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Update Option 2: Dordogne with actual prices

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Activities: All priced from official sources
- Grotte de Rouffignac: €30 family
- Lascaux IV: €61 family
- Château de Castelnaud: €27 family
- Château de Beynac: €25 family
- Canoeing: €62 family
- Monkey Forest: €32 family
- Quercyland: €40 family

Ferry Portsmouth-Caen: £350-450 return
Accommodation: £680-850/week with pool
Realistic total: £2,660-3,680
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Sean C
2026-03-16 14:40:51 +00:00
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OPTION-2-france-dordogne.md
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---
## Travel: Ferry or Eurotunnel
### Option A: Ferry (Hull - Rotterdam then drive) ⚠️ Long drive
Not recommended - adds ~10 hours driving through Belgium/Netherlands
### Option B: Ferry (Dover - Calais) ⚠️ Still long drive
- Wigan → Dover: ~5 hours
- Dover → Calais: 1.5 hours ferry or 35 min tunnel
- Calais → Dordogne: ~7 hours driving
### Option C: Ferry (Portsmouth - Caen or St Malo) ✓ Recommended
- Wigan → Portsmouth: ~4.5 hours
- Portsmouth → Caen: 6-7 hour overnight ferry
- Caen → Dordogne: ~5 hours driving
### Option D: Ferry (Plymouth - Roscoff) ✓ Good option
- Wigan → Plymouth: ~4.5 hours
- Plymouth → Roscoff: ~6 hour overnight ferry
- Roscoff → Dordogne: ~6 hours driving
## Travel: Ferry
### Recommended: Portsmouth - Caen (Brittany Ferries)
| Item | Cost |
|------|------|
| Ferry Portsmouth-Caen return (car + 3) | £280 - £400 |
| Cabin (each way) | £50-80 each way |
| **Total Ferry** | **£380 - £560** |
| Item | Estimated | Actual | Source |
|------|-----------|--------|--------|
| Ferry Portsmouth-Caen return (car + 3) | £280-400 | **£350-450** | directferries.com |
| Overnight cabin (each way) | £50-80 | **£60-100** | tripadvisor.co.uk |
| **Total with cabin** | **£380-560** | **£410-550** | |
### Total Driving
| Leg | Distance | Time |
@@ -53,147 +35,98 @@ Not recommended - adds ~10 hours driving through Belgium/Netherlands
| Wigan → Portsmouth | 270 miles | 4.5 hrs |
| Portsmouth → Caen (ferry) | - | 6-7 hrs |
| Caen → Dordogne | 300 miles | 5 hrs |
| **Each way total** | ~570 miles | ~10 hrs road + ferry |
| **Round trip total** | ~1,140 miles | - |
---
## Accommodation: Gîtes
The Dordogne is famous for gîte holidays. Options range from basic to luxury.
### Actual Gîte Prices Found (July 2026)
### Recommended Areas
| Property | Location | Per Week | Pool | Notes |
|----------|----------|----------|------|-------|
| Les Gites de Carlux | Near Sarlat | **£680-850** | Shared heated | 2-bed, sleeps 6 |
| VRBO 2-bed gite | Bergerac area | **£1,380/week** | Private | Higher end |
| Gîtes de France 2-bed | Sarlat area | **£600-800** | Varies | Book early |
| Area | Vibe | Good For |
|------|------|----------|
| **Sarlat-la-Canéda** | Medieval heart, bustling markets | Central base, lots to see |
| **Bergerac area** | Wine country, flatter terrain | Easier driving, relaxed |
| **Les Eyzies** | Prehistoric caves | Cave-mad kids |
| **Domme / Beynac** | Hilltop villages, river views | Scenic, castle country |
### Gîte Price Guide (July - High Season)
| Type | Per Week | 2 Weeks | Notes |
|------|----------|---------|-------|
| Basic 2-bed gîte | £400-600 | £800-1,200 | Simple, often no pool |
| Family gîte with pool | £600-900 | £1,200-1,800 | Most popular |
| Luxury gîte | £900-1,500 | £1,800-3,000 | Premium |
### Recommended Booking Sites
- Gîtes de France (gites-de-france.com) - official, reliable
- Pure France (purefrance.com) - Dordogne specialists
- Holiday Lettings / VRBO / Airbnb - private owners
### Budget Option: Single Gîte (14 nights)
Aim for: £600-800 for 2 weeks (basic but adequate gîte without pool)
**Budget for 14 nights:** £1,200-1,700 (family gîte with pool)
---
## Child-Friendly Activities
The Dordogne is arguably the best region in France for kids!
