Need family friendly beach ideas for 4 familes

I am researching ideas for my 40th birthday extravaganza! We will be traveling 7-10 days in the middle of August 2010. My boys will be 3 and 4 at that time and we%26#39;re traveling w/ 3 other couples with kids just a little older. Should we stay south or go to the west for more quaint beach towns? We plan to do the beach thing for about 4 days and then drive into the countryside. We love wine, wine tours, good food, quaint markets and historic architecture. Any ideas are so appreciated. Thanks!

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Having grown up in the south of France, I won%26#39;t suggest the west of course...too cold...

Cassis is a quaint mediterranean port village nice for families.

If you are looking for self catering and need to lodge four families, I would suggest a residence called Les Terres Marines: gated residence with guardian (good for children) in manucured park like setting with a 75 foot swimming pool (life guard on duty), two tennis courts, ping pong tables, boulodrome. This gives you the option between beach and pool during the day with great swimming need of children. The are enough units to lodge several families. Rental agencies in Cassis www.castellas-immobilier.com; www.agencefalque.com.

Cassis has famous vineyards, good food, convenient location (45mn from Marseille airport) easy access to highway.

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Sorry www.agencefalque.fr

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The problem you will have is that August is the French vacation month and the most popular destination that month will be the beach, any beach. While now is not too early to start to find accommodations, few if anyone will want to carve 4 days out of their busiest month to accommodate you in an apartment or gite. Most of the beach properties will rent for the entire month.

You will have a great deal more luck trying to find hotels, but again in August there is no such thing really as a %26quot;quaint beach town%26quot;. Every where along the coast will be packed to the gills with vacationing Frenchmen.

I might be able to better suggest possible locations but you%26#39;ll need to narrow down the area of the French coastline that interests you.

%26lt;%26lt;I won%26#39;t suggest the west of course...too cold%26gt;%26gt;

In August? Are you sure LouGari?

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OK, I am exagerating ...a bit...! Having grown up near the Med I like finding the water at the same place every time, no tide of course, and when living in Paris I did have some cool summer experiences on the west coast. But agreed, not always. Rentals in Cassis definitely by the week. Agreed that quaint will noy equal fewer people anywhere in August.