How to choose a vacation destination when it is very hot?
For a long time, choosing one's summer holidays mainly involved comparing landscapes, activities, or proximity to the sea. Today, many of us are adding a new criterion : comfort during heat waves. And the question that often comes up among our campers before booking is :
« Will we be able to enjoy our holidays despite the heat waves ? »
Sleeping well at night, having lunch outdoors, going hiking, letting the children play in the afternoon… All these little pleasures can become more complicated when temperatures stay high for several consecutive days.
Fortunately, not all destinations in France react the same way. Before booking, a few simple criteria already give you a good idea of the comfort you can expect on site.
Don't look only at the maximum temperature
When l'on prépares your holidays, you often have the réflexe to consult the météo, or the monthly averages. However, a destination où it is 30 °C can be much more agréable than another showing exactly the same température.
Why?
Because comfort does not depend solely on the thermometer.
Altitude, trees, nights, wind, or even the presence of a lake play an essential role in the perception. In other words, two destinations can display the same temperature… and offer a totally different experience. That's what we discovered upon arriving in Auvergne :-)
You can also consult
our complete guide for a cool vacation.
The 7 criteria that truly change vacation comfort
1. Nighttime temperatures
D'experience c'est probably the most important criterion. A hot day is generally much more bearable if the temperature drops enough at night. Sleeping in a room or a tent at 18 or 19 °C n'a nothing to do with a night where the thermometer stays above 24 °C. Cooler nights allow better recovery and to fully enjoy the following days.
2. L'altitude
L'altitude is often one of the best allies of summer holidays. Without necessarily going to high mountains,
destinations located between 900 and 1 200 metres often benefit from more pleasant temperatures, especially in the evening. A few hundred metres of elevation can be enough to transform the atmosphere of a summer day. We were truly amazed by this difference upon arriving at Aydat.
3. The trees and l'shade
A very wooded campsite is generally more pleasant than an exposed area. The trees naturally create shade, limit reverberation and make meals, games or moments of relaxation much more comfortable. The shade of a century‑old tree is nothing comparable with that of a simple parasol, a pergola or a gazebo. The problem is that they take a little time to grow :-)
4. The presence of a lake, a river or a swimming pool
Being able to cool downî easily completelyè changes the pace of the holidays. A swim à
the pool afterès a hikeé or during the hottest hours allows you to continueà fully enjoy the dayé. A little splash, 2 or 3 times in the dayé and the holidays remain a pleasure !
5. Proposed activities
A pleasant destination is also a destination where one can continue to live outdoors. Can one
go hikingon shaded trails?
Go cycling without suffocating? Visit a village? If the heat forces staying indoors for most of the day, the feeling of the holidays is no longer the same. We experienced this in 2019 with our young children in Ardèche...
6. The wind
We rarely think about it. Yet, a light breeze often makes a day much more pleasant. Some mid‑mountain regions naturally benefit from d'a good circulation of l'air, which greatly improves comfort in summer. Especially on high plateaus.
7. The type d'accommodation
Not all accommodations react the same way to heat. L'exposure, L'insulation, the presence of nearby trees or the ability to open windows widely can make a real difference. Again, comfort does not depend solely on air conditioning. L'accommodation can stay cool even without air conditioning if it is well positioned.
The most common mistakes
When planning a vacation, certain misconceptions can lead to disappointment.
❌ Choosing solely based on maximum temperatures.
❌ Thinking that a seaside location is always more pleasant.
❌ Underestimating the importance of nights.
❌ Neglecting shade and vegetation.
❌ Believing that air conditioning alone ensures comfortable holidays.
In reality, it is often the combination of several criteria that makes all the difference.
Before booking, take 2 minutes
You understand that not all destinations react the same way during extreme heat.
Before booking your next vacation, check these few points. We have listed them based on our experience as campers with children and the feedback from our customers over the past 7 years.
You can even save this checklist to compare multiple destinations.