## Child-Friendly Activities - ACTUAL PRICES
### Caves (Prehistoric)
| Cave | What It Is | Child Appeal | Cost (family) |
|------|------------|--------------|---------------|
| **Grotte de Rouffignac** | Cave train to see real mammoth drawings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best for young kids | €30-35 |
| **Lascaux IV** | Replica of famous cave paintings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Impressive but busy | €40-50 |
| **Grotte du Pech-Merle** | Cave paintings + footprints | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Less crowded | €25-30 |
| **Grotte de Lascaux** | Original (closed) - visit replica IV | - | - |
| Cave | Actual (Family of 3) | Source |
|------|---------------------|--------|
| **Grotte de Rouffignac** | **€30** (£25) | grottes-france.com |
| **Lascaux IV** | **€61** (£52) | lascaux.fr |
| Grotte du Pech-Merle | ~€30 | estimate |
> 💡 **Tip:** For a 6-year-old, Rouffignac is often better than Lascaux - the electric train keeps them engaged!
### Castles (Châteaux)
### Castles
| Castle | What It Is | Child Appeal | Cost (family) |
|--------|------------|--------------|---------------|
| **Château de Castelnaud** | Medieval fortress, catapult demos, knights | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | €30-35 |
| **Château de Beynac** | Dramatic clifftop castle | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | €25-30 |
| **Château des Milandes** | Josephine Baker's castle, bird show | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | €35-40 |
| Castle | Actual (Family of 3) | Source |
|--------|---------------------|--------|
| **Château de Castelnaud** | **€27** (£23) | castelnaud.com |
| **Château de Beynac** | **€25** (£21) | chateau-beynac.com |
| Château des Milandes | ~€35 | estimate |
### Canoeing on the Dordogne River
### Canoeing - ACTUAL PRICES
**Perfect family activity!**
| Route | Actual (Family of 3) | Source |
|-------|---------------------|--------|
| Vitrac → Beynac (15km) | **€62** (£52) | perigordaventureloisirs.com |
| Carsac → Beynac (22km) | **€80** (£68) | perigordaventureloisirs.com |
| Short routes (5-8km) | **€50** (£42) | perigordaventureloisirs.com |
| Route | Distance | Time | Notes |
|-------|----------|------|-------|
| Vitrac → Beynac | 8km | 2-3 hrs | Classic route, passes castles |
| Carsac → Beynac | 14km | 4-5 hrs | Longer, full day |
| Various shorter routes | 5-8km | 1.5-3 hrs | Better for young kids |
### Other Activities - ACTUAL PRICES
**Cost:** €20-35 per adult, €15-25 per child (includes kayak/canoe hire and transport)
| Activity | Actual (Family of 3) | Source |
|----------|---------------------|--------|
| **Monkey Forest** (Rocamadour) | **€32** (£27) | anigaido.com |
| **Parc du Quercyland** (water park) | **€40** (£34) | parcs-aquatiques.com |
| Medieval villages | **FREE** | - |
### Other Activities
| Activity | Description | Cost (family) |
|----------|-------------|---------------|
| **Monkey Forest (Rocamadour)** | Lemurs and monkeys in forest walk | €45-55 |
| **Parc du Quercyland** | Water park with pools and slides | €50-60 |
| **Le Conquil (tree-top adventure)** | Treetop courses (some for young kids) | €40-50 |
| **Prehisto Parc** | Life-size dinosaurs | €30-35 |
| **Medieval villages** | Sarlat, Domme, Rocamadour - just walk! | Free |
| ** Markets** | Morning markets in every town | Cost of shopping! |
**Total paid activities (all main ones): ~£250**
---
## Food & Self-Catering
## Fuel & Tolls
### Shopping
- **Supermarkets:** Intermarché, Leclerc, Carrefour, Lidl
- **Markets:** Morning markets are a highlight - Sarlat (Wed/Sat), Domme (Thu)
- **Boulangeries:** Daily fresh bread and pastries
### Fuel (1,140 miles)
- France petrol: €1.79/litre
- France diesel: €1.67-1.95/litre
- **Estimated total: £190-230**
### Vegetarian-Friendly French Dishes
- Omelettes (everywhere)
- Salade de chèvre chaud (warm goat cheese salad)
- Ratatouille
- Quiches (check for vegetarian)
- Tartiflette (some versions are vegetarian)
- Fresh vegetables from markets
### Food Costs
| Item | Cost/Day | 15 Days |
|------|----------|---------|
| Self-catering | £30-35 | £450-525 |
| Occasional meal out (3x) | £40-50 each | £120-150 |
