Looking for a bargain summer holiday to France or Spain? Well look no further! Book during our May sale and enjoy discounts of up to £330 (€400) on our Holiday Villages, including bookings for the Jubilee half-term and peak summer holiday period. We’ll also also give you the added advantage of paying in Euros which is really beneficial at the moment as the Euro is at an 18 month low of 1.22 versus the pound*.

Summer fun at The Village Club Le Rouret in Ardèche

Our Holiday Villages in Picardy, Brittany, south of France, the Ardèche, Atlantic Coast and the Costa del Sol in Spain have had a huge re-vamp for this summer. New activities include regional discovery excursions such as making honey with a beekeeper and visiting a dairy to make cheese, as well as more free family activities in the village.

Many of the apartments have been refurbished and there is also an extended à la carte offering to enjoy. All of our Holiday Village apartments and houses are self-catering and have an excellent standard of facilities. Check out some of the top savings on Pierre & Vacances summer accommodation for bookings made before 30 May.

Breakfast in Les Agaves

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Pont Royal, South of France

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Pont Royal

A two-bedroom house sleeping up to six people from 7-14 July is discounted by £330 to £1,314.

The pedestrian village of Pont Royal is located in the Provence region of France just a few kilometres from Avignon. There are plenty of activities for the whole family with a large pool, artificial beach, separate kid’s pools and a two-hectare lake for sailing. New for this year is that the kid’s clubs are included in the price of the holidays, as well as circus and magic skills lessons. There are also nine and 18 hole golf courses, tennis courts and nearby horse riding, mountain biking and facilities to hire meharis and segways.

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Cap Esterel, South of France

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Cap Esterel

A one-bedroom apartment sleeping up to five people from 28 July to 4 August is discounted by £330 to £1,453.

The 210-hectare village overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is perched on a red rock hillside. It is surrounded by a purpose-built golf course and gardens, and is just 30 minutes away from the white sandy beaches of Cannes. Onsite facilities include three large swimming pools with wave machines, two children’s pools, a small farm, tennis courts and bicycle hire. And there is even a miniature train to help you around the area. Read our family review of Cap Esterel here. 

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Normandy Garden, Northern France

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Normandy Garden

A two-bedroom house sleeping up to six people from 21-28 July is discounted by £245 to £1,003.

Normandy Garden lies just a few kilometres from the famous ‘Normandy Landing’ beaches and the Fleurie coastline. Our weatherproof holiday village has an indoor ‘Aquagarden’ with heated swimming pools, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, upstream swimming and waterslides. There are also two covered tennis courts, an indoor games area as well as bicycle hire, archery, sports competitions and dance classes.

Bookings can be made via our website or by calling 0870 0267 145.

* Correct as of 30/04/12

Fancy following in the tyre treads of  Tour de France riders this summer? We’ve teamed up with the professional 1t4i-Shimano cycling team at our Premium Altea Hills Residence on the beautiful Costa Blanca to offer a Pro Cycling Experience where you can explore the Sierra de Bernia and Spanish coastline with expert cyclists.

The 1t4i Shimano team, which is named after its five guidelines; team, inspiration, improvement, integrity and innovation, includes a number of big name cyclists such as Marcel Kittel, Johannes Frohlinger and Koen de Kort.

The team is based in the Costa Blanca all year and is currently training for the gruelling challenges of the Tour de France this June and July.

There are 30 spaces a week for guests to take part in as many training and technical sessions as they like and join some/all of the daily excursions which range between 70 and 110 kilometres. The scenery along the routes varies between dramatic coastlines and stunning [but calf-stretching] mountains and all the routes include challenging uphill sections, to help you hone your cycling skills.

Each guest will be fitted with their own professional bike for the week, with preferences and heights received beforehand so you can get straight in the saddle on arrival.

The 1t4i Shimano professionals will also be on-hand to answer your burning cycling questions – from the essentials of bike mechanics to advice on the best sports diets.

And after a hard days peddling, rest those tired legs at the Pierre & Vacances Premium Residence Altea Hills which enjoys stunning views over a picturesque bay.

The Premium residence also has three outdoor swimming pools, sauna, hamman and spa with a range of treatments including thalassotherapy and volcanic stone massages, so you can relax those weary muscles.

Accommodation is available in one bedroom apartments [which include a kitchen and living area] or double bedrooms.

Our Pro Cycling breaks start at 640 € per person based on two people sharing. This includes seven nights accommodation, breakfast, cycling equipment, guided cycling excursions and workshops and use of Altea Hills facilities.

We also offers packages including all meals from 790 € per person and group rates for four to eight people from 740 € per person. Bookings for the Spanish cycling break can be made on our website or by calling 0870 0267 145. The nearest airports are Alicante and Valencia, and you can check the best flight deals on Skyskanner.

And For those of you who fancy a more leisurely paced, check out our guide to five great family cycling routes in France!

Want to keep the kids busy this summer holiday? From our new family discovery excursions to free activities to try in our Holiday Villages, we have plenty of great things for kids to do in France.

