Has anyone just got back from the vendee (in particular Ile de Re)? We know the weather was good last two weeks in July but wonder how it fared during latter part of August as we are planning to go there next year. Reading that Brittany enjoyed 13/14 days of rain recently has made us wonder about next year's hols.
------------- lizzie
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We got back last night from St Jean de Monts. It did rain quite a bit and was pretty windy as well. Of the ten days, we had three glorious days, three cloudy and showery days and the rest were sun and showers. It was our first time in the Vendee so I don't know if this is typical August weather or if we were just unlucky. From what other people were saying, the weather is not what they were expecting either.
If you are quick you could just about find out for yourself - Ryanair have flights to La Rochelle (& all other destinations) for 45pence EW plus taxes (about £30 return each).
My wife and I flew to Biarritz earlier this year to do a recci of the area and campsites for 52p and it was definately worth it. you have to book by midnight on bankholiday monday though.
what a bargain! Unfortunately I can't go as work beckons. Great idea going for a recci first. What did you think of Biarritz area? Did you find a good campsite you can recommend? Perhaps we'll go further than vendee!
------------- lizzie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Biarritz is fantastic - south towards spain is rugged and rocky so we stayed about 17K north at labenne oceane which is the start of the cote d'argent and les landes where the beaches are golden, sandy and 160km long - the tide can be a bit rough so ensure you have a site with a pool if you have young children. Older children with love the surf.
I am a teacher so have to use school holidays. The site you recommend looks wonderful. We may think again about vendee. What ferry crossing did you use and how long was the drive?
------------- lizzie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Sore point about the crossing - it should have been to Santander but ended up being roscoff.
In honesty though the drive was easy - 500 miles / 8 hours driving time we did 400 in one go down to bordeaux and stayed at a fantastic cheap "crash-pad" with good rooms for 32€ then arrived on site about 0930.
It is fantastic to lie on a beach and be able to see Spain across the bay then walk to the top of the dunes and across the largest forest in Europe to the Pyrenees.
Biarritz is about a 1/2hr drive and Lourdes about 1.1/2hrs if that's your thing - otherwise the resort has everything you need including some lovely cycle tracks through the forest.
www.viamichelin.com will give you distances, reliable driving times and toll costs of journies from other ports.
It is definately worth the drive and that little bit more of a French experience as there are much fewer Brits & dutch etc than other areas.
We've been to The Vendee on several occasions and have in general been quite lucky with the weather. However, when you read in the brochures that the area is a paradise for windsurfers, substitute this with always a good, stiff breeze blowing and you won't go far wrong! We've always found it very windy in that area.
Also Vendee south of Jard sur mare very, very flat and rather uninteresting but each to his own......
We have just come back from Ile de re.... we were there from 21st of August to 4th September... we had fantastic weather, first week was a bit breezy but still very very warm, excellant cycling weather, 2nd week was out of this world, the sunsets at night are to die for. Its a beautiful island, we have been twice now say times of year and both times were wonderful... We went with Canvas, sailed from Poole to St. Malo, stopping overnight in Rennes at a Novotel. If I can help any further just ask.
Hi Guy, yes you pay when you get on to the bridge at La Rochelle side, its is 16.50 euros, you can buy tickets in 5's, 10's etc, it is free if you cycle or walk over it, but we never left the island so the price of the toll wasnt an issue with us. To be perfectly honest, if you are thinking of travelling off the island often then it may not be the place for a full holiday. When we went last year, we left the island once to visit the aquarium in La Rochelle, but we went via public transport with all told for a family of 4 was on a par with the bridge toll.
Cycles are a must in my opinion for get the most out of the beautiful island.
I've just come back rom 2 weks in Southern Vendee - La Tranche sur Mer - which is opposite Ile de Re. We had 2 days of grey cloud and then the remaining 12 days were crystal clear blue skies. The only problem was the temperature (33C at 8PM), and the Mosquitos.
I used the Portsmouth St Malo crossing and it was about a 3.5 hour drive to Tranche sur Mer so you would probably do Ile de Re in about 4 hours if you use the Peage and are happy to drive at 60 with the van behind you.
We stayed at Les Dune des Sables, in the Vendee the last week of August and the weather was very warm and sunny everyday. But talking to other people the week before it had been raining everyday. We did get some Mosquitos, so take some repellant. Site was very good for younger children, not too big and quiet a night.
Topic: Weather in Vendee/ Ile de Re