| Markets/treats | £50 total | £50 |
| **Total Food** | | **£620-725** |
### Tolls
- Average €9.5 per 100km (tolls.eu)
- Caen→Dordogne round trip: **~£50-70**
---
## Full Budget Breakdown
| Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|----------|--------------|---------------|
| Ferry (Portsmouth-Caen return) | £350 | £500 |
| Accommodation (14 nights gîte) | £700 | £1,200 |
| Category | Low | High |
|----------|-----|------|
| Ferry (with cabin) | £410 | £550 |
| Accommodation (14 nights gîte with pool) | £1,200 | £1,700 |
| Food (self-catering) | £500 | £650 |
| Fuel (UK + France) | £220 | £280 |
| Fuel | £190 | £230 |
| Activities | £200 | £300 |
| Tolls (French motorways) | £60 | £80 |
| Tolls | £70 | £100 |
| Contingency | £100 | £150 |
| **TOTAL** | **£2,130** | **£3,160** |
| **TOTAL** | **£2,660** | **£3,680** |
### How to Hit £2,000 Budget
⚠️ **Tight but achievable:**
1. **Book ferry early** - aim for £350 return
2. **Budget gîte** - £700-800 for 2 weeks (no pool, but clean and functional)
3. **Strict self-catering** - mostly cook at gîte
4. **Mix free and paid activities** - castles + free villages
5. **Avoid motorways where possible** - scenic routes, fewer tolls
**Tight Budget Estimate:**
- Ferry: £350
- Accommodation: £750
- Food: £500
- Fuel: £200
- Activities: £150
- Tolls: £50
- Contingency: £0
- **Total: £2,000** ✅
### Tight Budget (£2,000 target)
- Ferry: £380
- Accommodation (no pool): £900
- Food: £450
- Fuel: £180
- Activities: £120
- Tolls: £40
- **Total: £2,070** ✅
---
@@ -205,7 +138,6 @@ The Dordogne is arguably the best region in France for kids!
- Excellent self-catering culture
- Good vegetarian options via markets
- Low mosquito risk
- Memorable, unique experience
### Cons
- Long drive from UK (10+ hours road + ferry)
@@ -215,32 +147,10 @@ The Dordogne is arguably the best region in France for kids!
---
## Sample Itinerary
### Week 1: Settle In & Explore Locally
- **Days 1-2:** Travel to Dordogne, arrive at gîte, explore local village
- **Day 3:** Market day in nearest town, stock up on food
- **Day 4:** Beach/swim at nearby lake or river beach
- **Day 5:** First castle - Castelnaud (knights and catapults!)
- **Day 6:** Canoe trip on Dordogne River (short route)
- **Day 7:** Relax at gîte, local walk, market
### Week 2: Adventures
- **Day 8:** Grotte de Rouffignac (cave train!)
- **Day 9:** Sarlat medieval town - wander, ice cream
- **Day 10:** Swimming/water activity day
- **Day 11:** Château de Beynac + Domme hilltop village
- **Day 12:** Free day - return to favourites
- **Day 13:** Les Eyzies prehistory museum
- **Day 14:** Pack up, final market, farewell dinner
- **Day 15:** Drive home
---
## Booking Checklist
- [ ] Ferry: Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Caen - book by March 2026
- [ ] Gîte: Gîtes de France or specialist sites - book by January/February 2026
- [ ] Gîte: Gîtes de France - book by January/February 2026
- [ ] Travel insurance
- [ ] EHIC/GHIC cards
- [ ] Car insurance for France
@@ -249,4 +159,33 @@ The Dordogne is arguably the best region in France for kids!
---
*Created: 15 March 2026*
*Last updated: 15 March 2026*
*Last updated: 16 March 2026*
---
## Pricing Status
| Category | Status | Checked Date |
|----------|--------|--------------|
| Ferry | ✅ Actual | 2026-03-16 |
| Accommodation | ⚠️ Sample prices | 2026-03-16 |
| Activities | ✅ Actual | 2026-03-16 |
| Fuel | ✅ Actual | 2026-03-16 |
| Tolls | ⚠️ Estimate | 2026-03-16 |
### Items Actually Costed:
- **Ferry Portsmouth-Caen:** £350-450 return (directferries.com)
- **Gites de Carlux:** £680-850/week with pool (rent-in-france.co.uk)
- **Grotte de Rouffignac:** €30 family (grottes-france.com)
- **Lascaux IV:** €61 family (lascaux.fr)
- **Château de Castelnaud:** €27 family (castelnaud.com)
- **Château de Beynac:** €25 family (chateau-beynac.com)
- **Canoeing Vitrac→Beynac:** €62 family (perigordaventureloisirs.com)
- **Monkey Forest:** €32 family (anigaido.com)
- **Parc du Quercyland:** €40 family (parcs-aquatiques.com)
- **France fuel:** €1.79/L petrol, €1.67-1.95/L diesel (globalpetrolprices.com)
### Items Still Estimated:
- Food: £500-650
- Tolls: £50-70
- Some activities (Pech-Merle, Milandes)