southern France, southern Spain or Cyprus - please help me decide

[arcticwind]

I am looking to book a self catering villa for two weeks either in mid July or late August preferably somewhere hot with a pool and not too expensive. We have seen some nice looking villas in Spain, near Alicante, France near Toulouse and Cyprus near Coral Bay, and am really struggling to decide where to go!

We really want somewhere where we can just chill in the heat and the dcs (by then 9 & 7) spend days in the pool

All advice gratefully received

Where are you looking at near Toulouse? I have spotted a place near Mirepoix that looks interesting. There seems lots to do nearby and the Med is just over an hour away. You will be lucky to find something inexpensive in July/Aug though.

southern france deffo.

South of France for me too. We stayed in Languedoc last year and had a fab time - it's a wonderful part of the country, really fascinating, lots to do and great food. We're off to Provence this year and can't wait.

we did languedoc and thought twas fab, but want wall to wall sunshine and although it is stinky hot, there can be a bit of cloud. So if wall to wall sunshine head from toulouse east (I think - well towards st tropez/Nice/Monaco direction)

I don't want to see a single cloud when i am on me hols

We only had an hour of rain in the two weeks we were there. It was that lovely hot rain as well that just breaks it all nicely.

We are looking at France too this year. Any villa recommendations or websites? We booked with villa parade last year but they dont do France unfortunately

We have a fab villa in France - see our ad here on the Mumsnet small ads

Cyprus is fab. And it will be hot hot hot.

Always gets my vote. Aphrodite Hills is where we always stay, just above Paphos.

hi aznerak
Cant fly directly from Scotland by the looks of things so will give it a miss but thanks anyway

Whereabouts are you as we had guests at the villa last year who flew from Scotland?

there was a flight Edinburgh-Carcassone last year but its been pulled this year. I just checked on Skyscanner for June for Beziers and Perpignan and we would need to fly indirectly which defeats the purpose of going to France. Will bookmark anyway in case I find a flight. thanks

Hi there
That's a shame, sorry about that. The Glasgow-Carcassonne route starts on 31st March but that may not be any use
Sorry

Languedoc is the sunniest part of France so if you can't get wall to wall sun there you won't anywhere in France!

We've got a villa near Beziers and I'd definitely recommend the area.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Villa Karli looks good but appears to be booked for the school holidays? Maybe next year....

We finally decided on Costa Blanca this year.

Hi there

yes, we are already fully booked for the school holidays. As its such a family friendly villa, it gets booked up really fast and we have many people who have come back again and again so its worth booking early!

Have a great time in the Costa Blanca and hope we can welcome you to Villa Karli another time

Flybe go to perpignan direct from Glasgow - only just checked at the weekend! We're going to a campsite near Argeles sur mer and perpignan only 20 miles away but apparently a small forune in taxi fares!
I love france (and Italy...)

Hi there, can all you who know south of france please tell me how hot you expect it to get in August. We love france but after getting wet further north for the last few years we're looking for some guaranteed sunshine but we really can't face day in day out over 30 degree heat of southern spain or algarve in august.
So I'm being a bit awkward I want sunshine, t-shirts and time in the villa pool but don't want to melt . What do you think? Any suggestions?

Hi there dpwellies

It really depends where you are thinking about in the South of France as it can honestly vary quite a bit from area to area.

I can only really speak for the part of the Languedoc where my parents' villa is - between Beziers and Narbonne in Herault.

In this particular part of the Languedoc, its warmest from mid June to end of July when temperatures often exceed 30c, and certainly did last summer.

However, August is a little cooler and so I think it would be realistic to expect daily highs of 28c, which in my opinion, is perfect! Warm enough for sea and pool activities but not too hot to actually get out and about doing and seeing things.

Hope this helps a bit! Ask if there is anything else you want to know and if I can answer, I certainly will

Thank Aznerak, that sounds ideal just what we're after, we want some heat just not so much that we're forever seeking out shade. That's the region I we've looked at, however the gites we've found that we like and can afford are already booked for august. The other down side I guess about going in august is that the coast will be v. busy with the french enjoying their holidays. It's pretty tricky isn't it, thanks for your help will keep looking

Hi again
I know what you mean about villas being booked up. My parents villa gets booked up for school holiday dates so early! Are you tied to school hols?
You'd be surprised about the coast. The think that always shocks us is that at all of the beaches we go to, the parking is FREE even in July and August.
Depending on where you go, we find that it is bustling, but not busy like in Spain.