Category: France

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France

Menton, France

Young children will love taking part in the Lemon Festival, the colourful annual event in sunny Menton.

Why go?

Just a 40-minute drive from Nice Airport, with fantastic views and a stop-off in Monaco, Menton has year-round appeal – for parents and children.

Because it enjoys a subtropical microclimate, citrus fruit and exotic gardens have thrived here for centuriesand it has been on the map for its 365 days of sunshine a year. 

The narrow, cobbled streets are filled with fruit sculptures, bright colours and the sound of marching bands. It also has two lovely town beaches with shallow, clean water, and there is plenty to explore.

Activities

When you’re not mingling with lemons and oranges, there is plenty more to see in this beautiful town. There are cafés in the main square, and for families it’s a convenient place to relax in because it’s accessible and good for children on wheels.

The markets showing off all of the locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables are a must-see – a good way to tempt reluctant toddlers to try something a little more exotic than apples and bananas. Menton has four French markets and three Italian markets each week, so there’s plenty of variety.

The town also has beautiful gardens to explore, two imposing baroque churches and two town beaches.

Don’t miss: The Fête du Citron, the annual Lemon Festival, which happens in February or March, and is one of the most vibrant times ofyear to visit. 

Menton bursts into life as the locals celebrate the town’s citrus fruit production. An endless surge of families and masked revellers in fancy dress advance through the town. It’s a visual spectacular with something for everyone and the festival has been pulling crowds since 1895. 

Highlights include a Moonlit Parade, the Parade of the Golden Fruit, a citrus display in the Jardin Biovès, a light and sound show, an orchid festival, and the chance to see local artisans in action, carving wood, engraving glass, and showing off their ceramics, pottery, and local cuisine. Kids will love the parade atmosphere.

The lowdown

Where to stay: The main bay sweeping round from the Italian border, on the Porte de France, has a pretty promenade with informal places to eat, as well as a number of hotels. 

Set on the seafront, the Hôtel Napoléon has a swimming pool and a cool, modern feel. All rooms have TV, iPod dock and air conditioning and the hotel is 100m away from a private beach.

The staff there all speak good English and enquiries can be made through the website about activities in the area and around the hotel, as well as the accommodation and family facilities.

Price: From €275 for double occupancy with a garden or mountain view room.

How to get there: British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Nice; from £78 return. 

Travel time: It is a 3 hour flight, with 45 mins transfer from Nice Airport to Menton.

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France

Summer Lakes and Mountains Holiday: Europe

Make the most of your time together by taking your family to these beautiful mountain destinations.

Midi-Pyrenees, France

The Pyrenees snake along the border between France and Spain. Base yourself in the middle and, to really get back to nature (and save some money), go glamping. Campsites provide ready-made friends for your kids and peaceful surroundings in a natural playground of mountains, pine forests and lakes. This Basque region is rich in historical sights, too, from ancient caves to stone villages, castles, monasteries and the pilgrimmage site at Lourdes. 

WHERE TO STAY

Eurocamp’s Airotel Pyrénées is near Luz St Sauveur, gateway to the Pyrenees National Park. Choose from mobile homes, lodges or swish safari tents, all with beds and kitchen facilities. The site has pools, waterslides and a tennis court.

THE LOWDOWN

Price: A safari tent that sleeps up to six costs from £180 per week, excluding ferry crossings.

South Tyrol, Italy

Until 1918, the South Tyrol was part of Austria, and its people are proud of their unique identity and even have their own language, Ladin, although few of them still speak it. The area has gained a reputation for its cuisine, with more Michelin-starred restaurants than you can shake a wooden spoon at. So foodie families can fill up, after working up an appetite in the Dolomite mountains.

WHERE TO STAY

Dolomit Family Resport Garberhof is a Kinderhotel, part of a consortium of hotels that provide whacked-out parents with childcare and equipment such as back carriers, bibs and baby baths.

