Somewhere in France we can get to by train?

[FrayedKnot]

Recommendations for somewhere to stay in France that would be easily accessible by train and preferably no need for car once we get there. Needs to be suitable for toddler, but he's past the baby stage and hopefully out of nappies by then so won;t need to take too much stuff.

Undecided about s/c, hotel / b&b..

Any ideas welcome!

What time of year? Do you want sea, beach, mountains, what?

(We went to the south of France for Easter by train, and stayed in a Pierre et Vacances village. It worked quite well.)

Paris? Or are you talking rural?

You probably don't want anywhere too rural if you want to avoid having a car when you're there?

Hopefully September.

Not too worried about where but needs to be enough to do locally without a car, so not in teh middle of nowhere - probably somewhere beachy / small town with good public transport.

I'm always a bit unsure about those holiday village type places, NQC, what was it like?

But accommodation with facilities for children - play areas, maybe a pool, etc, would be good.

It was fine. It was a bit heavily touristy, but then South-East France is all touristy, from what I could tell.

It'd be pretty hot down there in September, I'd maybe look at Pierre et Vacances places on the west coast, maybe? I don't know France that well, frankly.

Paris would also be nice at that time of year, it's quite a child-friendly place, and there are loads of things to do.

FrayedKnot, I would recommend St Jean de Luz in september (go to Paris then TGV down to St jean de Luz), you'll get nice weather so you can go to the beach, you can catch a bus or train to Biarrirz or Bayonne, or San Sebastian in Spain. There are probably still bus outings to the villages and mountains inland. The beach is very safe, it's in a sheltered bay, lovely sand. Don't know much about accomodation to recommend as we stay with my parents there, but there should be plenty of choice, although I would try and get something central so you can really anjoy it fully (especially the fab market on Tuesday and Friday mornings)

\link{http://www.saint-jean-de-luz.com/\here it is}

if you're interested I'll recommend restaurants and shops and stuff to do.....

Thaks Frenchgirl I am looking into it, it looks really nice. Have never been to that area of France.

good, let me know what you think, it's very family friendly and beautiful there

Nimes - Eurostar to Paris then TGV south.

Go to La Rohelle on the west coast from Paris. It's a lovely resort town that the mayor has kept from being developed.There are free bikes to be used all over town and you can cycle or get bus to the nearby Ile de Re.