Hotel near Calais (small town? 30mins-ish away)-any recommendations

[sharmck]

Hi We're travelling back from La Rochelle and want to break our journey (two dds will be caged animals by then!) within spitting distance of Calais for eurotunnel. Have in mind a characterful place in a nice town where we can wander before bed. Any recommendations for good hotels/B&B or even which are the nice towns there so I can look up hotels (Thinking of for eg St Omer, Cap Griz - don't know France that well) x

Boulogne? We spent a weekend there a couple of years back. Lovely town - compared with Calais. And there is a fabulous aquarium.

Wimereux. It's between Bologune and Calais. A slightly faded Edwardian resort with a beautiful waterfront and, when the tide's out, a huge beach. Info here hotels I particularly liked this one

Agree with Wimereux - very nice! Also, we spent two weeks in Le Touquet over Christmas and it is also lovely. Lots of child-friendly walks, shops and restaurants. I imagine it is mad over summer but winter is very relaxed. Have fun!

I'll second Boulogne - lovely old town and busy new town with good shops etc. Some great restuarants - bt avoid the mexican. We stayed at the Hotel faidherbe as it was cheap but it was convenent, central and clean!!! Didn't bother with breakfast - just had fresh croissants in a cafe! Sitting outside - in Oct!

Thanks everyone for those tips. I really like the look of Wimereux (not too big as we'll only have a short time, nice beach, a front to wander on). Boulogne looked good (aquarium etc) but too big I think for the time we've got. Booking the whole thing today!