Can someone help me plan a holiday to France for my impossible family?

[Quokkafeet]

My son is 8 with ADHD and autism. Historically, travelling has always been a massive trigger for him. We have come back from trips early on many occasions! This year he has improved a bit, as in the first 24 hours are a write off and then he gets his shit together.

Husband is autistic and doesn't like the feeling of being out of control/ routine on holiday. He is burned by many many bad experiences with DS which doesn't help.

DD is 11 and is easy. Loves going anywhere you take her. Really wants a proper abroad holiday, which we've never been able to do before.

I would really love to take them to France in August, as I have loads of lovely memories of going there as a kid. I honestly think it's doable.

We need to be in our own accommodation so no shared areas/ resort etc as that will make it easier for DS and DH. We'll take our own vehicle on the euro tunnel and the kids are actually pretty good at long car journeys, they do them a lot in the UK to visit family. I feel if we're staying somewhere nice that is our space then DS and DH will have a nice time and DD and I can explore.

Can anyone recommend a location- near coast for DS who absolutely loves the beach, a nice town for mooching for DD. They also love a day out like an aquarium or a waterpark or some attraction like that but don't want to be somewhere TOO touristy because DH hates that.

I've been looking on both air BnB and gites.co.uk but just feel totally overwhelmed with choice and and being out of touch with what the different areas are like etc.

Any France experts that can help us?

I loved Bayeux but it might be too touristy.

La Grande motte could fit the bill!

The South West is a lovely region and quite diverse in terms of landscapes. Very historic and being a bit Spanish influenced, more laid back. Not so expensive as the bordering on Italy side either.

Montpellier is a university town and quite arty for mooching. Avignon isn't far.

That said, I'm just watching the French news and there's forest fires near Perpignan right now. Cap d'Agde always used to be a bit LGBTQ etc but I haven't been in years.

Long way to travel though.

Where did you go as a child, please OP?

I think practically everywhere in France is rather touristy, quite frankly. Or else it's a bit of a dump. I only really know the south. Above Bordeaux and Lyon I'm no real help to you.

I live in Corsica now but that's a different kettle of fish entirely and would need another ferry crossing apart from everything else.

Carnac, in Brittany. Good Eurocamp, interesting place, nice beach. Drive doable from Dieppe in one long day or better, broken half way. Maybe better from St Malo or Cherbourg, haven't done that route. bit touristy but in a posh way.

I will look it up thank you!

Thanks, I am leaning towards Brittany from the bit of research I've done. I'll look up Carnac!

Thanks so much for all this.

As a child we did eurosites which was like the cheaper eurocamp. We absolutely loved it and went all over. I fondly remember la Rochelle, the ardeche river, the Dordogne. I'd love to give my kids those summers we had but all the camping companies seem to have been taken over by eurocamp and it is SO expensive now. Our family weren't wealthy and mum said it used to be a really affordable way of doing France.

Also - I think we would struggle with DS. He loves other children so would enjoy the freedom of going off and playing on a campsite. But he doesn't have a good sense of danger, wanders off and gets lost all the time, and can have quite epic meltdowns which I don't fancy doing with an audience of other families sitting outside enjoying their cheese and wine!