Travelling by car to S. France with a toddler and a baby - help please

[Wonderstuff]

We have booked a villa in France in September and need some advice on getting there please. We think that the best option is to do Dover-Calais and drive down, but villa is 9.5 hours from Calais so I'm thinking leaving a day earlier and having an over night stop will be wise. I will have a 2.6 year old and a 8 ish week old baby (eek).

Villa is in Luzech, Lot. Has anyone done a similar journey and can recommend anywhere to stay en route or any where to avoid?
Please don't tell me I am completely mad, I'm starting to get a bit scared

We've done London - Toulouse(ish) about 3 times (there and back). With dd of 3 and ds of about 9 months (so older).

We always went overnight. Would get the 8pm eurotunnel, and would arrive at about 7/8am French time.

Kids slept in back. Not the most comfortable of journeys, but would suit an 8 week old more than an older child I would have thought.

We shared driving, so about 2 hours on, 2 hours off.

Advantages: no missed days of holiday. No traffic. No need for overnight accommodation. Children not bored as children asleep.

Disadvantages: Is pretty knackering for the adults concerned. BUt huge flask of coffee and regular breaks for a touch of fresh air and driver change helped. As did a very good sat nav which showed lanes to be in at interchanges and meant that the co-pilot could actually catch up on sleep rather than be required to map read.

Actually, we stayed in Gers - near Beaumont-de-Lomagne.

Hmm - had not thought of this option. Would still need to stop a bit to feed baby I imagine - though you do always find someone whose darling slept through from 6weeks don't you?

I have a test I'm hoping to pass in March, so bit of a risk assuming I'll be able to share driving

Have you thought about taking the ferry to Cherbourg, theres loads of kid friendly stuff there, then you can drive there in half the time .... just a thought, less time in the car is good ...

Oh blimey - not sure would fancy driving at night and in France if only recently passed test! Only suggested it really as it worked for us. I can see though that with an 8 week old you'll prob have to stop quite frequently anyway for feeds.

Sleeping through at 8 weeks! If only.....

Hopefully someone will rock up with good suggestions.

Yes yes - ferry is good idea.

you're only meant to keep baby in a car seat for a max of 2 hours

Having not long ago had a journey to eurodisney with a 4 month old...

FLY....

Cherbourg only seems to knock 30 mins off the journey time in Frace. DH reckons he's happy to do all the driving overnight but I reckon he'll be a bear with a sore head the next day..

wonder if you can get ferry to port further south, la rochelle .. you might be right its as far across as it is down ...

My worries with flying are A. Expensive B.Have to hire car and carseats c.More limited on stuff we can take with us and booze souvienirs we can bring back. D. Thought of Ryanair makes me even more worried.

Will go and look again.

I thought La Rochelle, but there doesn't seem to be a route, think Santander would probably be nearest ferry route.

Nope, Santander is only 6.5 hours away but only 1 crossing a week.. Back to drawing board - I think an overnight stay may be the best option?

Send husband by himself in car - packed full of nappies and food essentials (food shopping expensive in France) - and fly with the children.

We did this last year, and doing the same for this year - worth the extra cost (Ryanair) for much less stress, though I've got mil to help with kids on the flight.

With one child that would be fine, but with 2, bit scary?

For those of you who like an ending
Have decided that dh will take an extra half day holiday and we will do an afternoon sailing Dover-Dunkerque and stop overnight at Orleans Ibis (cos it looked about half way on the map)
and reverse for the return journey - will cost us just under £100 more which seems like good value compared to the other options. Many thanks for all suggestions x