A month in France

[popsickle555]

We are planning a month long France trip this July - August. DC’s are 12 and 9. We’ve been before and they cope ok with heat but obviously would prefer to be coastal or with a pool as I know how hot it can be.

Where should we go? We can drive or fly. No restriction on that. I’m thinking we spend a week in a place so 4 different areas of France over the month.

DH will need to work a bit so we have to be somewhere with wifi. I won’t be working so our day tripping with the kids. We will hire a car (or drive).

up for camping, air b&b and also gites but looking for recommendations on locations and accommodation if anyone has any.

we are going early July so hoping some things will still be available to book!

I was thinking of doing a week in the alps - or possibly two as others have recommended that as lovely in summer time.

Just wanted to say wow! Lucky you and how great for your kids. The dordogne is lovely...most campsites have huts on them to rent.

I know, I do feel very lucky! We are both remote workers and self employed and deciding to make the most of it this year!

I'd probably drive if you're going to do a week in each of four regions as you'll be doing lots of driving anyway. If it were me, I'd head down the eastern side of France - a week in Alsace, a week in the Jura, a week in Savoie and finishing up on the Cote d'Azur.

I'd go to Annecy, perhaps stop in Paris on the way down if you fancy it, then head over to the west coast, Bordeaux, I'll D'Oleron, visit La Rochelle, then head home via Honfleur and Bayeux.

La Rochelle is beautiful, and so are many parts of Normandy and Brittany.
To avoid the real heat, I would avoid the south.

I would do Brittany to start off with ( love Benodet and Quimper or Quiberon further south. Just beautiful and cooler than further south s the summers have been pitiless here. Île de Ré or Belle-ile, then Cap Ferret/ Arcachon or Biscarrosse for a bit of surf. Maybe Carcassonne ? Somewhere like Cassis for a bit of Med action. There’s stacks to do in the mountains with younger kids - great via Ferrara in Pralognon for example but everywhere I s set up for it.
I live here. You can have any sort of holiday you want here. It’s amazing.

I would drive and take the car if you're visiting 4 different places. If you're going to Calais maybe the places on the Eastern side suggested above, including the Alps. Otherwise sail to Normandy/Brittany and I would do 1 week Brittany, 1 week Ile de Re, 1 week Dordogne, 1 week Loire Valley then sail back. I prefer the West but the ferry crossings are more expensive and there would be a lot of driving - probably 3-4 hours between each location.

Do check out distances carefully. We did three weeks in a campervan once. Went from Calais, down to the Alps, then Provence then back up through Burgundy. We did smaller chunks and shortish stays as we had the van but it did seem to involve more driving than I had imagined. French roads are generally good but it is a big place.