Tell me all your tips about booking a family summer holiday in France, please.

[bryte]

I'm starting to think about holidays for next summer. My children will be 12 and 9. We've been to France several times before with both extended family and by ourselves. I am looking for something different.

Access to a swimming pool is essential but I don't want a private pool if it is just going to be the 4 of us. I'd like to be within 30 minutes drive of other water, either a beach or lakeside beach. I'd like to be within walking or cycling distance of a pretty town. I'm not sure what sort of accommodation to look for. I know in Portugal/Spain you get holiday apartment complexes, with a shared pool. Could I find somewhere like that in France? Or should I be looking at the big campsite type complexes, with water slides. What are the accommodation options with those and are there some that are not quite so big?

Basically, we want a holiday that pleases the children, where they can go off and swim and play whilst we relax. But I get bored doing nothing, so would like to be able to do something else (e.g. sightseeing, kayaking, cycling) I definitely need to be somewhere beautiful. Can anyone advise what I should be looking for? We're happy to drive, with an overnight stop.

Cost is quite important. I don't want to camp, I'm a weekend camper only now, but I am used to budget accommodation.

whats your budget and how important is hot weather v length of journey? how important is flying v keeping the costs down? we've been to brittany and dordogne. both nice. generally in a mobile as we like the facilities onsite. personally i'd prefer my own pool in a gite - the second week of our holiday there was an extended family who were in the pool all week....even when they eat. so it felt a bit as if we were intruding on their space and was quite busy

Hi. I guess £100 per day for accommodation would be around the maximum, for 2 weeks. Happy to drive, say around 12 to 14 hours from Calais/boulogne, broken up with a stop. I'd consider the train too, if there's somewhere to go which is resort-like and served by public transport.

I wouldn't want to be in a gite sharing a pool with a few other gites for the reason you highlight. I don't mind holiday apartment complexes or a campsite (not a tent) if it's not in the middle of nowhere and the price is right. With campsites, I'd prefer small. Typical warm weather essential.

P & V have offers on some of their resorts. We've booked with them relatively late twice , always size up as accommodation can be small. We have also stayed here which is a relatively small site near a waterpark. they might have other similar on their website.

campsite reviews are on ukcampsites.co.uk ones with mobiles have a symbol.

We used flower campsites last summer. They are all over France. We took a tent but most had mobile homes and safari tents. All have a pool or were near the sea or a lake for swimming.

They're smallish sites but we found the facilities really good.

One place we loved was Le Chant D Oiseau in Mouliherne, easily drivable in a day from Calais. Lots to do in the area. They are some camping pitches there and some cottages to rent.

Another place was L'Elzet in The Cevennes. It's a bit further but the views and tranquility are awesome.

Thanks everyone for giving me some ideas and places to look up. I'm grateful fro your suggestions.