Long car journeys with children can end up a complete nightmare. If you are driving through France for your holidays this year, we have put together some ideas that will hopefully help to make the journey that little bit easier

1) Stop regularly. If you are travelling on the French autoroutes network, take advantage not only of the service stations but also the many ‘Aires’ that you will see along the way. The latter are equipped with toilets, picnic benches and sometimes an outdoor play area where your children can let off steam. You’ll generally find an ‘aire’ every 15kms or so. More information on the Autoroutes.fr website.

2) Create as many games as you can before you go. These will obviously vary according to the age of your children. For example, create a list of things to spot en route which start with each letter of the alphabet. Get older children to read about France and the areas that you will be passing through and make their own ‘I-Spy’ lists before they go. There are also websites that have printable travel games for children such as free-puzzles.net

3) Portable DVD players come into their own on a long car journey, but make sure you take enough DVDs for the return as well as the outward trip! A device for listening to music on headphones such as an iPod or MP3 player is also invaluable if you have older children and audio books are also a good idea

4) Drinks and snacks – make sure you take enough and make sure they are easily accessible. Chewy fruity sweets are a good idea and always have some surprise treats in reserve. Give each child a mini bottle of juice or water which you can top up from a larger bottle as needs be.

5) If you don’t want your child to spend the whole journey complaining, don’t forget the window blinds if you are travelling in the summer! They make a massive difference to everybody’s comfort. A blanket or towel in the back of the car is also a good idea.

If you have any more ideas for making a car journey with children more bearable, we would love to hear them.

Safe journey, everybody!

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Crikey, hasn’t Christmas come around quickly this year! Or is that just me? It feels like Noel has been lurking there in stealth mode for the past 51 weeks and then he pounces and you suddenly realise just how unprepared you are! But whatever your plans for the festive period, may I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of our clients, followers and friends the very best of Christmas cheer. Thank you for your support over the past 12 months and may the year ahead be full of health and happiness. Joyeuses Fêtes et à bientôt!

They are all the rage in France these days – they are gypsy caravans for all appearances,  but luxuriously kitted out to provide quality accommodation for the visitor who is looking for that slightly different bed and breakfast or self-catering experience. We are lucky to be working with two hosts in France who have seen this niche in the market.

Firstly, for a unique self-catering experience, check out these four ‘roulottes’ which are located in the orchards and grounds of a wonderful property NE of Rouen in Normandy

Now, unlike most self-catering accommodation you will find in France, these caravans can be hired from just 1 night – no ‘minimum 1 week’ policy here! Up to 4 people can be accommodated and there is tons for the whole family to see and do in the area. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘enquire for availability’ link to make your request for specific dates

If you prefer the bed and breakfast formula and fancy a break near Arromanches on the Normandy coast, then this gypsy caravan is just the ticket

It is in a perfect location near the landing beaches but do book early to save disappointment as this ‘roulotte’ gets booked up quickly, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘enquire for availability’ link to make your request for specific dates

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous  New Year. To previous clients, I thank you for your custom in the past and to future clients, I very much look forward to introducing you to some quality accommodation in France!

It is a long drive from Calais to the French Alps – you can count on 8 hours from Calais to Les Gets, for example. So to break your journey en route to your ski holiday, we propose a stopover en route at any one of a number of quality bed and breakfast accommodations from the Champagne region (3 hours from Calais), through to Dijon (5 hours from Calais), or Maçon in southern Burgundy and also accommodation just north of Lyon. Here are our pick of the bunch

Within easy reach of the A26 autoroute just south of Reims (3 hours from Calais) in the champagne-producing village of Mailly-Champagne, this excellent value British-owned bed and breakfast accommodation provides excellent stopover accommodation to couples or small families.  Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

If you are heading east from the Champagne region (Chalons-sur-Champagne) to the northern Alps on the A4 autoroute and require a bit of independence for your stay, then this self-contained British-owned family self-catering accommodation which also accepts single-nighters is your best bet. Evening meals are possible by prior arrangement and families are particularly welcome. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates. To view the location of all of our accommodation in the Champagne region, go to the interactive map.

