< Introducing Northeast France

Accommodation

From luxury villas with private pools to quaint bed and breakfasts, and from comfortable self-contained homes to cheap and cheerful camp sites, France offers a variety of inviting accommodation for families, suited to all budgets. Plan ahead as far as possible, especially if travelling during July and August, when popular hotels and resorts fill up fast. Early birds will not only have the most choice, but can often get great deals on rooms, and travel fares.

Hotels

French hotels are rated from one to five stars, based on the amenities and facilities being offered – more stars equal higher rates. Since nearly all hotels now have websites, it is a good idea to do some research and choose according to personal needs.
French hotels increasingly offer rooms designed for an entire family. Some have inter-connecting rooms, bunk beds, or a mezzanine, while others even have three or four beds in a room. Infant cots are available as well, often for a small fee; enquire when booking. Among the country’s many chain hotels, one of the most family-friendly is Ibis Styles; they offer great family deals too. Logis Hotels, a network of family-run inns in villages and towns across France, are comfortable and usually of a reliable standard. Most also have decent restaurants.
A family of four can expect to spend about €70–150 per day if staying in a one- to three-star hotel; a four- or five-star hotel will easily cost around €200 and more. Breakfast is usually extra and can be slightly expensive, although kids may get a discount. However, some hotels provide gîte d’étape deals for travelling families, which include a set dinner and breakfast. Many hotel-booking websites offer discounts too, so it is worth checking them out as well.

Hotels

Ibis Styles www.ibisstyleshotel.com

Logis Hotels www.logishotels.com

Apartment hotels

Appart City www.appartcity.com

Citadines www.citadines.com

Bed and breakfast

Known as chambres d’hôtes in France, bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) are often the most atmospheric places to stay. Most are set in town houses, châteaux, or farms; not all are suitable for families as some are home to fragile antiques or designer furnishings. That said, many, such as the B&Bs on farms, have a suite or cottage rental (gîte) furnished with young children in mind. A family of four will need to budget between €70–150 per day for a stay.
One of the best features of a B&B is their owners. Most of them are great sources of local knowledge; some will pick up guests at train stations and airports and prepare home-cooked meals (table d’hôtes) on request, with special dishes for kids. The national self-catering networks, Gîtes de France and Clévacances provide detailed lists of B&Bs around the country.

Clévacances www.clevacances.com

Gîtes de France www.gites-de-france.com

Self-catering

Available in many guises, from rural farmhouses to apartment hotels to villas, self-catering gîtes can be an economical and convenient option when travelling with kids. Among their advantages are a kitchen and, usually, laundry facilities. Many places also come with highchairs, toys, games and kids’ DVDs. Check if linen is included, and read the fine print on deposits for breakages.
Most ski packages in France offer self-catering apartments and chalets suitable for families. Early-bird deals can include lift passes and discounts. A luxury villa can be expensive, but often have several rooms, allowing two or three families to share. The downside of self-catering homes is that many require at least a week’s stay. Thousands of units are listed on Gîtes de France and Clévacances.

French Connections www.frenchconnections.co.uk

Home Away Holiday Rentals www.holiday-rentals.co.uk

Pure France www.purefrance.com

Holiday villages

Holiday villages (villages vacances or résidences clubs) combine some of the best features of hotels, gîtes and camp sites. These resorts offer self-catering houses or apartments, along with on-site restaurants and cafés. The rooms are cleaned and linen provided; there are pools, kids’ clubs and crèches as well.

Camping

One of the most popular ways of visiting France, camping is also the most affordable. There are thousands of sites to choose from, ranging from a basic municipal site to five-star luxury parks. Many rent out tents (already erected), chalets, bungalows, mobile homes or even tree houses.
Families looking for a low-cost option can carry a tent, a camping-gas burner, sleeping bags, and air mattresses, and stay in municipal or local camp grounds, or on farms. At the higher end are four- or five-star camp sites. With facilities that include air-conditioned houses with kitchens, evening entertainment and water parks, these are self-contained resorts in themselves. Holiday packages for such sites often offer discounts on flights and Channel crossings.
The Fédération Française de Camping et de Caravaning (FFCC) publishes the names of their 11,000 members, certified to meet certain standards, on their website. It may be worth it to get an international camping card (carnet); some camp sites offer a discount of up to 20% for cardholders. Only members of a national camping association can purchase the card. Those with their own tent or motor home should budget about €30–40 a night for a pitch and electricity. The most basic self-catering chalet for four starts at about €400 a week in the summer. Be aware that camp sites can be noisy at night.

House swapping

This may be a good option for an affordable holiday. Online agencies charge a small fee to list your house. All offer the chance to browse available listings in France to see what is on offer before paying.