Tips for Booking a Stress-Free Family Holiday to France

Unless you are very lucky, the family holiday generally comes around but once a year. Because of this, expectations are high and everyone looks forward to the event with great anticipation. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality and family holiday plans can go awry due to events outside of your control (bad weather, delayed flights, volcanic eruptions, etc.), but there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent some calamities from overtaking you – and here’s how:

Transport Issues

France is a great destination for a family holiday. It is relatively close to Great Britain, so you don’t have to catch a long flight in order to get there. You can also jump on a ferry or go through the Channel Tunnel if you decide to take the family car. Let’s not forget the train, either. Rail travel to the continent is generally very pleasant. Your kids can play games and watch the world go by as you relax with a book and a glass of wine. However, rail travel can be restrictive, particularly if you are staying out in the countryside.  

The important thing here is to choose the right method of transport for your family. When you have young children, it is often helpful to be able to pack up a car full of toys, strollers, travel cots, prams, and anything else you need for a hassle-free trip. You can’t take anything and everything on a flight, but on the other side of the coin, a flight is a lot shorter than a cross-channel ferry crossing!

The Right Accommodation

Hotels, campsites, gites, and even Airbnb. As a traveller, you will be spoilt for choice when booking a trip to France. Package holidays are often the easiest option if you plan on staying in a traditional resort, but if you like to explore off the beaten track, consider a self-catering gite or a family-friendly campsite with a pool and playground. Hotels can work well, particularly if you want to spend a few days in Paris, but these can be expensive, especially in central areas of the city.

The age and number of your children is important when booking accommodation. The more kids you have, the cheaper it will be to stay in self-catering accommodation. Younger children may also prefer this, as you will have greater freedom to prepare food for them and more room for their kit.

Use a Travel Agent

Travelling with children can be complex. There is a lot to think about, not least the difficulties of booking transport and finding the right accommodation. Travel agents can offer advice on the best places to stay and which routes are going to be the cheapest and fastest.

Once you are ready to go away with the kids, it is also worth asking for advice on travel forums if you are planning a trip to a particular part of France. Pick other traveller’s brains and find out in advance where the best child-friendly attractions are - and anything else you need to know.