If you’ve ever looked at prices in Le Touquet and immediately considered remortgaging your house for a weekend by the sea, then allow me to introduce you to its much more affordable neighbour – Saint-Cécile Plage.
Set along France’s gorgeous Opal Coast, Saint-Cécile Plage delivers huge sandy beaches, family-friendly vibes, dog-friendly stays and excellent seafood restaurants, but without the polished price tag that often comes with Le Touquet.
Better still, it’s only around 45 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais, making it one of the easiest French seaside escapes from the UK, especially if you’re travelling with children, dogs or both.
After recently staying as a family, with a dog, I genuinely think Saint-Cécile Plage is one of northern France’s best under-the-radar coastal breaks.
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Why Saint-Cécile Plage is Better Value Than Le Touquet
Le Touquet absolutely has its place. It’s chic, polished and packed with boutique hotels and stylish restaurants.
But it’s also become noticeably expensive in recent years, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Saint-Cécile Plage, by contrast, feels refreshingly relaxed.
You still get…
- Wide sandy beaches
- Excellent seafood
- Pretty coastal scenery
- Family-friendly cafés
- Easy access from the UK
But accommodation prices are generally far lower, parking is easier, restaurants feel less touristy and the overall atmosphere is much more laid back.
For budget-conscious travellers, especially families or dog owners, it simply makes more sense.
Saint-Cécile Plage at a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Location | Opal Coast, Northern France |
| Closest Major Port | Calais |
| Drive From Le Shuttle | Around 45 minutes |
| Best For | Families, dog owners, beach lovers, budget travellers |
| Main Beach Type | Wide sandy beach |
| Good Alternative To | Le Touquet |
| Ideal Trip Length | 2 to 4 nights |
| Closest UK Access | Le Shuttle Folkestone-Calais |
Staying at Evancy Trésors d’Opale
For our stay, we checked into Evancy Trésors d’Opale and honestly, it ticked every single box for an easy family coastal break.
The property sits just a short walk from the beach and offers modern apartment-style accommodation that works brilliantly if you’re travelling with children or pets.
Instead of squeezing into a standard hotel room, you get proper living space, a kitchen area, dining table and separate bedrooms depending on the apartment type you book.
As anyone travelling with a baby or dog knows, having space matters.
Why Evancy Works So Well For Families
One of the biggest advantages of apartment accommodation is flexibility.
At Evancy Trésors d’Opale we could…
- Prepare simple meals and breakfasts
- Store all our gear, with tons of space leftover
- Relax after beach trips without needing restaurants every meal
- Keep dog equipment organised
- Enjoy outdoor balcony space
The self-catering setup also massively helps keep costs down compared to eating out constantly in Le Touquet.
Facilities at the property include..
- Baby kits on request (inc. cot, bath, high chair etc)
- Modern self-catering apartments
- Kitchenettes
- Family-sized rooms
- Parking without height restriction (great if you have a roof box like us)
- Swimming pool
- Volleyball court
- Petanque pitches
- Pet-friendly accommodation
- Easy beach access
- Quiet residential setting
The whole atmosphere felt calm and practical rather than overly polished or pretentious.
Why Saint-Cécile Plage is Brilliant For Dogs
If you travel with a dog regularly, Saint-Cécile Plage is honestly a dream.
The beach is enormous and outside peak summer restrictions, dogs are welcome on large sections of the sand, and even during busier periods the area feels far more relaxed than many UK beaches.
The promenade and surrounding dunes also make excellent walking territory.
Meanwhile, Evancy Trésors d’Opale welcomes dogs, which instantly removes a huge amount of travel stress.
Travelling via Le Shuttle also makes the entire journey much easier with pets compared to flying.
Your dog stays with you in the car, there’s a pet exercise area at the terminal and the overall process feels remarkably smooth.
For UK travellers wanting an easy dog-friendly European break, this setup is hard to beat.
Beautiful Beaches Without the Crowds
The beach at Saint-Cécile Plage was probably the biggest surprise of the trip.
It’s vast, clean and genuinely beautiful, with soft golden sand stretching for miles along the Côte d’Opale coastline.
Backed by beautiful dunes, there’s plenty of space for long walks without feeling crowded and it feels wonderfully wild and under polished.
Even during good weather, trust me we visited in a heatwave!. it felt quieter and more spacious than Le Touquet.
That means…
- Easier family beach days
- More space for dogs
- Less stressful parking
- Better value cafés
- More relaxed atmosphere
At low tide, the beach becomes absolutely enormous, perfect for long walks, paddle games or simply sitting with a coffee while children run wild safely.
West-facing, the sunsets are spectacular too.
