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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Recommendations for idyllic French town by the sea

78 replies

MrsToadflax · 21/05/2022 10:04

Can anyone recommend a really pretty French town on the coast? We'd like somewhere with great architecture, some independent shops, perhaps a promenade and definitely a lovely patisserie and boulangerie etc. We will hire a car so can drive to local attractions. Would like somewhere interesting enough to keep DC (under 9) occupied, but not too built up.

OP posts:
monkeysonthemoon · 21/05/2022 10:22

Honfleur

nearlyspringyay · 21/05/2022 10:24

Ronce les Bains, Saint Palais Sur Met

nearlyspringyay · 21/05/2022 10:25

Mer!

CoolShoeshine · 21/05/2022 10:40

Collioure

Original poster
MrsToadflax · 21/05/2022 10:41

Ooh many thanks, will start having a look.

OP posts:
Sisisimone · 21/05/2022 10:44

Antibes is nice and has everything in your OP. Easy to get to from Nice airport and lots of lovely towns and villages to explore nearby

Silkierabbit · 21/05/2022 10:45

La Ciotat is nice

minipie · 21/05/2022 10:45

La Rochelle.

Original poster
MrsToadflax · 21/05/2022 10:50

Sisisimone · 21/05/2022 10:44

Antibes is nice and has everything in your OP. Easy to get to from Nice airport and lots of lovely towns and villages to explore nearby

Good to hear. I have been looking in this area.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsToadflax · 21/05/2022 10:52

minipie · 21/05/2022 10:45

La Rochelle.

I've been looking at Île de ré, so will look at Rochelle too.

OP posts:
Hbh17 · 21/05/2022 13:28

Trouville - wholesome, old-fashioned & good for kids.

MissAmbrosia · 22/05/2022 11:36

Antibes/Juan Les Pins - 1st is prettier (and cheaper to eat) 2nd is better for the beach. I came back last night and am depressed.

snowgirl1 · 22/05/2022 17:25

I came on to say Île de ré, but see you're considering it already - it's very pretty and chi-chi

Monstamio · 31/05/2022 14:38

If you go for La Rochelle, definitely visit the aquarium. It's excellent! It's quite a big town, though.

As well as Ile de Ré, have a look at Noirmoutier further up the coast. You access it via a car causeway which is great fun for the kids. There's also a bridge if tide times don't work for your return.

weebarra · 31/05/2022 14:43

Fecamp, Honfleur, Etretat

Whooshaagh · 31/05/2022 14:58

I would go to Carnac for beaches, hiring bikes, cafes and shops.
Visit Vannes for an interesting old town with a market and Auray for old world charm and restaurants.

ivykaty44 · 31/05/2022 15:01

minipie

I love La Rochelle, but it’s built up without prom - so doesn’t fit that bill

Veralil · 31/05/2022 15:03

Biarritz, loved it there and La Rochelle.

Smorgs · 31/05/2022 15:10

Coullioure or try Corsica, there are plenty of beautiful towns and beaches there

wondabar · 01/06/2022 09:04

Belle Ile en Mer off the Brittany coast is absolutely stunning.

Lucia574 · 01/06/2022 09:10

Collioure is gorgeous. Easy to visit Perpignan plus lots of other lovely villages, beaches, countryside too

LesLavandes · 01/06/2022 09:11

Sanary-Sur-Mer

valerianaofficiana · 01/06/2022 09:12

La Rochelle.

ShirleyJackson · 01/06/2022 09:12

Placemarking…

Rainallnight · 01/06/2022 09:14

I came on to suggest Île de Ré too, but am also shamelessly placemarking!

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