Places to stop over enroute to the South of France?

[snowgirl1]

We're planning to drive to the South of France this summer and will need to break the journey, can anyone recommend places to stay for two nights (in one location) on the way down and two nights (in one location) on the way back - ideally with a pool!

No but watching with interest as we're driving back through France from Italy!

We are driving from Calais to Reims for a coffee, toilet break stop off. Then we will drive to Macon, staying overnight in a Mercure, before driving to Aigues Mortes.

The Mercure in Macon has a pool.

We like Novotel chains (secure parking) so stop at Orleans.

We can do South Wales to Orleans in one day of driving crossing using the tunnel as I take the dog and won't leave him on a cardeck ferry.

Stop at Orleans and have a look at the Cathedral or go a bit further and stay the night/a in the Loire Valley and visit one of the amazing chateaux.

Depends how far your drive just in the UK is? Are you driving from Yorkshire or the SE? That will change how far you want to drive in one day.

It really depends on which route you're taking, both from England and through Frence. If you're heading along the A5/A6 from Calais, I've found Troyes to be particularly lovely for a stop.

We stayed at Hotel les Tilleuls in Bourges which is a nice little cathedral town. The hotel has a pool in the garden so the kids could cool off after hours in the car. It's about 5 hrs from Calais and then a further 5/6 hours to the South coast (we went to languedoc region)