If you're looking for a town location, close to the coast and also offers traditional country living then Les Herbiers is a great option. Situated in West France it provides the ideal basecamp for exploring what France has to offer for those who want to hire a car in Les Herbiers.
If you do decide to hire a car in Les Herbiers and visit the surrounding area, then you can visit Les Sables-d'Olonne to scratch your itch for the French beach getaways. Here you can lay on the sand and enjoy the excellent weather. If you prefer indoor activities then they have an impressive shellfish museum that contains more than 45,000 shells from around the world.