Where to go in France (last minute)

[Heath3]

DH and I have finally booked our onward and return train tickets to Paris from London. We are off for 10 days, will spend the first couple in Paris showing kids the sights. But then I'm stuck for what to do. Don't min renting a car and driving somewhere but happier to keep the trip car-free and take a train/public transport.

We are looking for somewhere to keep a sporty 9 year and 4 year old occupied. Maybe somewhere with water activities but also near a nice a near town for us to potter around. I don't really want to self-cater all the time so would like the option of nice restaurants. Please hit me with your recommendations.

I've looked at Ile de Re. Is that hard to get to from Paris by train?

Very easy to get there but accommodation will probably be difficult and expensive. Why not one of the other resorts along that coast?

When are you going? Paris is crazily busy at the moment and accommodation very expensive. How about the Alps like Annecy or resorts around Chambery or Bourg st Maurice?

I was also going to say Lake Annecy. Lots of water sports.

Do you have a recommendation for this?

I did look into Annecy but seemed like it was too far from Paris. Would make our return journey too complicated. But maybe its doable.

I'd use La Rochelle as a base, great restaurants, shops, aquarium, beaches. You can do Île de Ré very easily by bus.

I have friends who love La Tranche sur Mer and Châtelaillon Plage but I've never been.

Head for Alsace because there are gorgeous fairytale towns. Just looked and Strasbourg has a waterpark. Strasbourg is lovely and should be easy from Paris.

Good luck OP! France is usually fully booked in August, by French people on holiday. I'll be interested to hear where you find somewhere, if you could update?

Have a look at Yelloh campsites and see what's available? Usually a great selection of sports and activities for those ages, and in some lovely places, many easily accessible by train.

If you are travelling through Paris you can get a long way south (or west) quite quickly by train.

Had a lovely holiday in La Rochelle as a teenager

The vendee is my favourite area of France….think you’ve left it too late to get anywhere decent or affordable though….anywhere in France….the French holiday in august

It's peak French holiday season. You are going to have immense difficulty finding anything near the sea. I just looked at La Rochelle for a four-night stay next week and Google Maps showed me exactly one hotel, at €350 per night room-only for four people.

I agree with the PP idea of Strasbourg. The train from Paris is super-fast and if you stay on the edge of town you can use the air-conditioned trams to get about. There are also buses to Europa Park, just over the border in Germany, which is regularly voted one of the best theme parks in the world. Take the train to Colmar and look at the mini-Statue of Liberty (designed by Eiffel, of tower fame, who was from Alsace). And eat tarte flambée, which your kids will love (and you can make on a French stick when you get home).

It's been an awful year for gîte bookings, might be worth going on one of the Facebook groups and giving your dates

Is that right?

Why?

Weather and elections!

I've only got five days booked in August, it's usually full, although my guests are usually French and book quite late.

Nantes/Clisson and visit here: www.grand-defi.com

Paris is actually surprisingly empty, due to the French escaping the Olympics/going on holidays, but a lot of the sights aren't accessible due to the games. You need a QR code via hotel/museum booking to get close to some parts. Tour Eiffel m, Place de la Concorde etc can't be visited at all.

The Vendée is lovely. Les Sables d'Olonne is about 3.5hrs by TGV but will be busy. Might be worth checking Yelloh villages to see if any last minute offers.

Le Touquet is nice - 2 hours or so from Paris l believe

Hmm. Having been there for a few days last week I would describe Paris as far from empty. Having said that there was room for everyone and no real queues for cafes etc. As the Olympics wind down it will probably revert to normal touristy buzz. You can pre-book the museums etc but allow longer to get around as key Metro stations are closed and the main areas crowded with police directing pedestrians and cyclists speeding about.

I’d agree with this, we’ve often stopped on our way home after a holiday in France. Sometimes staying on the outskirts of town rather that the centre.

Agree with Le Touquet although I senses op was looking for further south. For accommodation look at pierre et vacances complexes, some are accessible by train and have onsite activities. Prices tend to drop at end of August.

A static caravan on a site with swimming and restaurants would be ideal for kids that age. The caravans can be very plush, with air con + verandas. Try Siblu or Roan or Jetcamp. The websites have maps so you can search with a view of figuring out how you'd get there.

Annecy. Stop at Troyes or Beaune on the way there/back.

How far are you prepared to travel ?