Recommendations for somewhere nice within max 2hrs drive of Calais please?!

[parachutes]

Hi, would be grateful if anyone can recommend somewhere nice to stay within a few hours drive of Calais. Ideally would like a villa close to a beach. We're thinking of going either May or Sept and we're not tied to term dates so am fairly flexible.
We would need an area where things are fairly accessible; would prefer not to be too far from local amenities as we cannot, as a family, do any long walks (and don't want to have to use car.)
Would be very very grateful for any advice. TIA

Normandy is fantastic - but probably a 3 hour drive from Calais, but if you got the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen then lovely beach holiday accommodation is between 30mins - an hour away. We went in September - we stopped here: [http://www.pv-holidays.com/normandy/omaha-beach/omaha-beach-holiday-apartments_to-rent_369-1_fp] the area was BEAUTIFUL and there was lots to do. We booked late and got a fantastic deal -5 nights in a house for 4 people was £160

Wow Prinnie, that's excellent. I've just been looking at Normandy actually so your message was a real coincidence. I know dh would like to go there so it's a real possibility. I didn't realise it was that far from Calais so will look into Portsmouth as it's not far from here!

Check out pierre et vancances who have complexes of villas with varying amenities such as indoor/outdoor pools, kids clubs etc including across the Pas de Calais/Picardy area. We went stayed at Belle Dune but that is one you would ideally need a car for and the areas of villas/apartments are spread out so those nearer the beach are not also near the main pool and activities. Alternatively you can hire bikes with kids' seats or trailer to get around. Their places in Le Touquet, for example, are probably more accessible by public transport/on foot to town.

Thanks LIZS, I'll have a look at that today. Does anyone have any recommendations on best/cheapest way of taking car to France? TIA

Hi
You could always try Le Touquet if you don't want to go that far - its only about 40 mins from Calais. The cheapest way to get to France is to go via Eurotunnel using your Tesco Clubcard vouchers - we do it every year and virtually travel over for free!!
Lucilla

Thanks for the info HolidayMummy, I've had a look at Le Touquet and it looks lovely. Has anyone had any experience with Wissant? Someone has suggested that. Thank you.

Centre Parcs Lac d'Ailette is 2hrs from Calais. Set around the shores of lake, which has a small sandy beach. No cars required onsite. Lovely place with all the usual CP facilities.

Wissant is lovely and really comes into itself during the summer months. The beach there is fantastic with young children.

Belgian coast? De Haan is lovely, and the tram runs all the way along so it is very easy to visit different towns. Lots of activities for children, water parks, theme parks, animal things etc. You can also rent bikes and go-carts on the seafront. website

I second Le Touquet - beautiful and about 45mins from Calais IIRC

Any more recommendations on this?

I'm looking to take my caravan over in June and don't really want to drive more than 2 hours from Calais.

bump

I third Le Touquet

Is there much to do in Le Touquet then? Someone told me it was a place for middle-aged golfers .

The Ardennes in Belgium? We spent a weekend near to La Roche and there is loads to do. Caves, castles, animal parks, mazes, open air pools, kayaking etc etc. Food and beer is nice too.

That sounds great Porto, I think it's more like 3.5 hrs drive though and since we'll be towing a caravan, don't really want to drive very far.

Wissant is lovely - it is a small place, not much going on but the beach - but it is a lovely beach with nice sand and dunes.
le Touquet or any of the resorts along that stretch of coast are all nice.

At Wissant you can also visit Nausicaa, the historical parts of Boulogne, Wimereux, a bigger trad seaside resort than Wissant.

Le Crotoy is nice, on the Baie de Somme - also within less than 2 hours of Calais - nice beach, boat trips, a steam train round the bay to St Valery.

Dover Calais or Boulogne is the cheapest way to travel - all the routes to Normandy and Brittany are much more expensive.