New button
No place perfectly meets all these criteria. But the more a destination checks off boxes, the more likely you are to have a pleasant vacation, even in the middle of summer ;-)
Why we developed Camping Les Volcans in this spirit
When we took over Camping Les Volcans, we had not imagined that comfort would depend so quickly on coolness. We have planted more than 150 trees and shrubs to gradually improve shade, preserve privacy between pitches and prepare the renewal of some older trees. The campsite also benefits from an altitude of over 1,000 meters, a very natural environment, a lake a few minutes away and a pool that allows you to cool down during the hottest hours. Likewise
the accommodations are all placed in the shadiest areas of the campsite, and all
the pitches have shade for at least a few hours during the day.
In hindsight, we realize that the whole of these choices now contributes to the comfort of our campers during the increasingly frequent heat waves.
In summary
Choosing an enjoyable destination during the summer
does not consist of looking for the place where it is the coolest. It is mainly about finding an environment where one can continue to fully enjoy their holidays.
Cooler nights, shade, a bit of altitude, water nearby and suitable activities often do much more for comfort than a few degrees shown on a weather report.
It is this combination of elements that turns simple summer holidays… into truly relaxing vacations.
Frequently asked questions
How to know if a destination will be pleasant during a heat wave?
Don't just look at the maximum temperature. L'altitude, the nights, the vegetation, the water points and the available activities are just as important. N'hésitez pas to ask the campsites before booking, their managers will be best placed to advise you.
From what altitude does it get cooler?
You generally notice a difference starting at 800 to 900 meters d'altitude. Around 1,000 meters, the nights are often noticeably more pleasant than in the lowlands. Here we have, for example, between 6 and 8 degrees less than in Clermont-Ferrand, which is only 15 km away.
Is air conditioning essential for having a good vacation?
Not necessarily. A naturally pleasant environment (trees, altitude, cool nights, lake…) can offer excellent comfort without air conditioning. It's even more comfortable without :-)
Do trees really make a difference?
Yes. They provide shade, limit the perceived heat and significantly improve the comfort of outdoor spaces.
How to choose a vacation destination when it is very hot?
For a long time, choosing one's summer holidays mainly involved comparing landscapes, activities, or proximity to the sea. Today, many of us are adding a new criterion : comfort during heat waves. And the question that often comes up among our campers before booking is : « Will we be able to enjoy our holidays despite the heat waves ? »
Sleeping well at night, having lunch outdoors, going hiking, letting the children play in the afternoon… All these little pleasures can become more complicated when temperatures stay high for several consecutive days.
Fortunately, not all destinations in France react the same way. Before booking, a few simple criteria already give you a good idea of the comfort you can expect on site.
Don't look only at the maximum temperature
When l'on prépares your holidays, you often have the réflexe to consult the météo, or the monthly averages. However, a destination où it is 30 °C can be much more agréable than another showing exactly the same température. Why?
Because comfort does not depend solely on the thermometer.
Altitude, trees, nights, wind, or even the presence of a lake play an essential role in the perception. In other words, two destinations can display the same temperature… and offer a totally different experience. That's what we discovered upon arriving in Auvergne :-)
You can also consult our complete guide for a cool vacation.
The 7 criteria that truly change vacation comfort
1. Nighttime temperatures
D'experience c'est probably the most important criterion. A hot day is generally much more bearable if the temperature drops enough at night. Sleeping in a room or a tent at 18 or 19 °C n'a nothing to do with a night where the thermometer stays above 24 °C. Cooler nights allow better recovery and to fully enjoy the following days.
2. L'altitude
L'altitude is often one of the best allies of summer holidays. Without necessarily going to high mountains, destinations located between 900 and 1 200 metres often benefit from more pleasant temperatures, especially in the evening. A few hundred metres of elevation can be enough to transform the atmosphere of a summer day. We were truly amazed by this difference upon arriving at Aydat.
