logo
48 hours in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, the ultimate French beach weekend

48 hours in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, the ultimate French beach weekend

Herald Sun7 days ago
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Around two hours from Paris on the train is the French capital's favourite beach resort, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.
On the Opal Coast in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, the upmarket resort makes the perfect beach break for anyone visiting the city.
DAY 1: Morning
I live in Kent in southern England, and Le Touquet has become my favourite – and most convenient – beach getaway. Despite being in a different country, it takes half the time to reach, door-to-door, than Cornwall and as such can be a fun bolt-on trip for visitors to the UK. After a short car-train journey on Eurotunnel LeShuttle and an easy drive along France's gloriously-efficient motorways, we arrive in charming Le Touquet.
Taking time to orient ourselves, once more, among its neat avenues full of holiday homes, hotels, shops and restaurants, we check in, this time to a chic Airbnb duplex in the centre of town, two streets away from the enormous beach, and two doors down from the all-important boulangerie. My need for good croissants is real.
Beachfront holiday apartments in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France.
Noon
We head to Le Touquet's beach, a vast stretch of sand lined with apartments and peppered with playgrounds, beach clubs and watersports. This is northern France, so it's not famous for its high temperatures, but we've been lucky each time we've visited and even in October – when it's wonderfully free of crowds – we've been able to enjoy time on the beach. The more adventurous types can try kite-surfing and sand-yachting, which Le Touquet is famous for, but we fly kites we bought from Decathlon, on the main street Rue Saint-Jean. We stop in for a croque monsieur at one of the beach clubs, washed down with Orangina (always tastes better in a glass bottle in France) and coffee (always tastes worse than you remember in France).
Tourist crowds on the beach at Le Touquet in France
Afternoon
A century ago, Le Touquet was a ritzy resort, frequented by a who's-who of visitors, including Edward VIII, Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming and Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth – the town even renamed its airport Elizabeth II Le Touquet-Paris-Plage in honour of the late Queen. But it also has a long war history and in World War I its hotels became hospitals for thousands of wounded and displaced soldiers – many of whom were Australian. The Étaples Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France, is the final resting place of 10,771 Commonwealth soldiers, including 464 Australians. It's a sobering place to visit and in the 80th anniversary year of VE Day, a reminder we should never forget.
The Etaples Military Cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of World War I.
Evening
Eventually, following the occupation during WWII, Le Touquet recovered and once again became a holiday destination and now a centre for gastronomy. It has around 70 restaurants, from takeaway booths to brasseries and fine-dining restaurants, such as Michelin-starred Le Pavillon in Hotel Westminster and double-Michelin-starred La Grenouillère in neighbouring town La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil. We enjoyed dinner at Le Touquet's classic brasserie Jean's Café, followed by an ice-cream, then our kids took a spin on the vintage carousel, which sits in the Place du Centenaire on the seafront.
Oriental lamb chops, small vegetables and semolina at Jean's Cafe, Le Touquet, France.
DAY 2: Morning
You could happily spend all your time in Le Touquet, but if you have a car, it's worth exploring the coast. A 50-minute drive away, you come to the pretty town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, on the Baie de Somme estuary. It's a town of two halves – one ancient section of medieval buildings where William the Conqueror departed from for the UK, and where Joan of Arc was imprisoned, and a second half of old fishermen's cottages. It's a lovely place to explore on foot or to take the steam train which runs around the coast to neighbouring Le Crotoy with its long stretch of sandy beach.
Street view in Saint Valery Sur Somme. Picture: Kerry Parnell
Noon
We walk along the Quai Jeanne d'Arc alongside the River Somme, then through the medieval part of town to the headland, where there's a pretty church, Chapelle des Marins. Back in town, we eat at Brasserie Le Courtgain,where you're reminded that steak frites are so much more sophisticated in French.
Brasserie Le Courtgain in Saint Valery Sur Somme.
Afternoon
Halfway between Saint-Valery and Le Touquet, we call in at another small beach resort, called Fort-Mahon-Plage. With another vast sandy beach (they're huge on this coast), it's a popular family resort and its extremely long main street, at right angles to the seafront, is lined with restaurants and shops.
Low tide and beach of Fort-Mahon-Plage.
Evening
Finally, you can't leave Le Touquet without a spot of shopping, along its sparkling-clean avenues (you can see shop owners wash the street front every morning). There's a mix of clothes shops, chocolatiers (Au Chat Bleu is a must) and eateries, while on Avenue Saint-Jean you find the designer boutiques. After splurging on souvenirs, we save cash by having galettes (regional savoury pancakes) for dinner.
Outdoor dining in the beach town of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.
How to get to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France
It's two hours by train from Paris to Étaples-Le-Touquet, or three hours by car. If combining with a trip to the UK, it's around 45 minutes' drive from the Channel Tunnel at Calais.
Where to stay in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
The five-star Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster celebrated its centenary in 2024 and is on my wishlist. We have previously enjoyed a family stay at The Holiday Inn Resort Le Touquet, set in a quiet spot, and the Airbnb duplex at 48 Rue de Paris, which I recommend.
Cyclists pass Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France.
Best way to get around Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
Two great ways of seeing Le Touquet are in the saddle – you can either rent a bike from one of the town's many hire shops, such as Bike4You, or go for a horse-ride at the equestrian centre. You can also zip along the seafront on a Segway.
Best food to try when you visit Hauts-de-France
You'll see 'Le Welsh' in lots of restaurants in Hauts-de-France – the dish is the regional spin on Welsh rarebit and so much more than cheese on toast. The French version is unsurprisingly heavy on the cheese, with Dijon mustard, ham, beer and bread.
Originally published as 48 hours in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, the ultimate French beach weekend
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it
Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it

