[ConcordeBA]

Hi All,

I am planning on a trip to Dinard early April weather permitting, I was wondering where the best place to stay is? If Dinard is best for a weekend beach break? Maybe somewhere to sun and jump in a pool that we can book last minute with decent food nearby?

If Dinard isn't the best, I don't mind an extra 30 minute flight time each way. At the moment 1hr 30 from London to Dinard is great.

[Rob P]

Dinard is lovely, well worth a visit.

It must be 12 years since we were last there, so my accommodation recommendations would probably be less useful than Trip Advisor

Rob P

[welkyboy]

Remember that Dinard has now a 24 hour ppr requirement for Customs from Non Schengen countries which ncludes the Channel Islands ☹️

[Sooty25]

as Rob said, a beautiful part of France, I would suggest you check the pool is heated at that time of year though!

[Rob P]

And remember to pack budgie smugglers

Rob P

[ConcordeBA]

Remember that Dinard has now a 24 hour ppr requirement for Customs from Non Schengen countries which ncludes the Channel Islands ☹️

Ah right. So 24 hour PPR for customs because they don't have them? Is this via the website? No requirement for French on the Radio?

Dinard is lovely, well worth a visit.

It must be 12 years since we were last there, so my accommodation recommendations would probably be less useful than Trip Advisor

Rob P

as Rob said, a beautiful part of France, I would suggest you check the pool is heated at that time of year though!

I'll give Dinard a visit then. I'll have to do my research with accommodation as don't want to book till I know 100% that I am flying. Odds must be on for a warm start to April. The weather this winter is awful!

I've got the airplane and friends booked for a little hollibobs.

[Oldfart]

I'd give St Malo a thought too. 20 min taxi from Dinard airport. Smaller and picturesque, plenty of good restaurants in walking distance.
Few movements at Din, the odd FR 737. Customs no problem, even put us at head of the FR line on clearing formalities on last visit.
ILS/RNAV approaches too, free!!

Booking.com allow last minute hotel canx if wx intervenes

[Lefty]

At Dinard you have the choice staying in Dinard, which has a small, but pretty beach, a large heated indoor pool and a huge casino - or taking a 30 Euro taxi to St Malo. St Malo is a picture book walled city - with loads of hotels both within and without the confines of the walled city.
It also has a beach, but this is a little harder to access because you have go through one of the exits through the wall.

Both are brilliant.

You could also fly to Cherbourg (30 Min’s shorter Flight, only 12 hours Ppr and no hassle) then visit the beach resort of st Vaast La Hougue.

[letpmar]

Are you sure Dinard is 24 hour notice for customs as far as I understand it customs are there full time.
On the original question, I am also out of date on where to stay. I like to stay in Dinard but especially if you are taking the other half, St Malo is well worth the slightly longer taxi ride.

[GrahamB]

Are you sure Dinard is 24 hour notice for customs...

Check the NOTAM. 24HR PNR.

[A le Ron]

I wonder if that’s just a winter thing?

[Wessex Flyer]

I think the NOTAM is a bit ambiguous. Obviously taken literally it means 24 hours PPR for all international flights. However it refers to the AIP text pages which state that outside the normal aerodrome hours Customs is PPR 12 hours. Arguably, given that Dinard needs a Customs presence for its scheduled flights, isn't it more likely that the NOTAM means that the 12 hours has now become 24 hours? I hope so otherwise Dinard is simply going to make itself less and less attractive to visitors, a process it has worked hard at since it was a busy 24 hour airport when I first visited in 1990.

[Irv Lee]

In certain seasons there is a passenger ferry Dinard town to St Malo across the mouth of the Bay. Also, don't arrive just after a Ryanair is turfed out the passengers, taxi drivers in the area don't stub out their Gitanes, knock back their Ricard, and head for the airport just because there are fares to be had, so you end up with 50 people queueing for two taxis running back and forward, as @GaFlyer4Fun and I discovered.

[AlanM]

Dinan is a bit further south but a beautiful town. Eastwards is Mont Saint Michel which gets mobbed with tourists in peak season.

However, without a car St Malo and Dinard are fun. If you have kids there is a great aquarium in St Malo.

[patowalker]

I wonder if that’s just a winter thing?

Yes, it is a winter thing. No flights today and only one in and out tomorrow from Guernsey.