IF you don’t fancy the faff of an airport this summer, why not pop over to one incredible coastline that’s mere hours away from the UK?
You can get to the beautiful French region of Normandy by ferry or the Channel Tunnel to explore its beaches and pretty fishing villages – so there’s no need to even set foot on a plane.
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Airbnb has revealed the trending destinations this summer and for Brits, one spot that is increasing in popularity is Normandy.
It stated that not only is the French countryside in demand, but so are “rural coastal bookings”.
The Normandy region is generally much quieter than other tourist hubs in France like Paris, the Côte d’Azur, or the Dordogne.
If you’re tempted to visit, here are some places to consider – one Sun Writer discovered “village life” in peaceful Pourville.
She stayed in a beachside boutique hotel called Vue Sur Mer where guests can expect a basket of warm pastries, jams, juice and strong coffee to start the day.
The former fishing village is backed by towering chalk cliffs and has a pebble-sand beach perfect for a picnic, or having a paddle.
Pourville’s scenery even made it into artwork thanks to Claude Monet who painted ‘Cliff Walk at Pourville’ in 1882.
When it comes to sightseeing, a must-see along the Normandy coastline is Mont-Saint-Michel.
For Disney fans, the tidal island is said to have inspired the backdrop for Tangled.
It has a huge abbey at the very top and is surrounded by museums, shops and restaurants.
The island is best explored by foot and when the tide comes in, it’s cut off from the mainland.
Further down the coast, Barfleur is often considered one of the prettiest villages in France.
It’s a traditional Norman fishing port with granite houses and little restaurants that sit around the harbour.
Any fans of seafood will love it as Barfleur is where you can try moules de Barfleur – these are wild mussels which are usually accompanied with crusty bread and a glass of wine.
Or, if you’re after glitz and glamour, then a trip to Deauville could be on the cards.
The seaside town is a classic Norman resort with a huge beach and it even pulls in celebrity visitors – the likes of Clint Eastwood and George Clooney have all been there.
On the beachfront is a huge casino with 300 slot machines as well as roulette and blackjack tables.
Inside is also a cinema, theatre and nightclub.
Its beach, Plage de Deauville, is around 1.2miles long and has around 450 multicoloured umbrellas on the sand.
While they might look like you’re classic beach parasol, you won’t find these anywhere else as they are actually made in Deauville workshops.
Other beaches along the Normandy coast that are considered some of the best include Ecalgrain Bay.
Another is Étretat Beach which has a striking resemblance to Dorset‘s Durdle Door with natural stone arches and deep blue sea on a bright day.
In the summertime, the Normandy coast is sunnier than the UK with an average of 23-24C – a pleasant temperature perfect for exploring.
The best part for British holidaymakers is that they can avoid stressful airport security and simply hop across via the ferry.
From the ports at Poole or Portsmouth, a trip to Cherbourg on the ferry takes between four to five and a half hours.
Routes from Portsmouth to Caen take on average six hours.
Another option is the LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais, from there, drive south to the Normandy region which takes just under two hours.