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Well I'm all booked for two weeks in the Vendee in August.

I have wracked my brains over ferries. I want to avoid a horrendous drive (it's just me and a 10 year old), so I was planning to drive from W.Mids to Portsmouth and get a ferry to Le Havre and drive to the Vendee from there. Problem is that the outgoing cabins are booked up (overnight ferry) - can anyone recommend somewhere cheap, cheerful and possibly English speaking between Le Havre and the Vendee? Any driving/camping suggestions for France most welcome!

Try the Etap hotels. You book online and the reception staff are multilingual.

Carol

I agree, Etaps are fab.  There is also Formula 1 group of hotels.  We now take the cheap Dover Calais or Dover Bologne crossing and stay in a hotel overnight to break up the journey.  Etaps are about £30 a night for 3 people with a breakfast - fab eh?  The rooms are very clean but basic.  you get your own tv, a comfy bed and an ensuite wit a toilet and shower.  Ther is a large sink in a vanity unit with mirrors in the corner of the room.  You can't go wrong.

Enjoy your hols!

Jackie

Hi Truffles

I hope that you plan on speaking some French whilst taking your holiday, How else will you be able to chat up the local talent !!!!!!!! 

As you well know 'Daaaad' I am going to learn some French but I suspect the local talent is going to be somewhat lacking!

Hi Truffles,

we're ideally situated between Le Havre & the Vendee here at Le Chant d'Oiseau. Before we moved to France permanently, we stopped here in the Loire Valley ourselves en route back from Royan, on the Vendee/Gascony border. We loved this area so much we eventually bought this place!

If you need some more info, either give us a call (our details are in my profile), or respond to this thread!

Wherever you end up, have a fantastic time here in France!

It's quite a long drive from Le Havre to the Vendee (5 hours or so) - especially if you are the only driver and might not get much sleep.  It would indeed be a good idea to break the journey by stopping overnight en route. 
However, had you thought of the Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth to St-Malo?  Even if you did the reclining-seat thing, at least it's only 3 hours to the Vendee from there.  (Though maybe this is a much more expensive option.)

Angela