Note, all holiday prices are based on a 14 July 2012 departure for two adults and two children staying seven-nights. Travel is not included. Prices correct at the time of publishing but subject to availability so please check www.siblu.com or call 0871 911 7777 for information and to book. Savings available until 22 January 2012.

Holiday deals to Brittany

Brittany has the longest coastline in France, dotted with white-sand beaches, serene harbours and craggy coves. Explore picturesque fishing towns and Carnac – France’s version of Stonehenge.

Four-star Domaine de Kerlann in southern Brittany has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a splash zone and sports pitches. The holiday village is located close to the pretty town of Pont Aven. From only £609, saving £203.

Pierres Couchees is just a few hundred metres from a great sandy beach with gentle surf, ideal for little ones. The rural setting is relaxing and those that don’t fancy the beach can laze by the heated outdoor pool. From only £699, saving £232.

Holiday deals to the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley was the go-to place for French royalty before the revolution, which is why the region is dominated by so many stunning châteaux. The World Heritage setting is dotted with many pretty villages and towns.

Domaine de Dugny is an outstanding 4-star holiday village with free kids clubs and a highly praised pool complex. There’s a small boating pool that’s also good for fishing. Several of the most famous chateaux, including the Royal Château at Chambord, Château Chenonceau and Château Royal d’Amboise, are close by. From only £557, saving £185.

Holiday deals to the Vendee

The Vendee is among the most popular holiday destinations in France, loved for its big, sandy, sunny coastline. Le Bois Masson, close to the resort of St Jean de Monts, is a lively four-star holiday village with indoor and outdoor pools, a health and wellbeing spa, bar and restaurant. From only £646, saving £215.

Holiday deals to Charente Maritime

Charente Maritime is the sunniest region of France’s west coast and has massive sandy beaches hidden by forests of pine trees. There are lots of fun seaside towns, so the destination gives the perfect mix for family holidays.

Les Charmettes is a giant holiday village with a brilliant indoor and outdoor swimming complex and  pools, slides and fountains that the kids will love. There are two entertainment stages, outside and inside, where the team perform shows throughout the week. From only £793, saving £264.

Bonne Anse Plage holiday village is on the edge of La Coubre forest and within walking distance of the sea. The parc has pools and slides, a climbing wall and cycle paths that snake off to the local beaches. From only £766, saving £255.

Holiday deals to Aquitaine

Aquitaine is a large region covered with pine forests, stretching from the stylish city of Bordeaux to the foothills of the Pyrenees. There are medieval towns, vineyards and long beaches which are popular with surfers.

La Réserve sits on the edge of Lake Biscarosse, which has a golden sand beach and safe, shallow waters. The holiday village has its own pool complex, kids’ playgrounds and there are lots of watersports available on the lake. From only £766, saving £255.

Holiday deals to Languedoc

Languedoc is not as glitzy or glamorous as its neighbour, the Cote d’Azur, but this is still a Med-coast region that enjoys buckets of sunshine, incredible beaches and beautiful scenery. Languedoc is the world’s biggest wine region, covering almost 300,000 hectares and producing more wine than Australia.

La Carabasse is a huge holiday village with a giant pool area. There are beaches, shops and restaurants in walking distance and the kids will love the energetic kids clubs. From only £819, saving £273.

Lac des Reves is a truly relaxing family site close to the Mediterranean coast and Montpellier. There is a highly rated pool and large sandy beaches nearby. From only £819, saving £273.

Les Sables du Midi is a small holiday village on the outskirts of the popular seaside resort of Valras Plage. From only £688, saving £229.

Best beaches
Lake Biscarosse and its lakeside beach are gorgeous and there’s a good selection of children’s parks and cycle routes [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

I thought it was brochure speak about the lake and it’s beach, but it really was excellent especially for young children. A large beach with golden sand that gently shelves into the sea, staying shallow for at least a hundred metres [TripAdvisor member, Essex].

We were blown away by the ‘lake beach’. [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

There is mile after mile of uncrowded, silver sand beaches washed by the lively Atlantic, pine forests which seemingly go on for ever. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

There are fantastic surfing beaches at Biscarosse and Mimizan. Both are small but lively resorts on the Cote d’Argent and decent waves are pretty much guaranteed. There is also Hossegor, slightly further south, which is known as a fine surfing beach and which has even hosted world tour events – one siblu customer travelled all the way from Australia to take part!