Sydney Morning Herald

time2 hours ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it

It was once Australia's second-largest airline, ferrying more than 10 million passengers around the country every year before it collapsed into administration in 2002. More than 20 years after its final flight, Ansett is making a comeback. Melbourne-based technology entrepreneur Constantine Frantzeskos has revived the Ansett brand, bringing back the iconic Australian airline as an AI-powered travel agency. The Ansett Travel platform, which is now live, is designed as a hyper-personalised travel concierge that will offer predictive trip recommendations and itineraries based on a customers' preference, budget and calendar events. 'Ansett was such a wonderful, innovative brand. It was a pioneer of great service, they were the first ones to bring business class to Australia, and they were loved by their customers,' Frantzeskos said in an interview. 'I thought wouldn't it be a cool thing to genuinely bring this brand back to life. And that's what I'm doing, I'm building the personal travel agent of the future. 'This will be a travel agent that understands you, your family, your needs, your budget and where you've been. That's the vision.' Ansett had operated for 65 years and was the nation's second-largest airline before it was grounded in late 2001, with some 16,000 jobs lost as a result. Its downfall was seen at the time as a 'perfect storm' of poor culture, financial strain, union issues and fleet mismanagement.

Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it
Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it

The Age

time2 hours ago

  • The Age

Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it

It was once Australia's second-largest airline, ferrying more than 10 million passengers around the country every year before it collapsed into administration in 2002. More than 20 years after its final flight, Ansett is making a comeback. Melbourne-based technology entrepreneur Constantine Frantzeskos has revived the Ansett brand, bringing back the iconic Australian airline as an AI-powered travel agency. The Ansett Travel platform, which is now live, is designed as a hyper-personalised travel concierge that will offer predictive trip recommendations and itineraries based on a customers' preference, budget and calendar events. 'Ansett was such a wonderful, innovative brand. It was a pioneer of great service, they were the first ones to bring business class to Australia, and they were loved by their customers,' Frantzeskos said in an interview. 'I thought wouldn't it be a cool thing to genuinely bring this brand back to life. And that's what I'm doing, I'm building the personal travel agent of the future. 'This will be a travel agent that understands you, your family, your needs, your budget and where you've been. That's the vision.' Ansett had operated for 65 years and was the nation's second-largest airline before it was grounded in late 2001, with some 16,000 jobs lost as a result. Its downfall was seen at the time as a 'perfect storm' of poor culture, financial strain, union issues and fleet mismanagement.

I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend
I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend

Courier-Mail

time6 hours ago

  • Courier-Mail

I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend

Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. With another's hand on the wheel and your itinerary mapped out, a fully guided coach tour can be the epitome of worry-free travelling. It's already decided, to a large degree, where you will step off, what you'll see, where you will rest your head and who you will meet. In 2023, almost 50,000 people visited Tasmania on an organised coach tour, an increase of 34 per cent on 2019, so it clearly has its attractions. It may sound regimented, but the reality is the best coach tours take the focus away from the tedium of planning and the hassle of driving, freeing you to focus on the destination itself. On a five-day AAT Kings tour of Tasmania's east coast, I discover more about Tasmania and its people than on any other of my numerous visits to the island. On the coach They are the glamour vehicles on our roads – those large sleek coaches with panoramic tinted windows, reclining seats, wi-fi, on-board washrooms and USB charging stations. Inside, these luxury coaches are as comfortable as they look. Best of all, their height gives you an elevated view of the scenery. Coach touring also makes economic sense. Car hire can be expensive and the island state deceptive for the first-time visitor. The distance between destinations may be short but the roads, in part, can be narrow and winding and there are several occasions on this trip from Launceston to St Helens to Bicheno, Port Arthur and finally, Hobart, that I am glad not to be driving. Coach tours are also kinder to the planet. A typical coach tour produces 87 per cent less emissions than if passengers travel the same distance by car. AAT Kings driver Tom knows Tasmania's roads like the back of his hand. Picture: Sue Preston Choosing the right tour It's important to put some thought into selecting the tour that's right for you. AAT Kings' tours of Tasmania offer First Choice tours with accommodation in premium hotels, lodges and eco-resorts, more two-night stays with later starts, most meals with wine included and exclusive Be My Guest Experiences. Alternatively, Best Buys tours provide centrally located, comfortable accommodation, and don't have as many inclusions. These tours, which always include breakfast and some other meals, will suit those who enjoy more flexibility and free time. On this tour we are in modern well-equipped hotels such as the Best Western in Launceston and the Mövenpick Hotel in Hobart, as well as an attractive seaside hotel, Beachfront, in Bicheno, and Iron Creek Bay, a working farm with alpacas and other animals in Sorell. Feeding the alpacas at Iron Creek Bay Farm. Picture: Sue Preston What we see My fellow travellers, aged from their 20s to their 70s, are charmed by a stroll to Cape Tourville Lighthouse overlooking the majestic Freycinet National Park, the chance to explore the historic town of Richmond and a tour of the Port Arthur convict settlement. We visit Bridestowe Lavender Estate, the world's largest privately owned lavender farm, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors during the annual blooming season in December and January. While the fields produce perfume-grade lavender oil it's a lavender-stuffed heat pack purple bear called Bobbie we find in the gift shop that has brought Bridestowe international fame. Chinese model and actor Zhang Xinyu triggered a craze when she posted a photo of herself with the bear on social media. Bears flew off the shelf as Chinese tourists demanded their own Bobbie. Bridestowe Lavender Estate, at Nabowla. Picture: Jamie Douros & Camille Helm/Tourism Tasmania In the heart of the picture-book historic town of Richmond, with its beautiful 1820s Georgian buildings, we find a museum dedicated entirely to poo. Before you poo-poo the idea, Pooseum is an altogether fascinating science museum focused on everything you can learn about animals from their droppings. Our last day on the road is at the Port Arthur Historic Site, home to most of the 75,000 convicts sent to Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land as it was then known. Upon entry you can pick up a playing card, part of the so-called Lottery of Life. By matching your card to a drawer in the Port Arthur Gallery, you find a name for your convict, his criminal history, an account of his prison life and his eventual fate. Paupers' Depot at Port Arthur historic site. Your travel director On any organised coach tour it is the travel director who is the star of the show and who really enriches your experience. He/she is the pin that holds everything together, from everyday logistics to keeping everyone happy, well-fed and well-informed. Our seasoned travel director, Carolyn Tipper, is a born storyteller. She regales us with interesting anecdotes about even the most unassuming of towns – along with the best place to buy a curried scallop pie in Tasmania (hint – it's in Richmond) and the best things to see and do when the coach sets you down in the next town for an hour or so of free time. Richmond is known for its picturesque bridge - and scallop pies. Picture: Tourism Tasmania The places you go All the places we visit and the experiences we enjoy on this tour are hand-picked after considerable research and personal visits. And itineraries constantly evolve, so cultivating local friendships is important to AAT Kings, along with supporting local suppliers and operators. 'These are people who are very precious to us and we want to support their businesses,' Tipper says. Chief executive Ben Hall admits to going 'undercover' recently, taking his two young daughters with him on an AAT Kings coach tour to get a deeper understanding from the guests' perspective. 'For me, it really showed the importance of refining our approach and finding new ways to enhance the guest experience.' The writer was a guest of AAT Kings , which has a number of Tasmanian guided holidays. The five-day East Coast Highlights tour starts at $2385 per person twin share. Other tours range from seven to 13 days. Originally published as I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store