THE LOWDOWN

Price: Starting at £75 per adult per night and £24 per child per night, including all meals, childcare, baby equipment, bike hire and use of spa

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France

Paris City Break: Disneyland and Beyond

Suzanne Dent travelled to the French capital in search of rollercoasters – and discovered that Paris has much more to offer families than theme park thrills.

Why go?

The harness is pulled over my head and locked in place. I cling to it, wondering why such a robust restraint is needed. Then it hits me: they are going to hang me upside down. I doubt I’m the first parent to view a trip to Disneyland as a form of torture that must be endured if the little darlings are to have a full and happy childhood. 

That being said, having submersed myself in the world of Mickey and friends, I’m relieved to report that a Disney holiday isn’t just about stomach-churning rollercoasters and mouse ears. If you stay at a hotel outside the resort and take time out to explore the city and the pretty Parisan countryside, you’ll discover that a Disneyland break can be just as much fun for mums and dads.

Disney magic

NEW RIDES

Having been to Walt Disney World Florida, I assume I will find exactly the same collection of rides in the Paris park. Indeed, when I arrive at my old favorite, Big Thunder Mountain, the same ruggedly dressed cowboy directs me to my seat (except that this one speaks with an elegant French accent). However, to my surprise, I also find rides in Paris that are not offered at Disney’s American parks.

The recently opened Ratatouille ride takes us on a magical ride around Paris as only Disney could. Zipping through a Parisian restaurant, the ride becomes a fully immersive experience – we’re blasted with cold air as we pass through the giant freezer, and kids of all ages squeal with delight as the champagne corks fly overhead.

FANTASY PARADES

Wearing our obligatory Mickey Mouse ears, we squeeze into the crowd and peer anxiously down Main Street, waiting for the famous parade to begin. Never mind the rides, the evening shows are where the family bonding really happens. The Disney ballads we all know by heart are infectious and before long everyone is singing and waving at the breathtaking floats that roll by, carrying fairytale princesses and mythical creatures.

If your kids can cope with staying up past bedtime, the spectacular after-dark show is a fitting finale to a fantastic day. After a breathtaking firework display, families leave hand in hand, still humming the final tune.

Explore Paris

A NEW KIND OF CITY TOUR

We head to Paris, but unlike our previous visits, we opt out of putting in the legwork to explore the city on foot. Little legs demand another option and luckily for us, we discover a faster and more fun alternative to the typical bus tour. Innovative tour company 4 Roués Sous 1 Parapluie run open top 2CV cars for a customized trip round Paris – ideal for a family of four. With cushions and lap blankets provided in colder months, it’s like touring the city from the comfort of your own two-seater pastel sofa. Our charming guide Julie gives a jovial explanation of the sites tailored to our interests, and to our delight, she treats us to a hair-raising sharp turn down a narrow lane.

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY

Having arranged a rental car from the Sixt desk in the lobby, we are ready to head out into the beautiful French countryside that we have so far only peaked at from our hotel window at Magic Circus. We pull up to the Muse de la Grande Guerre, on the outskirts of the pretty town of Meaux, and what we find is not what I expect from a war museum. Although it sits on an First World War memorial site, the museum is a modern building, containing plenty of video clips and plaques encouraging the kids to explore and touch. If you haven’t had enough history for one day, then take a walk into Meaux to see beautiful architecture in the gothic Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace.

Where to stay

MAGIC CIRCUS AND DREAM CASTLE 

Four-star hotels Magic Circus and Dream Castle are minutes from the Disney gates and Eurostar station, thanks to frequent free shuttle buses. When you’ve had your fill of all things Disney, both hotels are well-placed to be the family’s base from which to explore the world outside the theme park gates. Paris is only 45 minutes to the east and you’ll find a scattering of charming chateaus within short driving distance.

JUST FOR KIDS

Magic Circus and Dream Castle may not be Disney hotels, but they make sure kids don’t miss out, by offering their own brand of fantasy. I’m often under-whelmed by hotel kids’ clubs, but looking around, I realise that the entire lobby in the Magic Circus hotel is one big kids’ club – with rides, games, and even a ball pit, right in the middle. This isn’t normally something I would welcome in a hotel, but here it seems to work. The red and yellow circus theme continues in the family-style hotel room. As if finding bunk beds aren’t enough to make the kids giddy with excitement, a circus tent-like curtain surrounds the bunks and – joy of joys – they even get their own telly.

