Recommendations for southwest France coast stay before Paris with family of six

[UpsideD0wn]

We’re currently booked into a hotel in the Dordogne for the week before and have booked the ferry to come home 9th August. We haven’t got anywhere to stay for the second week 1st-8th August…. Any recommendations for the southwest French coast? Family of 6. We could stay in a couple of places during the week and want to visit Paris near the end of the trip for a day or two.

Budget? How far are you willing to travel?

South West France ie Biarritz is a long way from Paris.

If you’re in the Dordogne the week before I would recommend Arcachon/Biscarrosse. Very close to Bordeaux too.

La Palmyre? We used to go there a lot years ago. It has a small beach with lifeguards but a really long beach of pure sand a bit further on. Though towards the end there is a nudist section, Lovely pine forest . Royan close by for a visit.

And La Rochelle is near too.

It's calmer than the peak summer madness you'd hit in Paris first. A few weeks before 1st August you've got the pocket change to scatter stops and dodge the crowds. Arcachon is genuinely lovely for families (huge beach, bay, quieter than you'd expect), and the Basque country around Biarritz or Hendaye has lower-key vibes. Rather than a big hotel for the full week, two nights in one spot, three in another takes pressure off and gives everyone a breather. A self-catering base (villa or cottage) beats a hotel everytime, you have your own space, and you can eat what works for your kids.
Getting to Paris for a day or two at the end is best. A sleeper train from southwest France gets you there rested (night travel beats the drive), and then you can dip in for museums on a quieter day, out again the next.
I would book accommodation that's away from kids' clubs and evening entertainment. Ring ahead and mention you're a family of six with specific needs will work with you on timing and space. enjoy your trip
(Full disclosure, I plan travel for neurodivergent families for a living, and I am ADHD myself, and a mother of autistic son so family travel choreography is something I think about a lot.)

Firstly, where are you getting the ferry home from? If it’s Calais or another Channel port then stopping in Paris for a day or two on your way back to the port makes sense, otherwise don’t bother due to the travel time. Assuming you’re driving carefully check that accommodation in the Paris area has car parking and what it costs.

Second point is that Saturday 1st August is a black day on the roads - it’s the big criss-cross where the July holiday makers head home and the August people (most of France) are setting off. Do not plan to drive far on this day. Have plenty of drinks, food and make sure you set off with a full tank of fuel or fully charged EV. You want to be self sufficient and not rely on buying lunch somewhere. I live in Southwest France and regularly do long drives in July and August so speak from experience.

Lastly this late on your choice of destination might be determined by availability. Southwest France is melting under its third heatwave this summer. Make sure you have air conditioning! If you’re getting the ferry back from northern France I would head north to the Royan area rather than south towards Biarritz to limit back tracking. Do not underestimate how long it takes to drive in France due to the long distances. The driving experience on the A26 just outside of Calais is very different to the motorways in the south of France in a red or black day in July or August.

Early August will be busy in most nice places but you could try Ile de Re or Nantes?

Another vote for Charente Maritime region, look at St George’s de Didonne, Saint Palais sur Mer or inland from there. Loads to do and see and beaches are fab for bodyboarding.

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated. On recommendations from you we’ve booked somewhere near Royan so we can visit La Rochelle and we’re moving much higher up later in the week to get to Paris and the ferry from Calais 🙏

That’ll be lovely, La Rochelle and Ile du Re are stunning! Have an amazing time.