Family Travel Ideas in Southern France

Family travel, especially with small children, is always an exercise in compromise, but there are many things families will enjoy doing together in the south of France. If timed right, it doesn't need to be an expensive proposition.

Time Your Travel

French schools let out in late June, so traveling with school age children during the months of May and June, if possible, will be less congested and less expensive. It is also cooler, which makes for happier children (and happier parents). With preschool children, time your trip for September or October, when tourist destinations are decidedly calmer but the weather is still warm.

Rent a Gîte

Hotels, even in the off or shoulder seasons, can be expensive for family stays. Moderately-priced French hotels do not typically have large family rooms, so families may need to get at least two hotel rooms to accommodate a group of 4 or 5. A better option is to rent a gîte . At one time gîtes were simply country houses or attachments to farmhouses that were rented out to vacationers. They still can be quite modest, but more recently many have been purposefully built as rental accommodations. In southern France, many come with pools which make them somewhat more expensive. However, the allure of the pool after a morning of sightseeing is a welcome diversion for the whole family. By renting in May or June, you may pay as much as half of what you would pay in either July or August. Renting a house also gives a family much more flexibility than a hotel stay. It's easier to accommodate children's finicky eating habits, bedtimes, noise levels and so on, making for a more pleasant vacation experience.

Child-Friendly Activities

The south of France has its share of animal parks, water parks and amusement parks, but don't underestimate the novelty of the cultural experience. Most cities and towns have a weekly, or even daily, market with food, household goods, clothing and gadgets for sale. Learning to negotiate in Euros and purchase their own souvenirs can be an exciting opportunity for children. Look for living history events such as the jousts at the medieval perched village of Les Baux de Provence. Take a picnic to somewhere like the Pont du Gard, where the family can watch kayakers float down the Gard and under the 2000-year old aqueduct.

Local tourist offices can help families find such child-friendly activities, to make their stay in Provence memorable for all ages.