The lowdown

Price: Adult tickets to Disneyland Paris start at £87; children’s tickets start at £63.

Book: Choose your hotel package, add your preferred mode of transport and you’re ready to book your Disneyland holiday. 

Getting there: Whether you choose to fly, drive or hop on a ferry, getting to the heart of the magic couldn’t be easier…

Plane: easyJet flies regularly from London Luton to Paris. Flight time is just over an hour.

Train: Hop on board at London St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International or Ashford International and arrive in Paris in 2 hours, just a 2 minute walk away from the Disney Parks. 

Car: Travelling through the Eurotunnel by car takes 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais with up to four shuttles per hour at peak times.

Ferry: With P&O ferries, the journey from Dover to Calais takes 90 minutes, with around 20 crossings a day. A 3 hour drive the other end takes you to the gates of Disneyland Paris.

Where to stay: Magic Circus hotel; Dream Castle hotel.   

More of what you love:

Think the French capital is a city for grown-ups? Our roundup of the best family-friendly acitivities in Paris will change your mind. To see another side of France, enroll your littles ones at the fabulous ski school in Tignes. 

Categories
France

Paris with a Baby

Julia Scirrotto braves the French capital with a seven-month-old and not only lives to tell the tale but discovers how much the country loves babies.

Why go?

As a first-time mum, I hit the internet for parenting advice approximately 423 times a day. So when I was considering a trip to the City of Lights with a seven-month-old, I turned to my good friend Google before booking. As usual, it spit back a healthy dose of paranoia. “A city that is terrible for ‘les enfants’”, warned the very first hit, an article packed with tales of buggy-unfriendly public transport, baby-hating museum staff and an apparent Paris-wide ban on high chairs and changing tables. 

Well, ignore Google. It turns out the French absolutely adore babies and will fall all over themselves to smile, coo and otherwise ensure little ones are well looked after. Their complete exuberance for les petites – along with the obligatory steady stream of café crème, croissants and crêpes– made the three-day trip a stunning success.

Activities

Day one: Our first afternoon was spent exploring the Left Bank on foot, from the full-bloom splendour of the Luxembourg Gardens to the saturation of chic boutiques in St-Germain-des-Prés. We lunched on buckwheat crêpes at an outdoor table in the shadow of the Pantheon.  Later, we refuelled with a pricey but atmospheric coffee at Café de Flore, the storied artist’s hangout beloved by everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Sofia Coppola. Rather than turn his nose up at le bebe, the white-aproned waiter kept Emma giggling with playful smiles and games. Our epic walk concluded with ice cream cones (delicious and decadent dark chocolate and bean-flecked vanilla) at Le Flore en l’Ile on Ile St Louis. 

Day two: Emma and I were travelling with my very best friend from school, a Paris first-timer ready to take in some of the key sites, so Day Two was devoted to art and architecture. We started the morning at the Eiffel Tower where, once again, we were invited by staff to jump the lengthy queue. One warning, though: Leave the buggy at the hotel. Pushchairs are allowed if they’re folded, but the crowded maze of mini-queues en route to the top is best navigated with a baby carrier. (We spotted another British mum who got sent to the back for attempting to wheel in three kids on bikes. Oops.) 

For lunch, we stocked up on fresh charcuterie, brie and baguettes from a row of specialty shops on Boulevard St Germain and picnicked on a bench in the Tuileries Garden. Then it was straight into Musée de l’Orangerie to immerse ourselves in Monet’s waterlilies. (I like to think the panoramic floor-to-ceiling panels had the same effect on Emma’s cognitive development as playing Mozart in the womb.) From there, it was onto the Impressionist Mecca Musée d’Orsay, which has late opening hours on Thursdays. We spent the evening with Van Gogh, Renoir and Seurat and took in the sweeping views from the 5th-floor terrace. (Inside tip: Time nappy changes with gallery visits; museums are the exception to Paris’s general lack of baby-changing facilities.)

