South of France Weather

scaredofdebt

We have managed to save enough this year to be able to afford a foreign holiday for the first time in 3 years, no mean feat when you have 6 kids!

We are considering the south of France but are unsure about the weather. As we are on a fairly tight budget we will be self catering in a villa/gite with a pool so the kids are occupied without the need for spending a lot on days out.

We stayed near Agen in 2013 but the weather wasn't great, 3 or 4 good days, 3 or 4 rainy days and the rest were just dull and overcast although warm. Is that typical of the area for mid-late August or were we a bit unlucky?

On a couple of the bad days we drove to the beaches on the Med and that was hot and sunny, but it was a fair trek!

The problem is villas in the Cote d'Azur/Provence where the weather is better (maybe I am wrong?) is that they cost about double what they cost in the Bordeaux/Toulouse area.

Anyone know those areas well and can they give me more info about typical weather. We don't expect wall to wall sunshine and 30 degrees but if 4 rainy days in a 14 day period is typical we may choose somewhere nearer the Med, if that is any better.

Thanks for any advice.

richardw

You need to avoid the rain effect from the Pyrenees hills.
Montpellier-Beziers coast can be good, also Arcachon.
Consider a big mobile home on a campsite with good facilities.

Indout96

Second the mobile home option with kids, they will have plenty to do and lots of new friends to do it with, Try places not as well know such as Frejus for campsites rather than Nice ect.

knightstyle

Here are two links, first for the weather and the second for a good French campsite, Quiet, close to sandy beach, nice pool etc.
We have been there twice and friends a few times, very French, not many Brits. The same company have another nice place, but quieter, just up the road from our French house at Secondigny.
Have a day or two at Puy do Fou as well!

http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/vendee-weather.htm

http://www.bonnes-vacances-sarl.com/Vendee/Camping-La-Prairie/Camping-Le-Clos-des-Pins/Location-Mobil-Home/accueil

scaredofdebt

Thanks, we have booked a gite in Provence, a place called Brignoles.

jackomdj

We visit the Languedoc most years, last year we had a couple of wet mornings, previous years we have had sun all the time.

Villas a bit inland tend to be a lot cheaper. They also tend to have a bit more land so I am happy for my children to make more noise playing in the pool.

We always make sure (after one year without) that there are some kind of shops within walking distance. We love to be able to walk somewhere to get breakfast, or have an evening meal out.

isplumm

scaredofdebt wrote: »

We have managed to save enough this year to be able to afford a foreign holiday for the first time in 3 years, no mean feat when you have 6 kids!

We are considering the south of France but are unsure about the weather. As we are on a fairly tight budget we will be self catering in a villa/gite with a pool so the kids are occupied without the need for spending a lot on days out.

We stayed near Agen in 2013 but the weather wasn't great, 3 or 4 good days, 3 or 4 rainy days and the rest were just dull and overcast although warm. Is that typical of the area for mid-late August or were we a bit unlucky?

On a couple of the bad days we drove to the beaches on the Med and that was hot and sunny, but it was a fair trek!

The problem is villas in the Cote d'Azur/Provence where the weather is better (maybe I am wrong?) is that they cost about double what they cost in the Bordeaux/Toulouse area.

Anyone know those areas well and can they give me more info about typical weather. We don't expect wall to wall sunshine and 30 degrees but if 4 rainy days in a 14 day period is typical we may choose somewhere nearer the Med, if that is any better.

Thanks for any advice.

I wouldn't go that far - how about going to Brittany / Normandy - you could rent a villa / gite there with pool & take your own car - in August the weather should be fine - look at https://www.cheznous.com.

There are excellent beaches around St Nazaire http://gb.saint-nazaire-tourisme.com/ or maybe go a little further to La Rochelle.

As others have said - look at caravans - mobile homes - they will have communal pools etc.

Mark