Attractions and Adventure

Hiring bikes and cycling round Lake Biscarosse was really safe, easy and enjoyable, even with a 5 year old [TripAdvisor member, Languedoc]

La Reserve is a super site if you want to take in the area, we managed to get down to Spain for lunch! [TripAdvisor member, Cambridgeshire]

Dune du Pilat, near to Arcachon, is the largest sand dune in Europe. At 150m high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long, it has swallowed hotels and roads. Climb to the top of the dune to see incredible views of the sea on one side and rolling pine forest on the other.

Cities and towns

Bordeaux is filled with historic buildings, wide squares, a modern and swift tram system, and street after street of swish shops. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

The Roman spa town of Dax has great shops sitting alongside the historic Roman ramparts and the bubbling spa waters. The steaming water which constantly pours from the underground spa is supposed to be a cure for a whole host of ailments [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Sexy, stylish Biarritz was a magnet for the Swinging Sixties jet set and still retains its aura of elegance and elan. This is the place to see and be seen [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Arcachon is a classy seaside town with good beaches and good, if pricey, restaurants, cafes and bars.

St Emilion is a heart-warming ‘ugly duckling grows up and becomes glamorous swan’ tale. In the 8th century a hermit called, Emilion dug out a cave for himself in the rock. A monastery followed. Then it blossomed into a gorgeous medieval hilltop village, surrounded by endless vineyards that produce full-bodied deep red wines.

What to eat, where to find it
The Arcachon Basin is France’s most important oyster producing region, and so you will find delicious, fresh oysters on every menu in the small villages and towns on the edge of the bay. Much of Aquitaine cuisine is based on goosefat, and foie gras, a goose-liver pate is a speciality.

Keep an eye out for meals containing ‘Périgord’, which will indicate a dish containing truffles. Any meal is best rounded off with a smooth coffee served with a small Canele, a delicious French pastry with custard centre and caramelized crust.

Bordeaux is famous for its wines, and if you have a fine palette and a few quid, go in search of a bottle of Bordeaux 2009. According to French experts, this year’s red will be the first great vintage of the 21st century, because of incredible growing conditions not seen since the 1940s.

Events

Stumbling upon the fiesta in Parentis and seeing the running of the bulls was an unexpected treat. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

Where to stay

La Réserve, on the banks of Lac Biscarosse, has the twin benefits of a beautiful lakeside beach with golden sand and shallow waters, and its own refreshing pool complex. The parc is set among miles of pine forest, with many great cycle routes for explorers. The kids’ playgrounds are popular, and there is more than enough to keep teens busy, including a range of watersports on the lake.

On the siblu website we say it is “immense, with a life of its own in a scary Triffid-type way”, and Nigel Thompson, travel editor of the Daily Mirror, called it “Incredible. A heap of sand 350ft high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long.”

Pyla is a giant sand dune, the biggest in Europe, on the coast of Aquitaine and just below the beautiful Arcachon Basin (home to the best Oysters in Europe, another great reason to visit).

Despite its size Dune du Pyla is, essentially, a mountain of sand, so is it really worth the visit?

Yep. Especially if you have kids. And especially if they are the runny jumpy kind.

The climb - whether you take the 190 steps laid up the side of the dune or forego the man-made support and tackle the bank of sand instead – is a daunting one that doesn’t promise much in the way of reward.

But as you reach the top, stunning views are instantly revealed. Ahead is a golden beach that slopes into the deep-blue Atlantic Ocean and behind is another ocean, of pine trees that stretch to the horizon.

Look along the ridge of Pyla and you will see silhouettes of people intent on tackling the dune still further, or children charging head first down the steep slopes, sinking into the sand as they moon-walk to the bottom.

It’s a wonderful feeling and an hour exploring gives you a great excuse to tuck into an ice cream or beer at one of the many café’s at the foot of Pyla.

Siblu’s La Réserve holiday parc is just 40 mins from the Dune du Pyla and from the Arcachon Basin. You can watch our film about the parc here.