A week in Saint-Malo

5 August 2026

It's been a very long time since I've been abroad, maybe 13 years (?!) I have never had the money to afford big trips and I recently received a tax refund and a holiday was top on the list! (also a chunk towards a very needed new car). I wanted to use the money on something that would really make a difference to us. My daughter had plans with her friends so it was just my son and I, off on a little trip over the sea to Brittany, France!

We went on the Condor ferry from Poole harbour. It worked out cheaper than getting the plane when factoring in the extra travel and hotel stays etc...and it was super easy! (we live on the Isle of Wight btw). We stayed in Saint-Malo, and the ferry docks a few minutes walk to the apartment that we'd booked. The city is a fortified walled historic town, surrounded by sandy beaches and rocky outcrops. It was the setting for the book and series 'All The Light We Cannot See', which we watched whilst we were there. My son is very interested in history and this was right up his street! The town was 80% destroyed during the war, and then completely rebuilt brick by brick... a display of French resilience and pride!

It is an incredible place, so many lovely cobbled streets and shops to explore.

I was really taken with the graffiti on the old wooden doors.

We also visited the Grande Aquarium and the AquaMalo aqua park, of course because 10 years old.

Our little apartment was perfect too, it had a little kitchen and big windows.

I loved the view, look at those tiny windows!

It was hot, so we had a few days exploring the beaches, which there are many. We were so lucky with the weather and also the tides, which happed to be low in early afternoon. We did so much snorkelling and rock pooling.

I loved these pink shells, and there were hundreds of hermit crabs!

Some vintage exploring too...

This restaurant opposite our apartment was amazing! Very friendly staff.

We also took a trip to Mont-Saint-Michel, in Normandy, which, I have to say, is so much more incredible in real life. Its one of those places you just have to see with your own eyes.

You can walk up to it and roam about the tiny little walls and steep steps.

It was busy (because school holidays) but nothing I'm not used to. The main little street was too busy but the other streets were fine! We bought our own lunch, a must I think!

So many tiny details!

The tide was out whilst we were there, which was nice to walk around it, but I would also like to see it surrounded by water too! But that would be quite restricting in terms of view as the bridge would be quite crowded I think.

There is a free shuttle bus to and from the Mont but on the way back we walked to take in the view, it was a bit further than I thought, poor L was coming down with a cold so he was very stoic that day. He had the next day just chilling and we went out in the evening.

He was a super star travelling companion and I'll never forget our trip! I don't think I'll be fortunate to go anywhere else before they are too old and want to do their own things, but this was just the best time ever, thank you France!