Day three: London was calling on Day Three, but not without first having a morning stroll through Notre Dame (go early to dodge the crowds) and a lunchtime visit to foodie heaven on Rue Cler. Fruit and veg stalls, boulangeries, wine shops, bistros and, yes, more ice cream await on this cobblestone pedestrian side street. (There’s a Petit Bateau here, too, if you’re looking to stock up on stylish baby threads.) We grabbed two croissants for the train journey back home – plus a copy of Babar from a children’s bookshop for Emma – before bidding Paris au revoir.

The lowdown

Getting there: The Eurostar travels from London’s St Pancras to Gare du Nord from £69 return (from £49 for children four-11). Kids under four ride free on Eurostar if they sit on your lap. At the Gare du Nord taxi rank, we settled in for an epic wait when – mon dieu! – a cabbie ushered us to the front of the line. In Paris, we were told, babies don’t do queues.

Where to stay: I chose the quirky, cosy, ludicrously well-positioned Hotel Esmeralda (4 rue Saint Julien le Pauvre, double rooms €110 a night) for its postcard-perfect views of Notre Dame and fabulous Latin Quarter location. We loved the friendly vibe and on request staff provided a cot (“le berceau”) for Emma and stored the pushchair (“la poussette”) in the ground floor office to save us from lugging it up and down the spiral staircase. The steps are a bit of a workout, but the view of Notre Dame from our window was worth the effort. 

Categories
France

Paris with Children

How would two exuberant children fare at a luxurious Parisian hotel? Sasha Slater discovers a family-friendly side to Europe’s most grown-up city.

Why go?

‘If you go to Paris, you have to be smart and I hate being smart.’ So said my six-year-old daughter, Olga, before we set off for the French capital. This struck an ominous note, since she and her brother Joe, five, were going to have to be extremely smart indeed – and very well-behaved. 

For the offspring of French parents are legendarily polite. What would my children make of a place in which every child is immaculately dressed in a Bonpoint sailor suit, lisping ‘Oui, Maman’, ‘Non, Maman’ and ‘S’il vous plaît, Maman’? Perhaps the atmosphere of a swish five-star hotel might be enough to induce politeness. 

So to the Mandarin Oriental, situated on the Rue Saint-Honoré. The bright lobby looks onto the courtyard with a shallow pond fringed with palm trees. The atmosphere inside is playful, and the concierge unexpectedly relaxed about taking two rather battered three-wheeled scooters under his protection. These scooters are, in fact, the secret of a successful city break. 

Activities

The aforementioned scooters meant that on our first day in Paris we could walk through the Tuileries gardens, stopping in the playground (no sailor suits in view) and then cross over the river on to the Ile de la Cité.

We sat at one of the colourful outdoor tables at Ma Salle à Manger, a café on the Place Dauphine, where the children picked at vegetarian lasagne and George and I sipped rosé.

Then we were off again, the children swooping along on their scooters, to Notre Dame Cathedral, then across to the Saint Germain district on the Left Bank and the Jardin des Plantes, where the Mandarin Oriental had arranged tickets to the zoo.

On the way back to the centre of town, we stopped at the Boulevard Saint-Germain by the Maubert-Mutualité Metro Station, where there is a mind-boggling run of shops. We stocked up on supplies and jumped into a taxi back to the hotel.  

Then we offered the children the biggest challenge of the weekend: Saturday lunch at the Hotel Plaza Athénée’s Le Relais Plaza restaurant. The room is a hub for social Paris and not the place to take badly behaved under-10s. But something about the magical atmosphere, classy service and delicious food combined to put us all on our best behaviour. While my husband and I devoured steak tartare, Olga and Joe ate hamburgers, and remembered all their mercis and au revoirs.