If you would prefer have a stopover further south in the Burgundy region before making your way east, this English-speaking bed and breakfast accommodation between Auxerre and Beaune, within easy reach of exit 21 of the A6 autoroute, is a perfect spot for an overnight break. Families and couples can be accommodated in beautiful guest rooms and you will no doubt appreciate the home-cooked evening meal after your drive. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

Further east, between junctions 1 and 2 of the A31 autoroute just South of Dijon (5 hours from Calais), this excellent value British-owned bed and breakfast acommodation provides ideal family stopover accommodation en route to your Alpine ski holiday. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates. To view the location of all of our accommodation in the Burgundy region, go to the interactive map.

Wanting to head further south (6 hours from Calais and 2 1/2 hours from Chamonix)? Then how about this fantastic quality bed and breakfast accommodation near Macon in southern Burgundy, approx 5kms from the A6 autoroute. The big attraction at this address is that it is part of a vineyard estate so you can stock up on wine in the course of your stay!  Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates. 

Here’s hoping for a good ski season in the French Alps this winter!

Autumn has to be one of the best times of year to visit Provence. You don’t have the stifling heat of the summer and you won’t have to share the roads with the vast hoards of tourists that descend on the region in July and August. Plus, of course, accommodation prices are quite dramatically reduced at this time of year.

For me, one of the big pleasures of being in France, and Provence in particular, is a visit to a local market. Back in the summer, the  Chicago Tribune did an excellent article about the markets in Provence which is well worth a read if you are considering a visit to the area.

At this time of year you will find truffles, mushrooms, chestnuts, autumn figs and much more besides.

You can find cheap flights from the UK to Provence on Skyscanner

For your stay in Provence, we warmly recommend this anglo-french owned bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of the Luberon, 30 minutes East of Avignon, which is currently offering a 12% discount for a stay of 7 nights or more in the month of November. If you only wish to stay for 4 nights, then you can still enjoy a 5% discount. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

Further East along the Mediterranean coast between Nice and Cannes, you will find this upmarket bed and breakfast guest house accommodation which is offering much-reduced low season tariffs and a ‘stay for 2 nights and get a 3rd night free’ deal this winter. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

You can see the location of all of the accommodation in Provence that we work with on the interactive map for Provence on the website.

When you mention ‘the South of France’, most people will think of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. However, if you venture further west you will find yourself in the far less populated but just as stunningly beautiful region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Here, you will find it all – beaches, vineyards, mountains, culture…. If you are of an active disposition, then this is the region for you. Take a look at this article on getreading.co.uk which gives you an idea of what you can expect if you are into caving, mountain biking, road biking, climbing, hiking/walking, snorkelling and many other sports. Hiring a bike, whether it is a road bike or a mountain bike, is not a problem if you won’t be travelling with your own bike. Check out the Mellow Velos website to get an idea of the rates that you can expect to pay.

For accommodation in the Languedoc, we have several possibilities, which include a self-catering apartment with roof terrace for 4 people near Beziers which is a fantastic base for the cycling enthusiast…

…truely charming 2 star auberge accommodation with a swimming pool and superb restaurant near Anduze west of Nimes on the doorstep of the Cevennes National Park ……and excellent value British-owned bed and breakfast accommodation in a fantastic setting midway between Carcassonne and Perpignan where there is climbing, canoeing and many more activities on the doorstep!

We use skyscanner.net to find cheap flights from the UK into the Languedoc airports of Montpellier, Beziers and Perpignan

Following the Times’ article on the Champagne region last week,  the Independent has continued in a similar vein with a review of the Côte d’Or wine producing area of the Burgundy region This excellent summary includes information not only on selected small producers at which you can taste and buy wine,  but also on restaurant recommendations and ideas for places to visit in the area.

We work with a fine selection of accommodation in all areas of Burgundy at which you could base yourselves for a visit to the area.

We highly recommend this bed and breakfast accommodation on a 10 hectare vineyard estate at Fuissé, near Mâcon in southern Burgundy. The wines produced on the estate include Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint Véran, Mâcon Rouge and Vins de Pays de Saône et Loire. The owners will be pleased to offer you a commentated tasting of the wines produced from their vines. Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

Alternatively, this excellent value British-owned bed and breakfast accommodation is situated in the village of Epernay-sous-Gevrey, close to the famous Burgundy vineyards of Clos de Vougeot and Nuits St Georges, between Beaune and Dijon

Click here or on the photo to view full accommodation details and then click the ‘go to enquiry form’ link to make your request for specific dates.

The interactive map of Burgundy on the website shows you where all of the accommodation is located in relation to the major towns and cities and the major roads, which we hope will assist you in making your accommodation selection. Just click on any of the hotspots to view full accommodation details.