Eating at Les Filles du Vent
One of the highlights of our few days in Saint-Cecile Plage was dinner at Les Filles du Vent.
This relaxed beachfront restaurant perfectly sums up why Saint-Cécile Plage works so well.
It’s stylish without being intimidating, family-friendly without feeling chaotic and serves genuinely good food at prices that feel much more reasonable than nearby Le Touquet.
Our local moules frites were superb and washed down with a delicious local beer too – we were in Hauts-de-France after all!
The beachfront location makes it particularly lovely around sunset and we could easily wheel in the pram.
Typical Saint-Cécile Plage Food Costs
| Item | Approximate Cost |
| Coffee | 2€ to 3€ |
| Pastry | 2€ to 4€ |
| Moules Frites | 16€ to 24€ |
| Main Course | 18€ to 30€ |
| Glass of Wine | 5€ to 8€ |
| Family Ice Cream Stop | Around 10€ |
Compared to Le Touquet, where prices can climb quickly during peak periods, Saint-Cécile Plage felt noticeably more affordable.
Why the Saint-Cécile Plage Works so Well from the UK
One of the biggest advantages of Saint-Cécile Plage is how ridiculously easy it is to reach from southern England.
After arriving via Le Shuttle, the drive takes only 45 minutes from Calais. It’s actually closer than Le Touquet!
That means…
- No exhausting long-distance driving
- Easy weekend breaks
- Simpler travel with babies
- Less stress for dogs
- Lower fuel costs
For us, this proximity completely changed the feel of the trip.
Instead of spending an entire day travelling, we were eating seafood by the beach within a couple of hours of arriving in France.
Things to Do Around Saint-Cécile Plage
While the beach is the main attraction, there’s plenty nearby for a longer stay.
Explore the Opal Coast
The Côte d’Opale is famous for its windswept beaches, dunes and coastal scenery.
Nearby highlights include:
- Le Touquet (go for the market day!)
- Berck (see the seals at low tide)
- Montreuil-sur-Mer (quaint historic town with amazing views)
Enjoy Beach Walks
This coastline is ideal for:
- Sunset strolls
- Dog walking
- Cycling
- Sand yachting
- Family beach games
Visit Local Markets
Small local markets nearby happen daily in the high season and are great way to enjoy local culture and pick up some picnic treats including…
- French cheeses
- Seafood
- Pastries
- Regional cider
- Picnic supplies
Perfect if you’re staying self-catered.
Is Saint-Cécile Plage Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
If you want all the benefits of a northern French beach break without Le Touquet prices, Saint-Cécile Plage is an excellent alternative.
It’s particularly ideal for…
- Families with young children
- Dog owners
- Budget-conscious travellers
- Weekend breaks from the UK
- Relaxed seaside escapes
Between the huge beaches, easy Le Shuttle access, practical accommodation and genuinely relaxed atmosphere, it offers fantastic value for money.
And honestly? I’d take the quieter beach and lower restaurant bill over Le Touquet glamour any day!
Saint-Cécile Plage FAQs
Is Saint-Cécile Plage cheaper than Le Touquet?
Yes.
Accommodation, restaurants and parking in Saint-Cécile Plage are generally much cheaper than Le Touquet, especially during weekends and school holidays.
Is Saint-Cécile Plage good for dogs?
Very much so.
The beach is spacious, many accommodation providers are pet-friendly and travelling via Le Shuttle makes access from the UK extremely easy with dogs.
How far is Saint-Cécile Plage from Calais?
Saint-Cécile Plage is around 45 minutes by car from Calais and the Le Shuttle terminal.
Is Saint-Cécile Plage good for families?
Yes.
The relaxed atmosphere, spacious beach, apartment accommodation and quieter setting make it excellent for families with young children.
Where should I stay in Saint-Cécile Plage?
Evancy Trésors d’Opale is a great option for families and dog owners thanks to its apartment-style accommodation, beach access and pet-friendly facilities.
What is there to do near Saint-Cécile Plage?
Visitors can enjoy beaches, coastal walks, seafood restaurants, local markets and day trips along the Opal Coast including Le Touquet and Montreuil-sur-Mer
Practical Tips for Visiting the Opal Coast
Getting There
Le Touquet airport offers flights from the UK. As always, I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.
Alternatively, LeShuttle offers Channel Tunnel connections for those travelling by car from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes.
Ferries form the UK also sail regularly to Calais. Check out FerryHopper to compare prices and times.
From Calais, it’s a 45 minute drive to Saint-Cecile Plage.
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My trip to Saint-Cecile Plage was gifted by Pas de Calais Tourisme and Evancy Tresors D’Opale but, as always, all views are my own.
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