France, no car, two children and gran- any ideas?

[hopingforanother]

I've never stayed in France and have no idea where to start, other than somewhere near the sea!

None of us can drive, we will have Ds (0.8) dd (4.5) and gran with us - so five in total. We'd like a bit of beach and a town.

I'd be happy with hotel, villa/cottage/apartment or holiday park, but camping will be tricky with no wheels.

Does anyone have any ideas?!! Much appreciated :-)

hopingforanother - Great thread as I am currently contemplating the same (France with no car) so I have been checking out all the links

Re car seats, for my 4 year old, I am getting one of these for my 4 year old - who loves all kinds of back packs

Queeniffairies hope you found the thread useful!

Yonker yes you're right that is why you suggested nice/near by, the public transport aspect- it's so difficult not to get stuck on needing a taxi 'just in case we miss the last train' or whatever. But we have no car when at home either so quite an odd thing to think for us!

Anyway, we've settled on Villefranche sur mer and I think we've found a self catering place that has everything we need! So thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions! Job well done

Ooh Villefranche is lovely! We spent a week there a few years back for Autumn half term. It's quite hilly though, so good for walking off big french meals . The beach is small but sandy as I recall. We booked a transfer from the airport with a pre-booked car seat. Lovely to be met at the airport.

You can get the bus or train easily in to Nice or to Beaulieu/Menton/Monaco. There were some very nice restaurants. I can also recommend visiting the old town in Nice with the Marche des Fleurs and all the little alleyways and cute shops, and taking a trip up the castle hill behind it for stunning views - there's a lift, or you can catch the little road train from the seafront. There is an excellent children's playground up there and some paid roundabouts. There's a lovely carousel on the seafront too.

In Villefranche, there were firework displays a few times when we there each time one of the big cruise liners departed. As our appartment was on the hill above the station we had a stunning view over the harbour and out to St Jean Cap Ferrat.

Hi Hoping, glad to hear you have finally decided and things look sorted. Portofino is right, Villefranche is a lovely place, very nice beach for the kids especially - sandy, clean and water very shallow for quite a long way out. If you go to Monaco it is worth taking a bus to the botanic gardens high on the hill, just across the road is a small restaurant/cafe (really cheap for Monaco) if you walk through the restaurant to the terrace there are the most fantastic views over the bay. When we were in Nice DS and I went from Villefranche on a dolphin watching trip - a bit pricey but it was a treat for him (and me). It was wonderful to see dolphins swimming in the wild. Your DD may enjoy it if you think she is old enough - is here, choose 'excursions' from type of activity and then 'meet the whales'.

Have a good time

I have used a taxi from Nice airport that came with a baby seat for DS. We booked it in advance and asked them for it.

There is a really good train service along the Med coast through Cap D'Ail, Nice, Menton and on into Italy. You really could manage without taxis unless you want to go up into the mountains, and even then I am sure there is transport I just don;t know about.

You must go to Monte Carlo too. A short train hop to Nice.

Get train to Ventimiglia (first stop in Italy) on Friday. Fab market.

Nice beaches west of Nice - Cannes, Beausoleil way. Menton nice too.