Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eating Out
In general, eating out in France is likely to be one of the highlights of your trip. Most
French restaurants are enormously accommodating of younger diners, and many
offer a
menu enfant
(children's set menu, usually for under 12s).
Smarter restaurants tend to be a bit snootier when it comes to kids, so you'll find
brasseries and cafés are usually a better idea for eating
en famille
. French chain
restaurants, such as Hippopotamus and Bistro Romain, are useful fall backs if
you're stuck.
Picnics are a super way of introducing kids to French cuisine. Choosing cheeses,
fruits, cold meats, chocolates and pastries at French supermarkets, bakers and
greengrocers is interesting as well as educational, not to mention a good way of
practising the family French. It's also a useful way of keeping costs down while
feeding the troops.
Travelling with Kids
Distances and travel times in France can be long, so it might be worth concentrat-
ing on a few areas rather than trying to pack all the sights into one marathon visit.
Factor in day trips and detours to break up the journey, and take things to keep the
kids entertained while en route. Car-rental firms have children's safety seats for
hire; book in advance.
French towns and villages are frequently hilly and/or cobbled, so sturdy shoes
are essential; pushchairs can often be more a hindrance than a help. Baby food, in-
fant formula and nappies (diapers) are widely available, but remember that super-
markets and shops in smaller towns often close on Sundays.
Accommodation
Family-sized rooms in hotels can be hard to come by during busy periods and in
rural areas. Fancier hotels have swimming pools and other facilities for kids.
Staying in a
chambre d'hôte
(B&B) can be great for families who want to immerse
themselves in French culture. Camping is also very popular in France, but many
campsites require booking well in advance, especially during high season.
If you're happy to stay in one area, the cheapest option is usually to book your
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