Woohoo! That time of year again.

SiB · Post by **SiB** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 15:13

Ferries - booking tonight!

Almost feel like im there!

Dates set - holiday's approved by work!

And can't bloomin wait!

Me, the wife and the 3 sproglets are heading to Ceret mid July for 2 and a half weeks - as we do most years, but looking forward this year to firstly taking my shiny new car (that doesn't even get to me until May!) and also because we have no baby to keep us awake all night - but instead a lovely toddler that sometimes sleeps, and mainly because we didn't go last year! Ended up staying very North last year, near Montrieull. Was nice, but just not L-R!

Any new suggestions of places to go with 3 young children?

I'm thinking of searching for a very quiet beach where they can run wild til their heart's content - found a place on Google maps called Colera, which is just into Spain, between Roses and Cerbere - looks big, sandy and quiet.

Also, any new budget hotel chains for the drive down? Current plan is an Etap somewhere between Montlucon and Orleans - dependent on how far we can get.

Post by **Kate** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 15:57

Fantastic - it's nearly worth working to have exciting stuff to look forward to!
We did a revew a few years back on a resto in Colera. Might have gone up a bit but here it is anyway.

Totsompops
Colera, Spain
Catalan home cooking
The best thing about Colera used to be the road out. No longer! The family-run restaurant Totsompops (opened July 2008) has changed all that. If you are looking for fresh local ingredients prepared with love (and plenty of olive oil), this is the place!
A practitioner of the Slow Food philosophy, chef Joan’s interest in cooking dates from summers in his grandparents’ garden and kitchen. “This is my dream,” the thrill of this new venture animating his youthful face.
The weekday lunch menu is 12.50 euros for four courses, including bread, wine, water and coffee. Joan’s wife Carme offers help with the Catalan menu. Wines are local - we drank a red from Vilajuiga just the other side of the hills. Many of the choices are vegetarian-friendly.
We started with an entree of grilled artichokes, after which I had escalivada ( aubergine, onion, pepper, and potato) and David chose chard with bacon. For the main course he ate a rice dish known as “arroz” which can contain whatever is available - here rabbit, spare ribs and octopus - and I had
monk fish grilled to perfection. For dessert we chose Mel i mato (absolutely yummy honey from Colera with fresh ricotta ) and baked apple with raisins, cinnamon and pine nuts. We finished the meal with an excellent cup of coffee. Generous portions, friendly service, nice place.
The dining room with welcoming fireplace is deco- rated in warm reds and cool greys... and an octopus motif. ("Totsompops" translates roughly as "We are all octopus".) In addition there are four bedrooms each fur- nished in the best tradition of contemporary Spanish design. See their web site: www.totsompops.com
Go there! How? Follow the coast road south across the border to Port Bou (where you can stop to admire Dani Karavan’s stunning raw steel memorial to Walter Benjamin). Continue a few snaky kilometres to Colera. Totsompops is the first thing you see: a bright red building on the left.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 16:43

Dont want to be a wet blanket but I would imagine you will be hard pushed to find a beach with a square foot to sit on let alone run wild on in July. Perhaps one of the rivers or lakes may be slightly less populated. Whatever you decide I am sure you will have a wonderful holiday here in the PO. Have a good and safe trip down. Dont forget your alcooltest, mentioned in another post.

Marguerite & Steve · Post by **Marguerite & Steve** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 17:27

We used to take our grandchildren to Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, a lovely lake, with sand, the kids will love it and you can sit right near the waters edge and watch them, and its not tidal, also fabulous views.

tubs · Post by **tubs** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 19:51

Don't forget St Jean Pla de Corts too. Good lake for swimming/paddling.Plenty of grass for running wild and playing games and lots of shade for those scorching hot days............we hope. Roll on summer in the P.O,it's freezing here in Oxfordshire!

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 19:54

I didnt know you could swim in the lakes at St Jean Pla de Corts. I assume not where they fish. Is access to the water easy. I have only been there once when some friends who fish there just drove us to show us where it is. It looked reedy and deep.

hamyat · Post by **hamyat** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 20:59

There are 2 lakes at St Jean;1 for fishing and 1 for swimming. When our children were younger we spent many happy days down by the lake. There is a cordoned off area for young children to swim and play with inflatables and this area is patrolled by lifeguards. Older children can swim further out and there are pedalos to hire. Also there is an area for remote controlled boats and the tree top obstacle course with the zip wires across one corner of the lake..The grass is mown and irrigated and very well tended and there is plenty of space even in July for children to run wild and play ball games.There are even a couple of huts that sell snacks, drinks and ice creams.All in all a super place for a family.
Have fun.

tubs · Post by **tubs** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 21:13

You took the words out of my mouth Hamyat! One of our favourite places at any time of the year, the trees and views changing according to the season.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Wed 01 Feb 2012 21:15

Will definitely give it a go.

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Thu 02 Feb 2012 10:40

You can find space on the beaches in July. It just depends where you go. Colera beach isn't brilliant. It's OK and it does have a rustic café / coffee hut right on the beach. It's a long windy road to get there and if your kids get carsick it won't be fun.

I would look at Llanca. The sand is not perfect - like many of the beaches between Collioure and Rosas, but it's safe, has parking and a playground too.

The stretch between Canet and St Cyp always has some space, although parking can be tough at peak times.

I like the lakes too but they have often had bacterial problems at Villeneuve, usually later in the season. Static fresh water at 23 degrees filled with the great unwashed for 2 months is difficult to keep clean.

SiB · Post by **SiB** » Fri 03 Feb 2012 09:53

Thanks all.

Yeah, been to St Jean a good few times before. Stay down near Ceret when we're there so only a few miles away. I think i've biked it there before too.

Will have a look at Llanca.

