Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gîtes
(pronounced “zheet”) are homes in the countryside (usually urbanites' second
homes)rentablebytheweek,fromSaturdaytoSaturday.Theobjectiveofthe
gîte
program
was to save characteristic rural homes from abandonment and to make it easy and afford-
able for families to enjoy the French countryside. The government offers subsidies to ren-
ovate such homes, then coordinates rentals to make it financially feasible for the owner.
Today, France has thousands of
gîtes.
One of your co-authors restored a farmhouse a few
hours north of Provence, and even though he and his wife are American, they received the
same assistance that French owners get.
Traveling with Kids
France is kid-friendly for young children, partly because so much of it is rural.
(Teenagers,ontheotherhand,tendtoprefercities.)Bothofthisbook'sauthorshave
kids (from 12 to 26 years old), and we've used our substantial experience traveling
with children to improve this topic. Our kids have greatly enriched our travels, and
we hope the same will be true for you.
My kids' favorite places have been Mont St-Michel, the Alps, Loire châteaux,
Carcassonne,andParis(especiallytheEiffelTowerandSeineRiverboatride)—and
any hotel with a pool. To make your trip fun for everyone in the family, mix heavy-
duty sights with kids' activities (playing mini-golf, renting bikes, and riding the
little tourist trains popular in many towns). And though Disneyland Paris is the pre-
dictable draw, my kids had more fun for half the expense by enjoying the rides in
the Tuileries Garden in downtown Paris.
Minimize hotel changes by planning three-day stops. Aim for hotels with res-
taurants, so the older kids can go back to the room while you finish a quiet dinner.
