Normandy, Brittany or Vendee region with toddler twin boys

[speedymama]

DH and I are contemplating a Canvas, Eurocamp or Keycamp holiday next summer in France when the boys will be 3yo and hopefully out of nappies.

I have visited Paris several times but I have not been to the aforementioned regions. As we live in Kent, I would prefer to travel to Calais and then drive. However, looking at the map, I envision that driving will take several hours, particularly to the Vendee region.

My question is, how long will it take to drive to each place?

As this will be the first holiday of this type for us, would we be better going to Normandy as it is closer to Calais and the journey will be shorter?

How disruptive or practical is an overnight stop if one wants to travel a longer distance?

Is Normanday suitable for a family with young children?

Will Normandy be as warm as Vendee or Brittany(looking to travel at the beginning of July 2007)?

Which is your preferred region and why?

TIA

We went to Normandy at that time of year last year and the weather was lovely. Ours were 4 and 1 at the time and it was more than hot enough for them.

Vendee might be a bit too hot for small children in July IMO - anywhere south of the Loire estuary on the coast has long, hot lovely summers if you like that sort of thing.
Our children have done overnighters in hotels at that age and really enjoyed themselves. What tended to happen is that they slept in the car en route meaning they were not hopelessly cranky for dinner and we all just turned in together.
Family rooms in France are readily available and we have always found a warm welcome.
All the regions are nice tbh. All the coastlines are beautiful in their own way - good mix of busy-ish resorts and quieter places.
I think Brittany and the Vendee are more popular and I suppose there must be reasons for that - warmer, sunnier beaches.
I am a big fan of Normandy personally - I think the inland countryside especially from Dives/Cabourg and also from Bayeux is very pretty. It is also less touristy in high season.
I would guess all the campsites have approximately the same facilities for family fun
The French are good at low-tech family amusements wherever you go. Look out for maize mazes (we went to a fantastic one with hidden water jets in it in the Charente Maritime when ds was 2) but don't expect maybe the same level of investment in farm parks and stuff as you get in the UK. We live on the Kent borders and I think we are very fortunate to have SO much to do in that county
The other thing I'd say speedymama is check out whether the crossing from Newhaven to Dieppe is still offered. That would give you a shortish run in the UK and drop you in Upper Normandy. You could get to Eastern Brittany easily from there in a day's drive.
HTH

Thanks Bozza and Marina. I'm beginning to feel more courageous and less daunted about travelling to France.

DH and I always dwell on reasons why not to travel long distances with the boys but I think we need to be more adventurous. Last year we went to Gt Yarmouth and last week we were in Bournemouth. We really enjoyed those holidays but would like to venture further afield (but not on an aeroplane - we want to wait until the boys are older [coward emoticon]).

We've been to both Normandy and Brittany with children about the same age. Ours were really only interested in the beach, and there are some lovely ones in both regions. We stayed in Houlgate in Normandy, and there was a fabulous sandy beach, and La Baule in Normandy, where the beaches were more rocky (great for shrimping!) On the whole we preferred Brittany, but both were great.

You can get the ferry to Brittany, but it is eye-wateringly expensive. We went Dover-Calais, and then drove down over two days, so no more than 5 hours driving in the day. We stayed near Vannes on the way down, and Rouen on the way back, in Campanile motels. It worked out MUCH cheaper than the ferry.

Have fun!

Go to Barneville-Carteret in Normandy. The best beach for kids ever. (We were there for three weeks last year with our two dds who were then 5 and 3). Get the ferry to Cherbourg and it's less than an hour's drive. Alternatively (I've just seen you're in Kent, sorry) you can drive there from Calais, but it takes about 5 hours or so (we stopped overnight last year on the way there, which is OK - French hotels are quite good on family rooms - but did it in one go on the way home... left at 6 a.m. and arrived in Dunkerque at about 11.00.

We are going to Normandy in August - getting the ferry to Cherbourg like we did last year. Only last year we stayed over near Portsmouth and this year we are going to do it all in one day. We are in Yorkshire so long drive down. Then we have second week in Brittany, evening ferry back from Cherbourg to Poole with cabin and drive back through the night home. Quite adventurous for us.

