If you have never visited the Île de Ré before, I envy you. You are in for a treat. I wish I could go back in time to the first time I discovered it. I first heard of it when my mum told me she and dad had visited an island during their summer caravan holiday on the west coast of France, to which I replied I wasn’t aware there were any islands on the west coast of France. Duh. Having firmly corrected me, mum said she was convinced I would love this place – flat biking, vineyards, long sandy beaches, delicious local food, gorgeous vistas…
And, she was right.
First Impressions
On our first visit to the Ré, with our two year old daughter in tow, my husband and I fell in love with its holly-hocked lanes, shuttered calm and oh-so-distinct beaches. We hatched a plan then and there to find a way to spend more time on the island. Twelve years and two kids later, and we are still in mid-romance. We are the proud owners of a pied-à-terre in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, spend at least 6 weeks of every year here during the school holidays, and can safely say we have biked over a thousand kilometres with a varying cargo of babies, toddlers, picnics, bottles of wine and beach gear. With our youngest child now 11 years old, our biking wings are well and truly spread.
What the island is NOT
If you are looking for a party island with taxis to get you around (gold dust), nightclubs (there is one), and jet skis (also only one operator), then perhaps Ré is not the place for you. If you are more interested in exploring, happy to jump on a bike to do this, and enjoying beautiful, serene scenery, then this could well be your next holiday destination.
Whether you are looking for advice on where to stay, places to eat or things to do, I hope this blog gives you all the information you need.
