Beach holiday without flying

[noflyholiday]

We really want a holiday.
AI, pools, lovely beach, warm but doesn't need to be super hot.

But I won't fly. It's not negotiable and I don't want to discuss it so if your suggestion is going to be take Valium or do a course, please don't. I know you mean well but it's not going to happen.

So where can we go that's not a silly driving distance if we get the ferry or eurotunnel to France.

What's northern Spain like? Am I going to get my AI beach holiday without driving for 3 days?

I know people who are getting the train to the south of France for a couple of weeks this summer, or would you consider a ferry to Santander?

A cruise is another great alternative too - can get them from Southampton, AI, entertainment and so much going on and you get to visit different places too xxx

I went to the south of France last year via Eurostar to Lille then TGV. it was a lovely journey and a nice start to the holiday. I upgraded to first class on both trains though.

If you want AI there’s a club med in provence? It’s not on the beach but it’s a short drive to Cannes/Antibes if you want to venture out. Doable in a day and a half’s drive or train to Nice and then I they do transfers.

You can drive or catch the train to anywhere in France , northern Spanish coast, Costa Brava, Liguria or the Danish coasts pretty easily . Of course you can go further down into Spain as well but it is more travelling. Spain might be your best option

When do you want to go? Olympics has put much pressure on Eurostar and local trains. So I wouldn't try for this August say, but any time after that....

Ive done the train to both the Languedoc and French (and italian) Riviera and it's perfectly doable. Better to go via Lille than Paris. There are direct trains to Marseille or Montpellier or you can change at Valence or Aix en Provence to open up the options. An early train from Brussels had us in Agde by early afternoon. We just did 2 weeks in Puglia via Austria and Germany - which was a bit of hike to be fair - but fun.

Is it just you and your partner? If so have a look at coach holidays. You don't have to join in any excursions if you don't want to.

@helpfulperson Where would one look for coach holidays?

Where are you travelling from?

Ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Bilbao or Santander. Santander is costal and Hotel Chiqui is on the beach, lovely pool and beautiful views. Unsure of board basis available, we stayed for a weekend but were only B&B.

@Fathomless for example

www.parrys-international.co.uk

Yes just us. Thanks but I would much rather drive or train.

We can be flexible but we're in the south east. We'd be happy with any southern port/station.

Yes, I've been here and absolutely lovely

My favourite holiday is to get Eurostar to Paris or Lille - get another train down to the south of France somewhere like Avignon , and then drive down to the northern area of Spain.
The furthest we have gone driving is Tossa De Mar which is beautiful.
This year we're getting the overnight train which is a bit more expensive but a really fun experience and then we are getting the train to northern Spain just for a change. Pick up a car there it's super easy and really fun as long as you are prepared for the long train journeys, which I don't mind. Last year we had a week for four of us in Tossa using the trains and the whole thing including car hire and petrol plus airbnb at destination was under 3 grand .

For Spain would recommend the Roses bay , and Tossa but anywhere north of Barcelona is lovely . Roses are easier to get to and not quite as far as the train goes to Figueres .
Any of the little towns in southern France are lovely eg Collieure or Montpelier is also nice with a gorgeous town and bus to the beach .

I have been the other way as well going through the Loire valley on a train to Angers and then from there you can get to the coast .

I'd take the long overnight ferry, Portsmouth to Bilbao, then drive to Southern Spain for what you want. Northern Spain is nice but weather can be iffy!

Plenty of lovely beaches in Languedoc and Roussilion (nearest cities Marseille, Montpelier, Narbonne, Perpignan etc.. ). They are less touristy and cheaper than the Cote D'Azur but still have glorious beaches and lovely weather.

Easy to get to from the UK by train- Eurostar to Lille or Paris and then a TGV (try the new Ouigo trains as are cheaper but operate more of a Ryan Air model). Not so sure if there are the kind of Spanish and Greek style AI resorts you are thinking off as I don't think France really goes in for that sort of stuff in a big way and there is not much catering to English tourist tastes in the way you get in AI/resort places in say Spain or Turkey. There are holiday resorts and beach towns along that bit of the med coast that are popular with the French - Sete, Marseillan, Agde, Gruissan, Colliure, la Grande Motte, St Cyprian etc.. but I think you rent a holiday apartment on the beach and self cater or use local restaurants.

We tend to just use a basic hotel or apartment and wat out - so much lovely seafood and veg!

I think there are Eurocamp type places as well if you have young children.

Weather July and August in these places can be mid 20s to high 30s.

We were in Beziers and Sete a week or so ago and average temperatures were 27 - 30 degrees.

Ferry to bilbao or santander for Northern Spain. Beautiful beaches.

You can get a ferry from Barcelona to Menorca (or Majorca but it's further). Sleeper train to Barcelona. Plenty of lovely AI on Menorca!

Just to note if you look at Cap D'Agde be clear there are two resorts - a family one and a nudist/sex people one!

Our train to Beziers went through Agde and there was an interesting variety of passengers embarking 😆

Train to paris skip or have a day here
train to Sete overnight and have a day in Sete
board ferry to Morroco Tangier, Mallorca, Spanish Mediterranean coast

treat the journey as part of the holiday and get night crossings

www.directferries.co.uk/sete_ferry.htm

Northern Spain is indeed lovely but is not a beach holiday, all inclusive resort kinda place. Only option would be somewhere north of Barcelona and a long drive.

You won’t get AI in Northern Spain, the weather is unpredictable and it can be very expensive. Is beautiful but not your classic Spanish beach holiday.
You want Costa Brava, train is pretty easy, and lots of choice of accommodation.

Drive and ferry- st malo and drive to south Brittany or the vendee in France . Had lovely holidays there over the years. Free, abundant parking at beaches and loads of space.