Camping Le Palavas

With the Med, Étang du Prévost and Lez River all close by, you can take your pick of sea fishing, jetskiing, diving, paddleboarding or adrenaline-inducing tow rides. Once you’ve exhausted yourselves in the water, hop on the tourist train and head into Palavas-les-Flots (10 minutes’ ride) and treat the kids to rollercoaster rides at Luna Park. Fancy a change of seaside scenery? Alternatives include the lively marina at Carnon (10 minutes’ drive), or the long swathe of sand at La Grande-Motte (20 minutes), backed by modern apartment blocks. Take a family walk along the saltwater lagoon at Sète (half an hour), and wind up your tour of local resorts in a seafront bar at Frontignan (25 minutes) to sample the local Muscat wines. Turning inland, the vast amphitheatre at Nîmes (45 minutes) and the soaring aqueduct at Pont du Gard (an hour) both date from Roman times. If the kids tire of history and culture, appease them with a visit to Planet Ocean World at Montpellier (half an hour).