At the end of the day, after a baguette-making class in a shop in the 15th arrondissement, we scooted off to the Marais where Olga delighted me by ordering a dozen escargots, and heroically swallowing at least one. A true Parisian of the future. 

Accommodation

On arrival, the hotel staff whisked us up to our interconnecting rooms, where the kids pounced on the colouring books left on their beds, gasped at the size of the flatscreen TV in their room and bounced on the luxurious bed. Then we washed and went down to Camélia, the hotel’s courtyard restaurant, where double-Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx offers a high tea groaning with macaroons, ice creams and other evil French delights. 

 

Family programme: On our second day, the Mandarin really took control of our schedule. Family Twist – the company it employs to arrange itineraries for children – came into their own. First, Katia, a local, met us in front of Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station for a child-friendly tour of the old artists’ quarter. A highlight was visiting the Musée de Montmartre, where Renoir used to live. He even painted his famous picture of a girl on a swing in its shady garden and, pleasingly, both garden and swing are still there to be enjoyed. 

The lowdown

Getting there: Eurostar travels from London King’s Cross to Paris Gare du Nord; from £69 return for adults, from £49 return for children under 11. 

Where to stay: The Mandarin Oriental Paris offers a family suite and adjoining guestroom from £1,702 per night. Its J’aime Paris en Famille package, which showcases the best of the French capital for children, costs £425 for two adults and two children.

Those on a tighter budget should book into Résidence Nell. Its 17 stylish apartments (which come in four sizes) are fitted with a kitchenette and living room with a sofa bed, and cost from £295 per night for a family of four. Parents can even organise babysitting through the concierge.

 

For tips on travelling to Paris with a baby, check out our recommendations. 

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France

Skiing in St Lary, Haute Pyrenees

One of the Pyrenees’ largest resorts, St Lary has 100km of pistes and is designed run with families in mind. It’s also a reasonably-priced alternative to the Alps!

Why go?

With 100km of pistes, the pretty town of St Lary is one the Pyrenees’ largest resorts designed and run very much with families in mind. It is a friendly and reasonably-priced alternative to the Alps without compromising on the quality of the ski terrain.

Who’s it good for? Just about anyone. It is made up of three sectors connected by lifts and easy blue runs so that all levels of skier can access all areas. There’s also a shuttle bus which runs between all three so if you won’t have the struggle of forcing over-tired little ones to ski “home”.

But that’s not to say there isn’t interesting skiing for experienced skiers, there are several challenging black and surprisingly steep red runs. The resort also boasts the 3.6km Mirabelle run, one of the longest in the Pyrenees, and a snowpark.

Activities

Obviously the main reason for visiting St Lary is to ski, but St Lary is a real, charming village linked to the ski area by a cable car and telepherique. As such, this is a nice place to wander and browse the shops or spend time in the Sensoria Spa Centre.

For non-skiers, there are several snowshoeing tracks accessible by the lift network on foot around the picturesque Lac Oule.

You can also dog-sled, ice-skate or paraglide.

KIDS’ CLUB

Children who don’t want to ski all day are very well catered for – the halte-garderie looks after children aged three months to four years.

There is also a Centre de Loisirs (leisure centre) for children up to the age of 12 and every week the resort holds a snowman-building competition.

The lowdown

How to get there: St Lary is about 1.5 hour’s drive from Toulouse Airport, flights from Gatwick to Toulouse with easyJet start at £29.74. Ryanair flies to Lourdes, which is around one hour away, where transfers are available from €15 per person as part of the Haute Pyrenees’ commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

Accommodation: There is a wide range of self-catering accommodation and reasonably-priced hotels throughout the resort – there are no glitzy five-star hotels here!

You can choose to stay in St Lary Village where there is a greater range of accommodation, bars, shops and restaurants or in Pla D’Adet at the foot of the pistes.

We stayed in the three-star Hotel de Neste de Jade in St Lary which was brilliantly located right opposite the cable car and thermal baths, clean and comfortable and did a fabulous breakfast.

