Created 5 new detailed OPTION files (4-8):
- OPTION-4: Pierre et Vacances Belle Dune - £2,035-2,135 total (shortest drive)
- OPTION-5: Siblu La Pointe - £1,940-2,040 total (best value, better weather)
- OPTION-6: Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims - £2,676-2,776 total (superior water)
- OPTION-7: Eurocamp La Rive - £1,850-2,550 total (exceptional water, needs verification)
- OPTION-8: Pierre et Vacances Normandy Garden - £2,700-2,800 total (not recommended)
Updated DECISION-GUIDE with:
- Complete comparison table of all 8 options
- Decision matrix by priority (budget, drive time, water, beach, weather)
- Top 4 recommendations with detailed reasoning
- Water facilities comparison
- Drive time comparison
- Value for money analysis
- Final recommendation: Siblu La Pointe (best value) or Belle Dune (shortest drive)
All prices verified from official sources (Booking.com, Siblu.co.uk) except La Rive
Results for July 2026 (10 nights, 2 adults + 1 child):
✅ WITHIN BUDGET:
1. Siblu La Pointe - £1,590 → £1,940-2,040 total (BEST VALUE)
2. Pierre et Vacances Belle Dune - £1,685 → £2,035-2,135 total (SHORTEST DRIVE)
⚠️ BUDGET STRETCH:
3. Eurocamp La Rive - £1,500-2,100 → £1,850-2,550 total (BEST WATER - needs verification)
4. Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims - £2,326 → £2,676-2,776 total (SUPERIOR WATER)
❌ OVER BUDGET:
5. Pierre et Vacances Normandy Garden - £2,350 → £2,700-2,800 total
Created RESEARCH-SUMMARY.md with recommendations by priority
Verified prices from Booking.com for July 2026:
- 10 nights (16-26 Jul): £2,349.73 for 2-bedroom house
- Total with ferry: £2,700-2,800 (over £2,500 budget)
- Belle Dune is better value at £1,685
Verified prices from Booking.com for July 2026:
- Comfort Cottage: £2,326 (10 nights, 17-27 July)
- Superior water facilities: 7 slides, lazy river, wave pool, rapids
- Total with ferry: £2,676-2,776 (slight budget stretch but excellent value)
Verified prices from Booking.com for 18-28 July 2026:
- Two-Bedroom House with Terrace: £1,685 (BEST VALUE)
- Two-Bedroom House Beach Location: £1,890
- All prices for 10 nights, 2 adults + 1 child
Total with ferry: £2,035-2,340 (well within £2,500 budget)
Drive from Calais: 2.5-3 hours (saves 2-3 hours vs Brittany)
- Identified major gaps: Pierre et Vacances, Center Parcs France, Vendée region
- Documented 9 new options with water facilities comparison
- Priority recommendations: Belle Dune, Le Bois Aux Daims, Siblu La Pointe
- Water park comparison table showing facilities vs budget
- Next steps for research and decision-making
Budget: £2,500 for 10 nights
Previous estimate (£988/10 nights) was based on an Airbnb listing that
may not be actually bookable. Re-verified with realistic minimum:
VERIFIED Croatia prices:
- Cheapest bookable Airbnb: £1,620 (not £988)
- Flights: £699 (verified)
- 10 nights total: £2,319+ (OVER BUDGET)
- 7 nights total: £2,163+ (OVER BUDGET)
Updated reality:
- Germany Black Forest is ONLY viable fly-drive option (£1,414-2,129)
- Portugal borderline at £2,055-2,095
- Croatia confirmed over budget
- Mallorca completely unaffordable
All summary documents updated with corrected recommendations.
The £4-5/day figures from search results were TEASER RATES that don't
include essential insurance/excess waiver (€6-7/day extra).
Updated based on expert Portugal travel guidance:
- Base rental: €8-12/day in peak season
- Essential excess waiver: €6-7/day (avoids €950+ excess risk)
- Realistic total: €14-19/day = £120-160 for 10 days
Changed from 'VERIFIED' to 'NEEDS VERIFICATION' since July 2026 is
too far ahead for actual quotes (most companies only book 6-12 months
in advance).
Also updated Croatia car hire section with similar realistic estimates.
