south of france

angelil

I'd also recommend the Ardèche and the area around Perpignan; my inlaws live in the former and my parents have a holiday home near the latter city

mandragora_2

South West France, along the Atlantic coast is lovely - less crowded than the med, and, if you like camping, it's do-able for quite a small budget - esp if you don't mind going a bit inland, and south of Bordeaux. We've been going for the last ten years, and reckoon to spend about 13 eu a night on site fees. Between us both! We stay a month and just chill, cycle, drink, walk and swim in the crashing waves. Can't wait for it to be July again :-)

andygb

I think that the Atlantic coast is less crowded for a good reason, the water temperatures and conditions. We have stayed on both coasts and there is one place which I would recommend for someone on a budget, or where you want a mix of nice countryside, beaches and plenty to do and see. If you go South East of Marseille past Toulon, you come to a stretch of coast around Hyeres which is great. You could do B & B, caravan, posh hotel, cheap hotel, but it would be much cheaper and less crowded than St Tropez (which you could visit for a day - if you enjoy sitting in a car/coach for ages), Cannes or Nice.
This is an ideal spot
http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/var/londe/londe.htm

Bob_the_Saver

sunshinetours wrote: »

Not sure the Spanish border has ever been in teh South East of France Bob?

Well the border ran from the South West to the Med when I left home but I'll check when I get back.
Where is that place we go to for lunch then just down the road south of Perpignan over the big hills, where they speak Spanish?

If it's not the South East of France then Kent isn't in the South East of England.

http://www.travel-france-vacation.com/south-riviera-france/southern-nice-provence.htm

mandragora_2

andygb wrote: »

I think that the Atlantic coast is less crowded for a good reason, the water temperatures and conditions..

I agree about the liveliness of the water - you need to be careful - it most certainly isn't the med. However, that said, the rest - well, you pay your money and you take your choice. If you all want to crowd together in the med, that's absolutely fine with me, leaves more space, peace and quiet (and wine!) for me over on my side of 'South France'....:)

andygb

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Well the border ran from the South West to the Med when I left home but I'll check when I get back.
Where is that place we go to for lunch then just down the road south of Perpignan over the big hills, where they speak Spanish?

If it's not the South East of France then Kent isn't in the South East of England.

http://www.travel-france-vacation.com/south-riviera-france/southern-nice-provence.htm

The French/Spanish border does lie West of a central line through France, so I would think that anything East of Toulon is the South East of France, and anything West of Toulon is South West France.

richardw

Had a holiday in the Pyrenees last year on the North side, Biarritz to San Sebastian, very mixed weather in mid-July, it is just the way it is in this bit of the world.

Bob_the_Saver

Well down there we all think we are in the South East and the south East map does show the Spanish border.

http://www.beyond.fr/map/france-region-southeast-map.html
http://castawaystravel.com/capd/capd-main.htm
http://www.ancienneboulangerie.com/
http://www.le-guide.com/mandalay/index.html

andygb

richardw wrote: »

Had a holiday in the Pyrenees last year on the North side, Biarritz to San Sebastian, very mixed weather in mid-July, it is just the way it is in this bit of the world.

The Bay of Biscay is the reason for this changeable weather. It has a reputation as one of the stormiest places in the World, and until recently was a threat to shipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Biscay

Compare how rugged the coast is on this side of France/Spain and it will give a clue to the power of the sea.
It is stunning scenery though, and I spent a couple of weeks around the Dune de Pyla, just south of Bordeaux - pine forests, dunes and great beaches, but the water is wild and freezing cold.

mandragora_2

andygb wrote: »

The Bay of Biscay is the reason for this changeable weather. It has a reputation as one of the stormiest places in the World, and until recently was a threat to shipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Biscay

Compare how rugged the coast is on this side of France/Spain and it will give a clue to the power of the sea.
It is stunning scenery though, and I spent a couple of weeks around the Dune de Pyla, just south of Bordeaux - pine forests, dunes and great beaches, but the water is wild and freezing cold.

Wild - yes.
Freezing cold? Not in the summer. It's not always hot, but there's no need for wetsuits, in the way that you would if you were in Devon. In fact, this is an area used by naturists, so there's not much evidence of bathing suits in many places, let alone wetsuits!:rotfl: