was a nightmare when we went.

Les Sables d'Olonne was nice for a day out and the sea was lovely to swim in.

Can't think of much else that hasn't already been said, but have fun!

[Howaboutthisone]

There's a lovely carousel on the bridge at st Gilles croix de vie which we loved as kids. They also have a great soap shop and sweet shop!

[Flappingandflying]

If you do Isle de Noumoutier then don't stop at normoutier itself but head to the 'points'. On the east side there is a lovely beach and both east and west have fab restaurants. Did it yesterday. It's raining today!

[lilypink1977]

Thanks soooo much to all that have replied! You guys are amazing!!!!! Frantically writing down all these tips & suggestions to take with us! One week today!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipeeeeeee!!!!!!!

[twill]

Don't forget if you go to Noirmoutier check out the Chateau Noirmoutier en L'ile it's a great day out and well worth the visit.

[Flappingandflying]

Go to Fred's pattissierie, cafe in St giles . Amazing cakes and ice cream all hand made. Yum yum. Plus proper hot chocolate made with real choc.

[lilypink1977]

Big thanks to everyone! Just put pen to paper to take your tips with us!!!! Xx