Last time, went up to Canet Plage which as far as beaches go, was pretty good. Was in late September though. Caught some great weather but going to be pretty busy in July. Our eldest starts infant school in September though so keen to keep him in school, rather than take him out of school just to get a few days on a quiet beach.

Intend to also get to Amelie-les-Bains, (named our daughter Amelie, partly after the place, and partly because we just liked it!). Got a piccy of me holding her, stood next to the sign there, last time we went which was September 2010, when she was only 2 months old.

Are there any other good spots down near Roses? Quite like the beach at Roses, but last time we went there, sat nav took us through Figueras which is a bit too commercialised and took the shine off it a bit. Before this, using my trusty 2007 map of France, we've always gone in the back way. Also, went to Empuriabrava but couldn't find a single parking spot.

hamyat · Post by **hamyat** » Fri 03 Feb 2012 14:15

There is a beach which is further on from Llanca; I think it is called Porto de Silva. Its a wide stretch of sand and the sea is very shallow for quite a distance which is brilliant if your children are very young. It is patrolled by lifeguards and if I remember rightly there is a playground either on or very close to the beach which is ideal for toddlers.There is a wide prom and the usual cafes and bars with a marina at the far end of the bay.We've been in school summer holidays and always managed to park on the large (if slightly rough) car park right by the beach just before you enter the town.
It might be worth trying.

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Fri 03 Feb 2012 18:00

Figueras is the major city in the northern bit of Catalunya. It's supposed to be commercial. It's where people go to buy things. Is that the place you meant?

If so it's a brilliant, buzzy place with the Dali museum and lots of cool bars and restaurants. It doesn;t have a beach though!

SiB · Post by **SiB** » Mon 06 Feb 2012 12:01

Talking to the in-laws yesterday and they mentioned the lake at Villeneuve, just south of Perpignan (between there and Boulou) and Villefranche Conflett (sp?).

Any thoughts?

What is the 'theme park' type place called between Argeles Plage and Taxo? We went a couple of years ago and took the kids on the little boats.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Mon 06 Feb 2012 12:34

Villeneuve has been mentioned above and at Argeles I think you are referring to Lunar Park. There are also GoKarts close by both for adults and children.

SiB · Post by **SiB** » Thu 29 Mar 2012 15:34

Lunar Park - that's the kiddie!

Any more suggestions for a family with 3 children greatly appreciated.

The wife is thinking of a trip to Lourdes, she went there a lot with youth groups when younger. I've heard its a bit like a Holy Blackpool but we'll see.

Looks a like drive though!

Is Andorra worth a visit?

Post by **Kate** » Thu 29 Mar 2012 16:23

Here's a few things that sound great for kids if you're around at these times

www.anglophone-direct.com/Festi-pa-ques-Argeles,4239?
www.anglophone-direct.com/CANET-KIDS-Free-activities?
www.anglophone-direct.com/Les-Cypriales-15-days-of?

The Tourist Office in Laroque des Alberes have some great treasure trail games for children (just looking at them now - they send you round the village finding out names and other stuff - ask for Marie Odile)

... and loads of other stuff if you look at the Whats on or the Tourist info part of the site.

Have a great time.

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Fri 30 Mar 2012 08:17

SiB wrote:Lunar Park - that's the kiddie!

Any more suggestions for a family with 3 children greatly appreciated.

The wife is thinking of a trip to Lourdes, she went there a lot with youth groups when younger. I've heard its a bit like a Holy Blackpool but we'll see.

Looks a like drive though!

Is Andorra worth a visit?

If your kids like to be stuck in the car for an 8-hour round trip, I'm sure they'll love it.

Seriously, there are loads of interesting things to do around here. Have a look at the main site, it's crammed with good suggestions for days out.

SiB · Post by **SiB** » Thu 05 Apr 2012 11:38

Santiago wrote:
SiB wrote:Lunar Park - that's the kiddie!

Any more suggestions for a family with 3 children greatly appreciated.

The wife is thinking of a trip to Lourdes, she went there a lot with youth groups when younger. I've heard its a bit like a Holy Blackpool but we'll see.

Looks a like drive though!

Is Andorra worth a visit?
If your kids like to be stuck in the car for an 8-hour round trip, I'm sure they'll love it.

Seriously, there are loads of interesting things to do around here. Have a look at the main site, it's crammed with good suggestions for days out.

Ok thanks.

And thanks to you all for the suggestions so far.

Just booked the roof bars for the trip down!

joffan · Post by **joffan** » Thu 05 Apr 2012 12:15

Casteil Animal park near Vernet les Bains is a great inexpensive day out for the kids. The park is on a hill side and you walk around to visit all the animals. The shorter walk is about 2km and there is a longer walk of 3-4km. You can buy food to feed some of the tamer animals. Take a picnic, sun cream et voila.

Julie

opas · Post by **opas** » Wed 22 Apr 2015 20:33

joffan wrote:Casteil Animal park near Vernet les Bains is a great inexpensive day out for the kids. The park is on a hill side and you walk around to visit all the animals. The shorter walk is about 2km and there is a longer walk of 3-4km. You can buy food to feed some of the tamer animals. Take a picnic, sun cream et voila.

Julie

We last visited about 7 years ago, when the girls were about 14 and 9 years old. I fancied going again for a while, but my girls are now 21 and 17!
I look after a french girl aged 11 in the holidays and only speak english with her, today we went to Castiel with my 17 yearold, all 3of us loved the visit, especially trying to remember animal names in English!
3 hour walk, but felt like an hour and a half. Great day out.

Post by **Kate** » Thu 23 Apr 2015 08:22

LIKE!

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Thu 23 Apr 2015 09:46

http://www.groupon.fr/deals/montpellier ... =deal-page

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