Never been to France! Can anyone help?

[Achangeisadgoodasarest]

I am desperately trying to get a holiday booked for the last 2 weeks of August, me, Dh and Ds7. I can get flights to Bordeaux on the dates we want, we would then hire a car and drive to the coast.

We normally do package holidays but really want to organise it ourselves this year, can anyone recommend where to stay / what to do while we are there?

I was thinking of a mobile home on a parc near the beach with kids clubs and pool, maybe for 10 nights, with a few nights in a hotel in either Biarritz or maybe drive into Spain to San Sebastien for a few days. Then perhaps an overnight in Bordeaux before we fly home. We want a bit of adventure, but also quite a lot of relaxation, is that possible?

Feeling a bit daunted by all the decision making!

Thanks

I haven't done a fly drive - as we drive down in our own car.

Just book your flights - if you are certain that is the area you want to visit. Prices will rise rather than fall.

Then check out sites. There are lots - look on campsite.co.uk or the main agents such as Eurocamp etc. I prefer private villas/houses now - our DCs are older so not bothered about lively campsites. Neither am I. There are some smaller gite complexes where you might strike lucky and find other DCs staying who your DS could play with. Or not.

If you hire a car in France, you may not be allowed to drive it into Spain - so check on that.

Just to throw a spanner in your plans- are you sure you don't want to drive, take your own car ? There are loads of places you could go to in France which are nearer to the ports - Vendee has loads of holiday accommodation. Brittany also. Sometimes it is easier to just loads up your car and go. but of course it depends on how far you would have to drive to get to the south of England in the first place.

France is a big country - and there are so many places to visit. I love it, and have been going for the past 6 or 7 years.

Not beenmuch help here have I ? But will check back in later.

Thanks gin, I'm not really sure about much to be honest! I'm not keen on driving, my DS hates long journeys and we're at least 3 hours from the south coast, not including the ferry or the drive the other side! We also have loads of BA airmiles from dh's work trips to use up.

I'm really truffling to figure out where to go to be honest, there's just so much choice! I started off looking at lake Garda or Menorca, now I'm looking at France, if I don't book soon we will be sitting at home miserable!

I just want somewhere not too hot, not too far away, nice pool and beach, but if sightseeing, nice food, no choco-latte song type 'entertainment' and not too expensive.... Is that too much to ask?