Brittany, Normandy or the Channel Islands?

[Texelsheep]

Hi, we are planning a holiday next summer in Normandy, Brittany or the Channel Islands. Can you help us narrow it down?

We're a family of four, and the kids will be 9 and 12 next summer. We have previously really enjoyed the Isle de Re, Texel (Netherlands), Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and north Norfolk coast.

Between us we enjoy sandy (relatively) unspoilt beaches for general relaxing and also bodyboarding, walks along the coast or around the countryside, hiring bikes, zoos, adventure playgrounds, wandering around pretty towns, boat trips etc. We've also been to Duinrell which the kids loved. We're not fussed about eating out or anything massively pretentious. In terms of accommodation we'll probably go for a cottage or a Eurocamp style option.

I've not been to these areas as an adult and don't know where to begin narrowing down our options. Can anyone give us ideas of specific areas to look at?

Thank you :-)

Jersey! So much to do, short plane ride, hire a car and you can discover the whole island. Jersey zoo is fab, there’s history, castles, great beaches …..I can’t wait to go back.

St Brelades beach Jersey.

Jersey. I’m from there and it is lovely. Lots to do.

Guernsey. But I may be biased. Jersey is also lovely but St Peter Port is much prettier than St Helier, also Herm and Sark are nearer.
Maybe a two centre (for the sake of the neighbours!).

Another vote for Guernsey! No zoo and less developed than Jersey but it feels more different which to me is the point of the holiday.

You could do trips either day or stay in Sark, Herm, Alderney or even get the ferry to Saint Malo?

Jersey was our most successful family holiday so far - the beaches are amazing.

One of our favourite holidays was near Fouesnant in Brittany. The beaches in Beg meil and Benodet were beautiful and just about desserted (compared to anywhere we've been in the uk, that is generally rammed in school holidays)

I'd like to go back to Jersey (i went several times as a kid) but I've found self catering accomodation is either booked up a year in advance or looks basic but expensive!

Thank you everyone. I have to admit Brittany is calling to me more than the others. I did a quick google of things to do on Guernsey and Jersey with kids and I didn't feel particularly excited by the things that popped up. Maybe I should look again!

Guernsey and the Channel Islands. Beautiful, empty beaches. I think you could do a lovely island-hopping holiday, with a few days in Guernsey, a few in Jersey, day trips to Herm, Sark etc.