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

Original poster

Basque region

28 replies

Switchd · 05/02/2026 10:09

DC (11 and 8) would really like to go to Disneyland Paris this year, and I would like a coastal holiday near a sandy beach (as the last couple of years we've done more mountain type holidays.)

On top of that, DH doesn't want it to be too hot, and I'd like some culture or nice scenery.

So I've come to the conclusion that the Basque country is the only area that would work. We'd fly there and get the train to Paris and then Eurostar home.

Somehow I don't feel that excited. I don't know why. Perhaps it's the cost - the smallest Eurocamp cabins are coming out at £1500 for a week. Has anyone been to this area and would recommend it?

My other option would be to do Disney as a standalone trip, and then have a week camping in Devon or Cornwall.

OP posts:
Original poster
Switchd · 10/02/2026 11:04

crackofdoom · 06/02/2026 23:28

I have to say that most people's immediate go- to destination for a beach holiday within easy reach of Paris wouldn't be the Basque Country! What about Brittany, Normandy, the mouth of the Loire, or the Vendee?!

Having said that, I love the Basque Country. We only spent a few days there (and in the Basque areas of Navarre- turns out the Basques aren't just in Euskadi), but I just totally love the cut of their jib. The only coastal place we spent time in was Bilbao, but I'd say it's a great city for kids (if not for drivers- scarred for life).

I've never seen so many public playgrounds! We had seen "giants" (huge human effigies) at a festival inland, and found a great exhibition of them in a museum in the centre of town. The central market is great for pintxos (Basque tapas), and we then went to the mouth of the river and crossed on one of the only surviving transporter bridges in the world. Oh, and of course the Guggenheim.

Yes I suppose it is a bit far from Paris. However I found the trains from Paris weren't bad - 4h to the Spanish border, only 2.5h to Bordeaux. And it was the only place that I thought would be warmer than UK, not too hot, and had some culture (whereas the Vendee looks a little bland?)

OP posts:
crackofdoom · 10/02/2026 14:16

Switchd · 10/02/2026 11:04

Yes I suppose it is a bit far from Paris. However I found the trains from Paris weren't bad - 4h to the Spanish border, only 2.5h to Bordeaux. And it was the only place that I thought would be warmer than UK, not too hot, and had some culture (whereas the Vendee looks a little bland?)

Show quote history

You are correct, and there's even a sleeper train from Paris to Bayonne!

However, the Basque Country is not known for being warm and sunny! 😆 Even when we were there in August there was torrential rain!

The Loire Valley is definitely warmer and sunnier, and has Nantes and various beach resorts at the mouth of the Loire. Nantes is a very cool city- check out Les Machines de l'Ile.

crackofdoom · 10/02/2026 14:20

Or, if you're considering places that are a convenient train ride from Paris, Marseille is only a 3 hour TGV ride from Paris, and the Calanques National Park is stunning.

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