Brittany self catering? Is it really this hard?

[whatsyourname]

I feel as if I've spent days searching for a cottage near the coast - everything that looks half decent is full in school hlidays or mega-bucks. Please give me some inspiration!

Would you consider a fixed caravan or
Even camping? They can be really nice and may be cheaper. Tbh I cant offer much help on the price/booked up issue as it is just one of those things when everyone goes on holiday at similar time

Did you look at \link{http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france-brittany.htm\owners direct?}

Thing is with Brittany that even right in the middle you're not that far from the coast, & also you don't feel that you have to go to the same place every time (unless you find one you love of course)

Wow thanks for speedy reply! Me & DS's would love to camp, but DH is not keen - seems to think it's the cheap option & doesn't like the idea of lack of "home comforts" I did look at a couple of sites (keycamp I think) and was a bit at the price too..

Ponders cross posts, I'll have another look at Owners Direct - (lazy)

the bigger one \link{http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france/FR1980.htm\here} is mostly available & a sensible price - lots of home comforts too!

Near St Brieuc

oh, well, it's £795 in Jul & Aug, my eye slid over that & only saw £595...

Last year I booked a ferry plus accommodation deal with Brittany Ferries, going to a camping/mobile home site also used by eurocamp/keycamp etc.

We had a 3-bed mobile home - compact, but very comfortable, well-equipped and well laid out, and the children loved the pools and all the activities on-site (kayaking, climbing, high ropes course etc). That was by a river, but coast within a 30-minute drive. Have also used Owners Direct in the past for Brittany, other bits of France and Italy.

But anywhere big enough for a family is going to be expensive in school holidays. We went late July, before peak French holiday season, which made it slightly cheaper, and I think last year Brittany Ferries had early-booking discounts up until some time in January.

Just remembered - I have also used Vacances Franco-Britannique before - worth doing a search on their website as well?

Try this site/ this house - can sleep loads if kids share and has balcony that you can (just) see the sea from - outside shower for coming back from beach..

Beach has shellfish you can pick and eat too..

www.frenchconnections.co.uk/en/accommodation/property/711

Thanks again, I'm engrossed in Owners Direct still - not ignoring all your helpful suggestions!

http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/en/accommodation/property/711 here sorry

www.frenchconnections.co.uk/en/accommodation/property/711

OOh exexpat, think we're going there for part of this year's holiday, is it near Quimperle?
We got a very reasonable priced Gite for 2nd half of holiday in the Vendee, lots of googling and the site came up, this was last Sept though. It gets booked fast for school hols!

if you want any help on campsites with mobiles let me know. we've been to around 10 in brittany over the years. they are generally more expensive than gites as there's more to do. my kids got bored in a gite and husband complained about the lack of bar and tennis.

Lizzylou - Ty Nadan? If so, yes. We were only there for a week, with friends in a separate cabin, and would happily have stayed an extra week. Only complaints I have heard about the site are noise problems if you are too close to the central food/shop/bar area, as they have evening discos for the teenagers and so on. We were far enough away for it not to be a problem.

Cost of activities can add up (and you need to plan in advance and book, as some are v popular), so we rationed them out a bit, but a lot of the morning children's club activities are free, and the pools keep them busy a lot of the day. Lots of good places within daytripping distance too (Concarneau, Pont Aven etc).

If you want a day at the beach, can I recommend the little beach at Kerfany les Pins (drive through Quimperle & Moelan-sur-Mer, follow the signs)? Perfect little sandy beach with rockpools around the edge, big carpark, children's playground, cafe/bar, creperie, ice cream shack etc... Much nicer than the beach the campsite suggested.

\link{http://www.cottages4you.co.uk/sites/cottages4you/pages/PropertyDetails_C.aspx?QS=3E0F3DCD-882D-4738-9E61-B90EA3C005F2~C~F22241~~64~GBP~~0~~A~N~~4241fe98-2ea2-441a-9b2e-071e8f163de7~30286~0~0~~~Y~N~\this one is in an amazing location, right by the beach}

£1227 for the one week left in August, but there's a 7% discount if you go through the MN link - \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/partner-offers/cottages-4-u\here} - makes it £1141.11. Still a lot for a week though!

Yes, Ty Nadan!
We were at L'ATlantique last year and our "neighbours" in the next tent had just spent a week there, they raved about it.
Thanks for the tips! My boys are very excited about kayaking (and the slides in the pool!).
Here's hoping we're not too close to the noise, though enough french wine should help

ooh Jen, do you live there all year round? You lucky thing!

Yes, since 2004 we love it! (but it's blooming freezing today, veg planting will have to wait :o)

Lizzylou - hope you like it. How old are your boys?

Another good place I remembered is les Roches du Diable - 'Devil's Rocks' in a river just up the road from the campsite (front desk can give you directions). Really nice walk down through woods to the river with amazing rock formations to clamber on, some shallow bits for paddling in. My two were miffed that we hadn't brought swimsuits as some people were jumping off one of the rocks into the water (about five metres). Not sure I would have let them do it even if we had brought swimsuits, but it might have been nice to splash around a bit.

We have access to a 3 bed mobile in the vender which is approx 1 mile inland from a beach that I know is for rent at £675 per week in August. Great site and loads of kids activities for all ages.

Will try to get a link if interested but it's on owners direct.