Newly built and tastefully finished, Atlantic Pines sits just a kilometre and a half from Boisvinet beach, easily reached via a trail through the pine woods and accessed directly from a gate in the garden.  Family sized and very comfortable, this is a real home-from-home with a contemporary beach-life vibe that will ease you instantly into the holiday mood. There’s nothing nicer than a private, heated swimming pool to slip into after a long car journey, and once the day winds down into evening, pool lighting turns the back garden into a lovely atmospheric spot for drinks and dinner. And if you’re in the mood for some extra holiday pampering, we’ll happily organise a yoga session, massage or private chef to come and cook for you all by arrangement.

A Vendée coast holiday is all about the bounty of nature, be it Atlantic rollers to surf and sail on, pine forests to cycle through or luscious seafood washed down with arguably the best white wines in the country. The beauty of Atlantic Pines is that it puts you within walking distance of all these essential holiday pleasures, with a choice of restaurants, shops and a daily market in Jard sur Mer, and pedestrian or bike access to 8km of sandy beaches on the aptly named Coast of Light. For friends, couples or a family, this is an excellent base for all that the area has to offer.

Local area

For all your daily needs you can nip into pretty Jard sur Mer (1km), which has shops, restaurants and a small harbour. The nearest beach is Boisvinet, which has a dedicated launch spot for windsurfing, kitesurfing and foiling, as well as masses of open sand for more gentle beach activities. For a more natural feel, we suggest Plage des Conches and Plage de la Terrière between Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard and La Tranche-sur-Mer, or Plage de la Mine (5km). This stretch of coast is essentially one enormously long beach, punctuated by little resorts that cater to all sea lovers, from young families to world class surfers. To the north is Les Sables d’Olonne (25km), a good-sized resort town with a bustling marina and a broad beach lined with restaurants and cafés. South lies La Tranche sur Mer, whose sandy beaches, long hours of sunshine and reliable waves have earned it the nickname of Little California and a globally renowned annual surf competition. Away from the coast there’s just as much to do, with a water park and high ropes course nearby, and the unique historic re-enactment spectacle of Le Puy du Fou well worth the 100km trip when you feel like a break from the beach. Jard and nearby Longeville sur Mer are also excellent start points for exploring the unique ecosystem of the Marais Poitevin, either on foot or by boat along its narrow canals teeming with birds and wildlife.

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.