Uncrowded French Corner: Ideal Holiday Spot for a Much-Needed Moms’ Trip

If you’ve ever watched 2016’s Bad Moms, starring Mila Kunis, you may remember a particular supermarket scene.

Set to Icona Pop’s ‘I don’t care … I love it’, it features three over-worked mothers storming the supermarket aisles, acting in suggestive, raucous and aggressive ways. One even fondles an oversized saucisson in the face of a male cashier.

There were no such antics on a recent moms’ trip to Moliets-et-Maa, located about an hour north of Biarritz. Instead, in the supermarket, we focused on stocking up on rosé, cheeses, radishes, and pâté, all destined for grazing on by the pool of our villa.

It was a celebratory trip of sorts. Although none of us knew what the A-Level results would bring in a few weeks, the immediate stress had lifted.

As women who met when our now-18-year-olds were four, we’ve become close friends beyond the school gate, deeply invested in each other’s children and lives. Together we’ve navigated bake sales, seasonal plays, sports days, birthday parties, sleepovers, romances, rows, and revisions.

This holiday marked a first for us – a trip without the kids. Our WhatsApp group icon – a group of women gleefully jumping into a pool – said it all. Fourteen years of school, done and dusted. If the kids thought they were relieved, they had no idea.

Despite the fantasy of distant spa retreats and wild adventures, we chose not to stray too far from home. Moliets-et-Maa was ideal – just a short flight from London to Biarritz and an easy drive from there.

Admittedly, some in our group had to drop out due to family commitments, and others could only come for a few days. Regardless, we were frequently in touch with messages ranging from “where’s the ketchup?” to “when are you back?”

Despite its sometimes annoyingly good wifi, our Summer France accommodation couldn’t have been more ideal: five double bedrooms, most with their own bathroom; a spacious living and kitchen area; and a large outdoor area and pool that backed onto woods and a lake. I even spotted a deer on our first morning. The villa featured a pétanque pitch, making it tough to decide whether to relax or explore.

While there were attempts to straddle an inflatable pineapple and some fully-clothed pool-jumping antics, exploring the surroundings generally won out. The beach was just a short walk or cycle away, making morning yoga to the sound of rolling surf very inviting. By the time we’d return to the villa, the ‘croissant fairy’ had dropped off a bag of buttery treats. Later in the day, surf lessons in the Atlantic were an option, and evening swims against pink skies were blissful.

The commercial stretch leading to Moliets beach buzzed as the sun set, with bars, restaurants, and ice cream parlours alive with activity. The queue forming outside La Cave Aux Moules each evening encouraged us to join these feasting families. With generous portions and multiple sauce choices, there was also pizza and salad for vegetarians. We returned a second time, equally satisfied.

Spending a summer Sunday in France at a brocante, a vintage market, is unparalleled. In Anglet, near Biarritz, we rummaged through jewellery, linens, and buttons, testing Ryanair’s luggage limits. Near the square, Les Halles des Cinq Cantons fueled our shopping spree with a variety of cuisines. We enjoyed paella at a communal table, along with local wine.

We also stuffed our luggage with brightly colored foutas (lightweight beach towels) from Moliets. In Bayonne, France’s chocolate capital, we discovered fabulous shops like Bayona, selling artisanal espadrilles, truffles, and antiques.

While we didn’t spend much time in Biarritz itself due to the crowded beaches, it’s important to note that many authentic eateries close after lunchtime. Timing is crucial if food is a priority, or you might end up in pricier, tourist-centric spots.

The French supermarkets were indeed irresistible with their selection and prices, but sometimes a change could be good. Maybe a Bad Moms style clip in one, with a gigantic saucisson, would be fun. As university looms and money requests multiply, it could very well be us in that clip.

Sarah Rodrigues was hosted by Summer France at Villas La Clairière aux Chevreuils, Moliets-et-Maa.

Return flights from London Stansted to Biarritz (Summer 2025) cost from £75 pp with Ryanair.

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Source: Particle News