Price: Seven nights self-catering in St Lary costs from £96 per person including Eurotunnel travel with skicollection.co.uk

Hotel Neste de Jade rooms start at €59 per room per night for a double room. Family rooms sleeping four people start at €89 per night.

More info: Visit pyrenees-holiday.com

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France

Escape to Montpellier, South of France

The compact town of Montpellier is the perfect destination for families who want a mix of beach and city.

Why go?

Montpellier has a lot to offer. This lovely city in the south of France is remarkable for its heritage, and its location – just a 20-minute drive from the sea – makes it an interesting destination for both a cultural and a beach holiday.

In the old town, head towards the rue de l’Ancien Courrier. You’ll enjoy a profusion of cafés, boutiques and restaurants nestled in arched buildings. Kids love to spot the street art on the walls – bikes, collages or colours around the Saint-Roch church – and the pedestrianised city centre is small enough to explore on foot. When you get tired of the city, rent a car and discover the surrounding Camargue, renowned for its lagoons, flamingos and white horses.

Where to stay

Hotel Le Guilhem: A charming 16th-century hotel in Montpellier’s old town allows you to stay in the heart of the city. The location is perfect: just next to the beautiful Place de la Canourgue and its cafés, and close to the Porte de Peyrou, Montpellier’s arc de triomphe.
Price: Double rooms from £67 a night.

Smart Living: Smart Living provides flats to rent in the Antigone and Les Arceaux areas, both less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre. There’s a range of modern apartments to choose from, which allow the flexibility of self-catering during your stay.

Price: Appartments from £44 a day.

Hotel Pullman: This luxury hotel is a five-minute walk from the Place de la Comédie, Montpellier’s famous central square. Its location behind a mall is not especially charming, but the rooftop pool and restaurant make up for it. Try the cocktails and enjoy the views over Antigone.
Price: Double rooms from £79 a night.

Activities

WHAT TO SEE

Montpellier is just a 20-minute drive from the Med and the beaches at Palavas, so a day trip in the surrounding area known as Le Petite Camargue is a good idea. Around the fortified city of Aigues-Mortes, you can spot flamingos in the lagoons, ride a white horse, visit salk marshes or meet French cowboys at a traditional bull farm.
Find out more: ot-aiguesmortes.fr

The Aquarium Mare Nostrum is no ordinary aquarium. Kids will go crazy as they stand on a boat during a fake tempest or experience a hurricane in a simulator. Of course, there are plenty of colorful fish, sharks and penguins to see, and youngsters can stroke a ray and other fish.

Find out more: aquariummarenostrum.fr

WHERE TO SHOP

Visit L’Atelier de la Peluche where kids are invited to create their own cuddly toy step by step. First, they choose a ‘skin’ from the 30 different animals waiting to be adopted. Then they bring it to the magic stuffing machine and their animal is born.

Find out more: paraty-peluche.fr

At Le Grenier de Pinocchio, Pinocchio lends his name to this big shop dedicated to wooden toys. The place is filled with kitchens, doll’s houses, spinning tops, music boxes and educational games. The helpful owners also have a taste for traditional French toys. 

Montpellier’s most popular toy shops, Pomme de Reinette and Pomme D’Api, are next door to each other on the rue de l’Aiguillerie. Parents and children all come out of this place with eyes sparkling. Pomme de Reinette and Pomme d’Api sell both oldschool and modern toys, displayed in a slightly chaotic way.
Find out more: tradition-jouet.com

WHERE TO PLAY

Montpellier’s zoo, Zoo du Lunaret, is a real treat for animal lovers. Children can see more than 150 species, favourites usually being the lions, giraffes or lemurs. Don’t try to see everything in one afternoon or you’ll end the day exhausted. The zoo is free, but it’s worth paying the extra fee to visit the Amazon rainforest exhibit. 

Young children will love a ride on the wonderful merry-go-round on the Place de la Comédie. Afterwards, take them to the small playground on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, which looks like it’s been designed by the artist Miró.