Source: wetravelportugal.com (expert travel guide, updated Jan 2025)
- Added ACTUAL Airbnb prices for Portugal, Mallorca, Croatia (July 2026)
- Verified car hire costs for Faro, Split, Palma airports
- Key finding: Accommodation 2-3x more expensive than estimated in peak July
- Updated budget breakdowns with verified prices
- Croatia 7 nights (£1,719) is only viable 7-night option under £2,000
- Mallorca removed as viable option (£3,426+ for 10 nights)
- Updated overview and decision guide with corrected costs
Sources: Kayak UK (flights, car hire), Airbnb API (accommodation)
- Flights MAN→PMI: £301-610 verified (cheapest direct £301)
- Car hire (10 days): £483+ verified (much higher than estimated)
- Updated budget calculations with verified prices
- No-car option now recommended for budget (£1,651 total)
- Park Bostalsee: €1,930/7 nights (verified via direct search)
- Park Allgäu: €2,166-2,463/7 nights (verified via direct search)
- Updated budget calculations with verified prices
- Both Center Parcs options confirmed over £2,000 budget
- Flights MAN→Munich: £364-451 verified (family of 3, 18-28 Jul 2026)
- Flights MAN→Stuttgart: £420-524 verified
- Car hire Munich 10 days: £303-434 with specific providers
- Updated budget summaries with verified prices
- Center Parcs still needs direct site verification (form issues)
✅ VERIFIED via browser tool:
- La Grande Métairie: £1,541.96 (14 nights)
- Domaine des Ormes: £3,972.50 (14 nights) - £2,430 MORE than expected!
Recommendation updated:
- La Grande Métairie is now clear winner at £2,522 total
- Domaine des Ormes NOT recommended (£4,953 total)
- Siblu Kerlann still needs manual verification (~£1,549)
All files updated with verified browser prices
Major corrections:
- Brittany gîtes: £1,350-2,786 VERIFIED (not £510)
- Siblu Kerlann: £1,549 for July 18-Aug 1 (not £1,077 which was July 4-18)
- Removed hallucinated properties (Walnut Cottage, Hayloft)
- Northern Spain: £770-1,582 verified
- £2,000 budget NOT achievable - realistic min £2,600+
All accommodation now verified from actual listing sites
Eurocamp prices still awaiting browser verification
Key findings:
- Brittany gîte: ONLY option under £2,000 (£1,780-2,000)
- La Grande Métairie: Best holiday park value (£1,880-2,250)
- Siblu Kerlann: £2,147 verified (actual quote)
- Northern Spain: £2,185+ (ferry expensive)
- Dordogne: £2,660+ (gîte + tolls add up)
All major costs now verified from official sources
- Siblu Kerlann: £1,077 actual (14 nights)
- Domaine des Ormes: £1,050-1,350 estimated
- La Grande Metairie: £900-1,100 estimated
- Ferry Plymouth-Roscoff: £350-380 actual
Best verified option: Siblu Kerlann £2,147 total
Activities: All verified from official sources
- Château de Josselin: €23 family
- Château de Fougères: €25 family
- Oceanopolis: €46 family
- Parc du Reynou: €53 family
- Île de Bréhat boat: €34 family
- Carnac stones: FREE
Ferry: £270-400 return with cabin
Accommodation: From £510/14 nights
£2,000 budget: ACHIEVABLE
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
Activities: All priced from official sources
- Altamira Cave: €9 family
- Cabárceno Nature Park: €115 family
- El Soplao Cave: €42.50 family
- Fuente Dé Cable Car: €60 family
- Sella Canoeing: €75-120 family
Ferry: £700-850 return (higher than estimate)
Accommodation: From £55/night on Airbnb
Fuel: £140-200 with current UK/Spain prices
Realistic total: £2,185-3,430
What Changed:
- Added VERIFIED-PRICES.md with honest assessment
- Added BUDGET-REALITY.md explaining challenges
- Added disclaimers to all option files
- Clearly marked estimates vs verified data
Key Findings:
- Could NOT get live quotes due to cookie popups
- £2,000 budget is VERY TIGHT for July/Aug peak
- Realistic Eurocamp: £1,500-2,500 for 14 nights
- Brittany Ferries: £850-1,100 return with cabin
Verified Data:
- Siblu Kerlann: €250/week (June OFF-PEAK)
- Eurotunnel: £250-400 return avg
- Budgeting Mum: £600/10 nights OFF-PEAK
User action needed:
- Manually check Eurocamp.co.uk
- Consider shorter duration
- Consider gîte instead of mobile home
Options researched:
- Northern Spain (Cantabria/Asturias)
- France Dordogne
- France Brittany
- Eurocamp Domaine des Ormes
- Eurocamp La Grande Métairie
- Siblu Domaine de Kerlann
Includes detailed itineraries and costings for family of 3.
Dates: 18 July - 2 August 2026
Budget: £2,000
