Tell me about Ile De Ré

[SunnyUpNorth]

We are thinking of a few days in Ile De Ré next August and would love some tips on best places to stay area wise.

We have two DC who will be 7 and 5 then. 5 year old can't cycle yet!! Can you get those bikes that are like a tandem for an adult and a child?

I keep reading that you can cycle all over the place but bearing in mind the 5 year olds lack of cycling skills I don't think we can be too ambitious, so which area would be a good base for us? Nearish nice restaurants and possibly some other towns within a manageable cycling distance.

Any accommodation recommendations? Don't think I could do a tent but either a mobile home/chalet type thing on a campsite or a small family friendly hotel/b&b would be great.

Any advice would be welcome, thanks.

I’ve been about seven or eight times since 2008, so know it well! Yes you can get both the tandem add on bikes and the pull along trailer buggies (which are probably better for you, so you bung all your stuff in there too).

The north side of the island is all harbours, mussels and oysters and pretty pretty towns. The south side is beaches, sand dunes and slightly less attractive towns...

We stay at Camping Interlude near Bois Plage on the south coast, short bike ride to Bois, La Flotte and St Martin (the capital). Sandy beach, big site with nice static caravans and cooler studio pods as well as pitches. Two pools, indoor and outdoor...

I wouldn’t go up as far as Ars as then you are more limited as to other towns you can cycle to.

Have fun, it really is the most beautiful place... love it

Great, thank you.

I've just been looking up some accom there and also at some Eurocamps along the west coast of France and am shocked at the prices!! We were looking at this as a potential cheap add on to a trip we might be doing to Bordeaux, but might be too pricey!!

Is it ridiculously busy in August?!

We tend to go in July, so not sure.... think of it as the Cornwall for Parisians, and that’s why it’s expensive... prices on the island once you are there don’t seem too crazy, but once you are on, stay on, as the bridge toll is a lot.