Where to eat

An amazing evening is guaranteed at Pirates Paradise – it’s like dining at Disneyland. You’ll be waited on by fierce pirates wearing daggers and eyepatches and if you’re lucky, you could get a table on the 50ft-long ship that sits in the hall. 

Chez Ninou, an organic café in the heart of Montpellier, is designed especially for babies. Lots of toys are provided and in the afternoon, homemade baby food is served together withdelicious cake for older children and grown-ups. Booking is compulsory for breakfast and lunch. 

Le Pré Vert, a salad bar on the peaceful Place Sainte-Anne, is family-friendly with lots of toys and child-size furniture. Its colourful tables stand in the shade of a gothic church, converted into an art gallery, and the pedestrianised surroundings make it a safe spot for the kids to run around. 

The lowdown

How to get there: easyJet and Ryanair fly to Montpellier from London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford, Dublin, Shannon and Cork. If you want to go by train, Voyages SNCF offers tickets to Montpellier via Paris or Lille. Fares start at £119 return per adult and £107 per child (4-11). Under-4s travel free. 

Travel time: Fly direct with easyJet or Ryanair in under two hours. The journey time from London to Montpellier by train is seven hours.

For more information visit montpellier-france.com

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France

Summer in Chamonix

From rock climbing to white-water rafting, Chamonix becomes a thrill-seeking adventure holiday for families in the summer months.

Why go?

Why go? Chamonix reaches its peak of popularity during the summer months when this pretty alpine town in the Haute-Savoie region of France becomes a mecca for rock-climbers, hikers and all-round daredevils.

Stunning mountain vistas combined with surprisingly balmy temperatures makes summer in the Alps ideal for a family adventure holiday.  

Who is it good for? Children over eight will love the wealth of outdoor activities on your doorstep. 

Activities

Each year, adventure travel company Cham Aventure offers a jam-packed programme of summer activities from white-water rafting to paragliding, aimed at adventure-loving, thrill-seeking children – ideal for an active summer.

First stop is the awesome Mer de Glace, France’s longest glacier which stretches 7km down the mountain. 

Hop on the cherry-red Montenvers rack railway and drive up to the base where, from deep inside the ice cave, you can learn about the history of the glacier and witness the sad effects of global warming. 

Spend the afternoon at Accroparc des Gaillands, where the bold and brave can unleash their inner ape by flying high through the trees.

Kids (and game adults) can test their bravado by climbing up tall pines and clambering across Himalayan bridges before descending hundreds of metres down a zip wire.

Cham Aventure’s daily supervised activities give parents a rare chance for some child-free sightseeing, and plenty to talk about once you re-group for dinner.

Chamonix is most famous as the home of the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, and the kids can take part in rock climbing lessons at the base of the mountain.

Parents can get their thrills from taking the cable car to the snow-crested peak of L’Aguille du Midi, where at 3,842m above sea level it’s the nearest you get to the summit of Mont Blanc without crampons and an ice pick.  

Back down to earth and it’s time to get wet. One of the highlights of a hot summer in Chamonix is spending the afternoon on the River Arve, which drafts its icy waters direct from the glacier. White-water rafts race through the centre of Chamonix flinging dinghies and their occupants over rapids and under bridges.

Chamonix is renowned for having more than 350km of hiking trails throughout the valley, but selling a walk to children is not always the easiest. Hiking with huskies has seen a rise in popularity over recent years and it’s surprisingly good fun for all the family.

Used to pulling sleds in the winter, the packs of Siberian huskies from CaniRando are remarkably friendly and make companionable hiking guides – they will lead you and the kids through the forest at an exhilarating pace.

Don’t miss: A hair-raising ride on Chamonix’s famous luge; a 1300m long alpine coaster at Parc de Loisirs that wil thrill your teenagers.

The lowdown

Travel time: Flights from London take 1 hour and 30 minutes and driving from London to Chamonix takes roughly 10 hours.  

Best time to go: The weather can be pleasant between May and September but is best in July and August.

