A quiet and calm holiday retreat with fantastic seafood in local restaurants and supermarkets and local markets(La Tremblade). Worth the nine hour drive from Calais with weather that always breaks through even on cloudy days. Mostly clear blue skies but not oppressing heat due to constant gentle winds from the Atlantic. Near to Cognac, La Rochelle, Royen, and not that far from Bordeaux.
There's a variety of accommodation from campsites with mobile homes available for hire (air conditioning and all mod cons available), touring, camping and apartments. The estuary by Ronce Les Bains beach gives access to oyster and muscle farms when the tide goes out. Then there is 3ft of warm sea water to swim in when the tide comes in.
Around the corner and down the Atlantic coast you will find more exciting bathing and surfing. St Palais Sur Mare provides a larger seaside town and a challenging golf course. If you like a quiet, relaxing holiday with wine, seafood and cheese and bread you really couldn't ask for more. I have holidayed with children from three to 18 and they all love the experience.

It's definitely worth the extra three hours south of the Vendee.

Ronce Les Baines is near La Tremblade, 35 miles south of La Rochelle.
Google map: tinyurl.com/38k5hjz

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Great little appartment near to the beach and town centre, both 15 mins walk. Wonderful quiet area, very clean and welcoming.

queensville.co.uk/Studios-in-La-Rochelle/studio_de_la_ville_en_bois.htm

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La Rochelle is a beautiful port town - I recommend a lunch in one of the portside fish restaurants (Place de La Chaine) followed by an icecream from Ernest's, where you'll be faced with a tough choice with seemingly endless flavours. After a visit to the picturesque old port, walk down to the Port des Minimes, one of the biggest leisure ports on the Atlantic coast where you'll be faced with a sea of masts. The aqaurium is also worth a visit, as is shopping under the arcades, and if you have time take a trip to the neighbouring Ile de Re for pleasant beaches. Out of season is the best time to visit these places as in the summer they are both rammed with holiday-makers.

La Rochelle and Ile de Re airport can be reached on Ryanair and Easyjet flights. La Rochelle port is the town centre.

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The beaches immediately around La Rochelle are not fantastic. Hop on a bike and ride over the bridge to the nearby island Ile de Ré, where the sand squeaks beneath your toes and the atmosphere is Mediterrenean and peaceful.

The bridge is just north of the town centre

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If you're in La Rochelle and need a quick beach trip then Les Minimes is the best option. Take the cosy little harbour boat (bus du mer - 1.70 euros each way) from the Old Harbour (near the La Chaine tower) to the Les Minimes port and the beach is a hundred metres from the quay. It isn't massive but its proximity to La Rochelle makes it attractive. And it is cleaner than the beach on the La Rochelle side.

Les Minimes Port itself is the largest pleasure boat harbour in France with room for 3500 yachts.

10 minutes by harbour boat from the Old Harbour in La Rochelle.

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