Normandy landing beaches were brilliant. DS particularly liked the Omaha beach. This year he has asked that we don't go to so many places and just go to the beach!

La Baule in Brittany

Out of interest, if we caught the ferry to Cherbourg, how long is the crossing? Unfortunately, I get sea-sick.

I'm trying to work out if a long drive from Calais with toddlers is better than a long ferry ride with my dodgy tummy.

I think the ferry is about about 4 or 5 hours. I think if you suffer with your tummy I would avoid the cat because that was more bumpy we found. DH apparently felt rough (and was fine on the normal ferry), DS was fine but had been dosed up, and DD whinged and wouldn't eat (just turned 1 so not verbal) and we assumed she was feeling a bit sick because as soon as we got off she was wolfing down her food.

DD is a dreadful traveller and with already the long journey in England that affects our decision. DS had started being a better traveller by the time he was 3 though.

My dh gets sick if he so much as looks at a boat, but has been OK between Portsmouth and Cherbourg. I think the Cat is about 2.5 hours and the normal ferry 4-5 hours. But haven't gone that way for a while, so not sure. You could check on the P&O website.

CAT definitely bumpier, my dh gets seasick and can just about manage Speedferries (VERY family friendly speedymama and they drop you in less grisly and further south Boulogne) which is 45 mins.
If your two are all right in the car I'd go for the longer road trip. French roads are a dream compared to ours, we love motoring in France.
You will probably also get a lot of kindly interest in the boys, being twins

IMO we've not found Normandy to be as hot/sunny as Brittany or the Vendee. Southern Brittany is lovely - Carnac/Quiberon region is lovely and not as far to drive as the Vendee.

You can cross the channel quicker on the Portsmouth - Cherbourg or Caen fast ferry approx 2 hr 45 mins

TBH I have never been bothered about the length of the ferry journey (just the associated cost) because it is not the same as being stuck in the car. And you can generally time a meal whilst on board.

Marina, the boys are mixed race (white/black) too so they attract attention all the time, particularly as one is fair with blue eyes and the other is brown with brown eyes

Thanks for all the tips.

Well I'm utterly biased as I run self-catering accommodation in Normandy set up specifically for families with children under 5 but if you'd like to check us out you can do so at www.toddlerholiday.com If you'd like to read an unbiased view a mumsnetter started a thread about us after she stayed (and also introduced me to mumsnet!) . It was sophable on Monday 24 April. If you just need more info about the region, travel times etc I'm happy to help.

Hi petitbisous

Wanting to stay with you at some point next year..it looks fab!! What is the weather like middle of October? Really don't like it too hot and I think July and August will be more than 80 degrees?? Or end of April?

Thanks for your help.

Avoid the Cat at all costs (too many people being sick.. even if you arent, all around you are.. sorry but true!!!)

Some years ago we took ours too fab holiday resort called Port Bourgenay. Has a www. but cant do links. Lots of pools reataurants, lakes, entertainment. Bit like Disney without the Disney iyswim.

Bad holiday in static caravan in Brittany end of May... so cold at night we slept in our coats for 2 weeks. Wait til end of June if I were you.

In early July 05, we stayed on a Sunelia campsite near Concarneau in Brittany last year with our 18 month old daughter. We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St. Malo. This works great, as Brittany Ferries provide cots. It leaves UK about 10.30pm and gets into St. Malo at 8am. DD slept in car for most of journey...so for us it works well. Brittany was nice but a bit rainy. So this year we ventured further south to the Ile de Re. FANTASTIC. The island is situated just off La Rochelle. The weather fab, without being sweltering for the DD. (Apparently the Gulf Stream keeps the clouds away). AND the best bit, we didn't use the car the whole time. We just hired bikes, one with a chariot on the back, and DD loved it. I saw one with twins in actually...and they seemed very confortable. Ile de Re is 4 hours 20 mins from St. Malo...and it was a doddle. (To return to UK on an overnight ferry you have to come back to Portsmouth from Caen). Hope it helps.