Where to stay within 3 hours of Bordeaux airport

[Rejectville]

I’ve found cheap flights to Bordeaux airport this summer. Can anyone recommend the best place to stay with a 4 and 7 year old? I’m thinking either Dordogne or Atlantic coast. We’ll be hiring a car from the airport but don’t want too long of a drive. We want peace and quiet, private villa/gite with pool, good food and wine.

[SnowsInWater]

We used to holiday in Fouras, a small town on the coast an hour 40 drive from Bordeaux when our kids were little. An extra twenty minutes will take you to La Rochelle which is truly stunning and lovely for a nice meal around the port area. We always rented houses in Fouras, there are lots of beaches, the usual market etc.

[Andcake]

We had a great week with similar aged kids at la reserve siblu www.siblu.com/camping-la-reserve just wished we stayed longer

[Notstrongandstable]

Just to add, sunset at the Dune over the bay is spectacular

[Notstrongandstable]

Jolly boys - we loved Biscarosse, but didn't stay there. We were at one of the camp sites next to the Dune. The beach at Biscarosse is fab, nice town(smallish) and the lake is great - I love a lake! You can canoe(kayak?), SUP, probably hire little pedal boats, swim.
Arcachon is nice for a visit but I probably wouldn't stay there- beach is a bit crap. We like a bit more natural setting
It's all very surfy there which gives it a bit more of a modern feel than most of France!
Great oysters too

[Notstrongandstable]

Missusmaker - it's hot in August, but not crazy hot. Always a good breeze at the beach. Hottest was about 34 I think, but more often 29/30

[MissusMaker]

Jumping on to ask those who've been how to you find the weather in this region in August? Is it relatively consistent? Sunny/not raining etc?

[Grohnjant]

There is a lovely town called cap Ferret which is right at the bottom of the peninsular so has the ocean on one side and Arcachon Bay on the other . You can get a ferry across to the dune from there . We actually stayed further up on a yelloh campsite called Les Grand Pins We had a beautiful lodge and the site was very good quality with bike hire and surfing lessons on site . You could access the beach directly from the site and walk to the town . There are loads of places to stay in that area though . Think it would be very quiet out of season but everywhere was buzzing in July when we were there

[Grohnjant]

I agree with PP that the Atlantic coast would be a good choice especially with a 7 year old .
We went to Lacanau Ocean a few years ago . Only about an hour from Bordeaux. Great beaches for surfing /body boarding . Nearby are a couple of lovely lakes (warmer and calmer ) where you can swim , hire pedeloes, kayaks , stand up paddle boards . We rented bikes and rode through the dunes and forests. Loads of stuff to do in the beach towns in the evenings for kids . Amazing sunsets too

[Rejectville]

I know nothing about Arcachon & the Dune de Pilar/Biscarosse. What are they like? Are they big towns or more like small villages? Anything to do other than beach? Any particularly nice areas to stay?

[jollyboys]

Sorry to hop onto this thread - we are planning Arcachon and dune du Pilat/Pyla, can you recommend any places to stay/avoid?

[Notstrongandstable]

We holiday on this side of France a lot..love the Atlantic Coast. We've had great times near Arcachon & the Dune de Pilar/Biscarosse. Also bit further down Moliet et Ma and Mimizan meant to be lovely.
Personally I'm not a fan of the Dordogne at all..no sea! It's very picturesque but can get seriously hot and there was no breeze at all when we were there. Boring for kids unless they're very adventurous (mine aren't!)