While there is lots to keep every age busy from dawn until dusk at our family friendly Holiday Villages in France, we also want families to take advantage of the real France through the beautiful and varied local areas around our self catering accommodation, which is why we’ve launched a new and exciting range of regional discovery excursions for the summer holidays.

Looking for activities to do in Provence? How about learning to make the region’s traditional lavendar soap. Or if you’re stuck for things to keep the kids busy in the Ardeche, why not try something educational and fun [and delicious!] like visiting a dairy to learn how to make goats cheese. Or if you’re after something a little different to try in the south of France, join beekeepers to make some delicious honey you can take home.

And these French discovery days are only the start of a huge revamp for our popular Holiday Villages in France and Spain – we also have refurbished apartments, more free activities for all the family and new a la carte services for this year’s summer sun.

Kids club holidays

No child is the same, so we’ve also revamped our kid’s clubs to give children of all ages the chance to fill their holidays with activities that match their own interests – whether it’s adventurous activities, scientific discovery, inspiring those with artistic flairs, something sporty, or just good fun to make new friends.

Extra à la carte services

There will be more à la carte services on offer, including a breakfast and bakery delivery service, party orders [such as fondue or BBQ] and excellent value half or full board meal cards.

Holiday activities for all the family

Families will also be able to enjoy more free activities with sports tournaments, fitness courses from Les Mills, concerts and shows, and family games in the evenings to keep the kids busy all holiday. As well as the option to try activities such as horse riding, sailing, canoeing, circus tricks and surfing.

We have 13 Holiday Villages across France and Spain, from Normandy, Brittany, and the Atlantic Coast, to the South of France, Provence, Ardèche and the Costa del Sol. The family friendly villages are located in prime locations near beautiful sandy beaches, golf courses or nature reserves and [as well as the delicious dining facilities on site] near restaurants, shops and picturesque French towns and ports just a short distance away.

For example, our newly re-vamped Belle Dune Holiday Village in north Picardy has houses and apartments built in the authentic 20th century style of the Picardy region, all arranged around a large lake.  Belle Dune has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, pedalos, sailing, a petting farm, children’s clubs and a nearby beach is accessible by foot or on a miniature train – we know which one this kids will prefer!

New for this year at Belle Dune is a VIP accommodation range, regional activities and themed kid’s clubs, with prices starting at £65 per child per week. You can search and book your family holiday to France online, or call 0870 0267 145.

Worried about the high price of flights and holidays? Don’t want to spend hours queuing at the airport after struggling to fit all those rubber rings, toys, suncream and towels in a suitcase?

Then take advantage of exclusive, early booking offers on our self catering accommodation in Northern France, as well as the discounted ferry fares to France during National Ferry Fortnight, from 17-31 March.

Knock down ferry fares to France are available at Discover Ferries with P&O Ferries, Condor Ferries, LD Lines, DFDS Seaways and Brittany Ferries. And we have a range of family friendly Holiday Villages and Residences in Northern France, from Brittany and Normandy to Picardy and Vendée; all within easy driving distance of the ferry ports. Early booking offers of up to 20 per cent off are available for accommodation booked before 31st March.

So we’ve put together a list our top five easy to reach holiday accommodation in France if you’re shunning the airport this year.

Pierre & Vacances Residence Le Green Beach, Brittany

1 hour from Cherboug ferry port
Residence Le Green Beach is just a few kilometers from the famous ‘landing’ beaches and lies at the heart of the Omaha Beach golf course. Facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, volleyball court, bike hire and free activities for 6-12 year olds in April, July and August. A two-bedroom house in September costs from £422.

Pierre & Vacances Residence Les Jardins de la Côte d’Opale, Picardy

50 minutes from Calais ferry port
The recently renovated self catering residence is located in a natural park just 2km from Canche Bay. There’s a heated indoor swimming pool to enjoy as well as tennis courts, hire bikes and free activities for 6-12 year olds in April, July and August. A one-bedroom apartment in June costs from £475.

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Port Bourgenay, Vendée

3 hours 30 minutes from Saint-Malo ferry port
Port Bourgenay is nestled between a sandy beach and pine forests with peaceful views of a large lake. Within the self catering Holiday Village in picturesque Vendée are two 18-hole golf courses, three swimming pools, six tennis courts and a huge range of adult and children’s activities. If you want to venture out, there’s also a beautiful beach nearby which is can be reached by a short stroll or miniature train [we know which one the kids prefer!].  A three-bedroom house in June costs from £883.

Pierre & Vacances Premium Residence de la Plage, North Picardy

1 hour 20 minutes from Dieppe ferry port
Residence de la Plage lies in the heart of Normandy’s Bay of Somme. The self catering luxury beach-front accommodation has four swimming pools and direct access to the long sandy beaches, shops picturesque port and restaurants. To give your holiday that added ease, all apartments have wifi and flat screen televisions and breakfast can be delivered to your door. A studio apartment with a sea view in May costs from £519.

Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Belle Dune, Normandy

1 hour 15 minutes from Calais ferry port/ 1 hour 30 minutes from Dieppe ferry port
An ideal [and very popular!] choice for families of all ages and sizes, Belle Dune’s accommodation is set around a large lake next to the renowned 18-hole Belle Dune golf course. Colourful houses and apartments are organised in six ‘quartiers’ with a wide range of activities and facilities for kids [including the big variety!], from an aqua park, two lakes for watersports, tennis courts, animal petting farm, mini golf and pre-bookable children’s clubs, plus two beaches a short walk away. A three-bedroom house in July and August costs from £1,473.

This week’s guest blog is courtesy of seasoned snowboarder and travel writer Daniel Elkan, who has worked as a rep and led holidays for Ski Club of Great Britain in Saas Fee, Cortina, Andorra and Davos. Daniel has also written ski features for The Guardian, Observer, Daily Mail, Sunday Times, Ski+Board, Daily Mail Ski&Snowboard and Conde Nast Traveller.

In 2009 Daniel co-founded Snowcarbon, an independent website dedicated to helping skiers and snowboarders reach ski resorts by train from the UK. And he’s visited more than 30 ski resorts by train! Here are his tips on the best French resorts to reach by train, and why you should shun the long airport queues and tedious transfers for a speedy snow train: 

‘When you first started skiing, what struck you about the French Alps?  One thing was surely how beautiful and striking the mountains are. But were you also surprised about how long it takes to reach them?

‘Door-to-door, whether you fly, drive or take the train, it always takes a while to get to the snow.

‘It was the airport queues and transfers that first prompted me to look for alternatives to flying, and along with friends I started going to resorts by train, to try to make the journey part of the holiday. We were surprised to find that daytime journeys take little longer than flying – and are so much more enjoyable.

‘In 12 years of travelling this way, we’ve had loads of fun on the train, seen great scenery, met people, bantered, played games, read, and just relaxed.  And we sometimes travel to resorts overnight on Corail sleeper trains to get extra time on the slopes.

‘Though the journeys were great, finding the travel information was always difficult – you had to look here, there and everywhere. So a couple of years back, I set up Snowcarbon to help other skiers and snowboarders find out how to travel to ski resorts by train.

‘Pierre & Vacances have always shown their support for rail travel to ski resorts, and it is great that so many of the resorts they feature are convenient by train.  Here are ten of the best:

Avoriaz

The resort’s car-free, ski-in-ski-out village, at the heart of the 650-km Portes du Soleil, makes a great base for families skiing and intermediates.

 Chamonix

This classic resort has always been a magnet for experiences skiers, drawn to its wondrous off-piste terrain, including the incredible Vallee Blanche, as well as a lively, authentic town.

La Clusaz

An absolute charmer of a village set amongst the stunning Aravis mountain range, with great intermediate terrain and impressive off piste, yet relatively unknown to the British. A discovery!

Les Arc

Copyright Manu Reyboz

Les Arcs’ traffic-free villages give access to the epic Paradiski area – a huge playground for intermediates with plenty of challenge and good beginner areas too.

Les Menuires

Les Menuires makes a great base for the Three Valleys, located right at the heart of this huge area. A good-value resort - ideal for families -  with great skiing.

Megève

Megeve’s traditional village is proper winter-wonderland stuff and the relatively quiet slopes – part of the 400km Evasion Mont Blanc ski area – are home to some of France’s best mountain restaurants.

Meribel

A favourite with the Brits for generations, as it has so much to offer.  A buzzing village with lots of wooden chalets,  set at the heart of the 600km Three Valleys.

Serre Chevalier

Four villages all give access to a wonderful wooded ski area in the Southern Alps. The French love it – it suits families especially – and the British are just getting to know it.

Tignes

Very snowsure and a big favourite with intermediates, as the resort has 300km of pisted terrain, graduating from gentle blues through rolling reds to challenging blacks.

Val Thorens

With a village at 2300 metres, Three Valleys’ Val Thorens is the Alp’s highest ski resorts, with snow-sure skiing, good family facilities and the Folie Douce for après on the slopes.

‘At Snowcarbon we’ve launched a Eat the Mountain photo competition on our Facebook page, with a prize of a ski holiday for two by train to the wonderful Three Valleys ski area, with return rail travel, ski passes and accommodation in a Pierre & Vacances apartment. And a meal at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Farcon, in La Tania.  You just need to love ski food to enter!

‘In the meantime, here are some photos from my train journeys.  Happy travels!’

Snapping scenery from Eurostar Cafe bar, on way to Les Menuires

TGV cafe bar on the way to Megeve

This kid was having a great time on a journey to La Clusaz

Lunch at Gare de Lyon, Paris

A little read before bedtime, on the way to Avoriaz

Corail Lunea sleeper train in the morning

The cheese shop opposite Bourg St Maurice station, near Les Arcs. Whiffy!

Happy family on the train to Chamonix