Where to go on holiday that's within a 90 minute drive of Calais?

[Reastie]

We are thinking of going in eurotunnel at Easter. Have never been abroad with DD and have no idea where to go/start. She'll be 4.

ANy ideas on places to stay/go within 90 mins of Calais? Needs to have preschool friendly activities and relatively tourist/people free (DH doesn't like people crowds). Although I'd love DIsneyland DH wouldn't go there in a million years.

Am wondering about Belgium and so go to Bruges for the day, but no idea on where to base, and maybe France is a better idea as I speak a little so could get by.

Bruges is only 90 mins drive from Calais. Good for couples not sure if a 4 yr would like it. I have no kids.

Le touquet?

They speak French in Belgium

Thumbcat I didn't know

Le Touquet or the Baie de Somme. There is a theme park called Bagatelle , great beaches and seafood restaurants, steam trains, nature reserves etc. We stayed at BelleDune which is a p et v site with an indoor/outdoor pool complex and activities on site.

Le Touquet is lovely. Beautiful beach. You can hire cycles .

Er, yes well they do speak French in Belgium, but Bruges (or Brugge) is actually in the Flemish-speaking bit! However, you'll get by with French or English as its a touristy (but very charming), place. We thought it was lovely.

DH and I took DS1 to Bruges when he was three and we had a great time, so I'm sure your DD would enjoy it. We stayed a place called SunParks De Haan, which was really nice for kids. Its like a sort of Centerparcs type place, but more low key. There's a nice aquarium nearby too. I put a review in the travel reviews part of MN if you're interested, but I can recommend it.

le crotoy on the baie de somme. Brilliant place, the bay empties at low tide so you can walk out and see shrimp and crabs etc in the pools of water left behind, steam train round the bay, seal spotting, we loved it.

Ohhh, thanks so much for the suggestions.

Re: Le Touquet, I googled it and it looks quite busy/touristy, and we prefer more quiet beaches, is it a tourist hot spot at Easter?

I'm particularly liking the sound of belledune and le crotoy

Le Touquet can be quite a busy place but even in August you can park on the seafront relatively easily. Definitely more of a traditional seaside resort. The areas further along the coast are less commercialised but still near enough if you fancied a day trip to Le Touquet.

Actually I'd stick with the English if you go to Bruges, as its Flemish speaking you can come across people in shops etc who aren't very happy to speak to you in french but are ok with English. Not everyone by all means but it does happen...

Wissant has a guarded sandy beach and nice cafes etc. There are lots of nice walks around - there is a lake/ nature reserve with a walk around with bird watching hides. From there the coast road is really pretty. You can visit Boulogne Sur mer and naasicaa- a big sea life centre. Calais and go up the tower in the mairie or climb the lighthouse. The lace museum. There is a boat bus. There are lots of nice villages all along the coast road both ways and you can hop on the motorway and spend a day in brugges(1 hour from Calais) bagatelle and le touquet. Le touquet has a big swimming pool/ fun park place but Calais and bologne both have ice skating/ fun swimming pool complexes which are cheaper and closer. (iceo at Calais). A day out to Lille on the train with it's free zoo. Very overlooked area by the British but lots of Belgians holiday in this area.

Not seaside but lakeside:

La Croix du Vieux Pont

2 hours 50 minutes from Calais

It is a campsite but not a standpipe in a corner. There is a wide range of accommodation: mobile homes, lodges, even tree houses!

It is a holiday village, there are people but you can engage as much or as little as you like. Being a holiday village means that there are facilities for adults and children.

We have stayed there a couple of times and GPs have been back many times for a peaceful holiday.

Bear in mind too that beaches in northern France/Belgium are likely to be chilly and windy at Easter. I remember going to the beach at De Haan in July and we nearly got blown away!

Easter in northern France / Belgium is likely to be chilly! Bruges is lovely. Speak English and you'll have no trouble

my dps grandparents had a holiday flat in braydunes which was a lovely beach, and about 20mins from dunkerque if that. It wont be any better weather than uk though. The belgium town de-panne is really nice too and could get away with either french or English. They have a theme park called plopsaland which ds1 LOVED

Ostend in Belgium seemed nice when we had a day trip there before going into Ypres.

Hmmm, OK, maybe going at Easter isn't such a great idea then given the weather....or maybe a city break would be better so there are lots of indoor options.

Well if you're looking for beach weather then you need to head a lot further south. It can be warm in the south of France at Easter (but it can also be grey and rainy - the Med is unpredictable until about the end of April). Probably better to go to the Canaries or somewhere like that if you want to be sure of warm beach weather at Easter.

As for a city break - choose your city wisely with a four-year-old. We've taken our two boys to Paris twice though and had a great time on both occasions and we often take them into London as there are so many fun, child-friendly things to do.