3. The trees and l'shade
A very wooded campsite is generally more pleasant than an exposed area. The trees naturally create shade, limit reverberation and make meals, games or moments of relaxation much more comfortable. The shade of a century‑old tree is nothing comparable with that of a simple parasol, a pergola or a gazebo. The problem is that they take a little time to grow :-)
4. The presence of a lake, a river or a swimming pool
Being able to cool downî easily completelyè changes the pace of the holidays. A swim à the pool afterès a hikeé or during the hottest hours allows you to continueà fully enjoy the dayé. A little splash, 2 or 3 times in the dayé and the holidays remain a pleasure !
5. Proposed activities
A pleasant destination is also a destination where one can continue to live outdoors. Can one go hikingon shaded trails? Go cycling without suffocating? Visit a village? If the heat forces staying indoors for most of the day, the feeling of the holidays is no longer the same. We experienced this in 2019 with our young children in Ardèche...
6. The wind
We rarely think about it. Yet, a light breeze often makes a day much more pleasant. Some mid‑mountain regions naturally benefit from d'a good circulation of l'air, which greatly improves comfort in summer. Especially on high plateaus.
7. The type d'accommodation
Not all accommodations react the same way to heat. L'exposure, L'insulation, the presence of nearby trees or the ability to open windows widely can make a real difference. Again, comfort does not depend solely on air conditioning. L'accommodation can stay cool even without air conditioning if it is well positioned.
The most common mistakes
When planning a vacation, certain misconceptions can lead to disappointment.
❌ Choosing solely based on maximum temperatures.
❌ Thinking that a seaside location is always more pleasant.
❌ Underestimating the importance of nights.
❌ Neglecting shade and vegetation.
❌ Believing that air conditioning alone ensures comfortable holidays.
In reality, it is often the combination of several criteria that makes all the difference.
Before booking, take 2 minutes
You understand that not all destinations react the same way during extreme heat.
Before booking your next vacation, check these few points. We have listed them based on our experience as campers with children and the feedback from our customers over the past 7 years.
You can even save this checklist to compare multiple destinations.
No place perfectly meets all these criteria. But the more a destination checks off boxes, the more likely you are to have a pleasant vacation, even in the middle of summer ;-)
Why we developed Camping Les Volcans in this spirit
When we took over Camping Les Volcans, we had not imagined that comfort would depend so quickly on coolness. We have planted more than 150 trees and shrubs to gradually improve shade, preserve privacy between pitches and prepare the renewal of some older trees. The campsite also benefits from an altitude of over 1,000 meters, a very natural environment, a lake a few minutes away and a pool that allows you to cool down during the hottest hours. Likewise the accommodations are all placed in the shadiest areas of the campsite, and all the pitches have shade for at least a few hours during the day.
In hindsight, we realize that the whole of these choices now contributes to the comfort of our campers during the increasingly frequent heat waves.
In summary
Choosing an enjoyable destination during the summer does not consist of looking for the place where it is the coolest. It is mainly about finding an environment where one can continue to fully enjoy their holidays.
Cooler nights, shade, a bit of altitude, water nearby and suitable activities often do much more for comfort than a few degrees shown on a weather report.
It is this combination of elements that turns simple summer holidays… into truly relaxing vacations.
Frequently asked questions
How to know if a destination will be pleasant during a heat wave?
Don't just look at the maximum temperature. L'altitude, the nights, the vegetation, the water points and the available activities are just as important. N'hésitez pas to ask the campsites before booking, their managers will be best placed to advise you.
From what altitude does it get cooler?
You generally notice a difference starting at 800 to 900 meters d'altitude. Around 1,000 meters, the nights are often noticeably more pleasant than in the lowlands. Here we have, for example, between 6 and 8 degrees less than in Clermont-Ferrand, which is only 15 km away.
Is air conditioning essential for having a good vacation?
Not necessarily. A naturally pleasant environment (trees, altitude, cool nights, lake…) can offer excellent comfort without air conditioning. It's even more comfortable without :-)
Do trees really make a difference?
Yes. They provide shade, limit the perceived heat and significantly improve the comfort of outdoor spaces.