Five choices for a cheap holiday in France

 This is a quick look at the options available to holidaymakers visiting France, focussing on deciding which type of vacation / holiday is most suitable for you.

1) Gites / holiday rentals

Self-catering accommodation has long been a popular choice for visitors to France, and with French themselves. Either cook for yourselves or go to restaurants, and YOU choose what time you want breakfast. Sitting on your peaceful terrace enjoying a glass of wine can be much more pleasant than sitting in your hotel bar. The accommodation comes in every level of standards and will give you a great insight into what it is like living in a French house.

Top choices: Interhome or Hoseasons.

2) Camping holidays

I’m talking here about organised campsites, with pools, activities and zillions of other young familes rather than a small canvas tent next to a stream. Got children with you? You might feel a bit left out if not…but if you have, they will be happy as can be. And so will you be, because they will be off enjoying themselves all the time, making more friends than they can count. Tents or mobile homes are both possible – either way you won’t be erecting a tent yourself, you will find it all in place when you arrive.

Top choices: KeyCamp and EuroCamp both have a wide selection of campsites across France.

3) Holiday villages

Perhaps the best of all worlds (and our own choice this year). The facilities of a self-catering apartment, the entertainment of a campsite, and almost always in locations that are perfect for exploring nearby. The villages are carefully designed in the local style, and have restaurants and bars on site for those who don’t want to go too far. Prices are also very competitive, given the accommodation and facilities on offer.

Top choice: pv-holidays

4) Chambre d’hotes

(Known as bed and breakfast in UK/USA). Although less cheap holidays in France  than you might hope, chambre d’hotes can still provide very good value, and great flexibility in where you stay. They also often give you the chance to meet a ‘real’ French family and spend time in their home.

Top choices: the local tourist office in the town where you are visiting, or guidedecharmes.com for a bit more luxury.

5) Cheap Hotels

Although hotels range in price from budget to luxury, for a family it will often prove to be the most expensive option available – but not necessarily. Better perhaps if you are staying in a city or large town. If you are staying in a budget hotel or the only hotel in a small town be aware that standards may not always be what you would hope for. Rooms can be small or very outdated etc. Not always, but be prepared if you are booking a very low price hotel in advance. On the other hand, there are chains of hotels that offer very good value for money when you are travelling around, with good price accommodation in basic, clean hotel rooms.

Top choices: see the price comparison search at Hotels in France or stop over at an etap hotel (usually next to large roads on the edge of big towns, for travellers stopping overnight).

You can see all these options and more at Holidays in France – whichever you choose you’re sure to have a great time!

By the way, don’t be ‘afraid’ of going it alone in a holiday rental property, or in accommodation where you have to fend for yourself. Although this might seem a bit bolder than staying in a hotel, because you will need to buy food from French shops or perhaps even deal with little problems that arise, in reality there is almost no difficulty in any of these things, even given the challenges of not speaking any French – learn s’il vous plait (please) and merci (thank you) if nothing else. It is possible to buy food and wine in a French supermarket without saying a word, and buying cheese, fruit etc from a local market won’t present any great problems that a bit of pointing and gesticulating won’t resolve.