The best quiet beach holidays in Europe

Picture by Stuart Black/Robert Harding/Corbis

1/10 The Vendée, France

Hire a motorboat

The Renaissance town of Fontenay-le-Comte is an ideal base for families to visit the Vendée. For beach life visit the pretty dunes of Ile de Ré, or travel by causeway to the picturesque Ile de Noirmoutier to view its atmospheric saltpans and colourful ports. Further inland you will often find families paddling a boat around 'Green Venice', a blissfully peaceful maze of narrow waterways. You can also hire motorboats to explore at Marans and later on enjoy a nightime show at the historical theme park 'Le Puy de Fou'.

Flights: Flights from London to the Vendée take around one and a half hours with prices starting from £120

Where to stay: Hotel La Baie Sables offers a family of four a room for seven nights for £730