How to get there: British Airways flies from London Heathrow (from £131 return) and London Gatwick (from £79 return) to Geneva. easyJet flies from London Gatwick to Geneva; from £50.98 return. The transfer time from Geneva to Chamonix is 1 hour.  

More information: Cham Aventure offers full days activities from €70-€99 depending on the child’s age. Visit www.cham-adventure.com. 

Categories
France

Summer Holiday in Morzine

With short transfers from Geneva, heaps of activities and stunning scenery, it’s easy to see why Morzine is such a popular holiday destination.

Why go?

In winter, obviously, you would go to ski, but Morzine is also a brilliant summer destination. It’s easily accessible from Geneva airport, is usually warm and sunny without being unbearably hot and accommodation is around one quarter of the price of the peak winter weeks.

Morzine is ideal for families who like to be active – it’s known for its biking trails – you can take a ski lift up the mountain and hike or bike downwards. However there are also plenty of activities for those who like to take things easier and are travelling with younger children.

Activities

Buy a Multipass from the tourist office for two euros per day to give you unlimited access to lifts, swimming pools, tennis, ice-rinks, mini-golf and more throughout Morzine and the eleven other resorts of the Porte du Soleil region. Every Tuesday afternoon and evening Morzine’s main road is closed off for a mini-fete of bands, old fashioned wooden-games and inflatable jousting and sumo wrestling.

Other activities available locally include horse-riding, white-water activities, summer luge and visits to cheese-making farms. There’s also a gorgeous swimming lake at nearby Lac de Montriond.

Throughout the summer Morzine runs various special events – the best for families is Monde de Morzna, a three-day magical children’s festival during which the main square is transformed into an elfin grotto and children can learn circus skills, make magical hats and puppets and get their faces painted. There are also regular shows performed by stilted mythical creatures in stunning costumes, magicians and fire-eaters – and it’s all free. 

The lowdown

How to get there: Morzine is around a 12-hour drive from Calais, or a 1.5 hour flight from London to Geneva plus a one hour drive. British Airways flies from Gatwick; from £79 return and easyJet at £30.49 one way.

Where to stay: There is a wide range of self-catering accommodation and hotels in Morzine. We stayed in VIP Ski’s Valdez Suite – a luxurious apartment with two ensuite bedrooms, a properly-equipped kitchen and huge comfy living room which costs just £165 per night in summer (minimum stay, three nights.)  For an extra £7.50 per person you can go to the next door Chalet Alaska for breakfast and packed lunches and evening meals are available on request.

More information: morzine-avoriaz.com, vip-chalets.com/chalets/valdez-suite

To read more of Catherine’s work, visit her website catherinecooper.net or blog catherinecooper.wordpress.com

Categories
France

Terre Blanche, Provence

Guaranteed luxury in the heart of France’s beautiful wine region, Terre Blanche is formerly Four Seasons and teeming with family-friendly facilities.

Why go?

Guaranteed luxury in the heart of France’s beautiful wine region, Terre Blanche is teeming with family-friendly facilities and activities for mum and dad. As a former Four Seasons hotel, the resort has kept the best parts of the hotel group. If it’s a holiday of idyllic family time and deep sleeps you need, head here.

Based in the village of Tourettes, and surrounded by the cobbled-street villages of Callian, Seillans and Fayence, Terre Blanche is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and offers families a great base for exploring this beautiful region.

Terre Blanche’s Deluxe Suites are big enough for a family of three or four with small children, but if you need more space opt for a Super Suite, which has extra living space. For multiple or bigger families and ultimate luxury, go for the Prestige Villas – three properties that have their own private pool and are interconnected – but be warned they will set you back £10,000 a night.

Activities

IN THE HOTEL

For relaxing days head to the infinity pool, which overlooks the surrounding villages. As well as a separate kids’ pool, the area is lifeguarded all day, and waiters will supply towels and water on demand.

If you plan to spend the day by the pool (and you can easily wile away the hours here), hire a cabana as your base for the day: you can order lunch in itand smaller children have a shaded house where they can nap.

Winning extra cool points with the kids is the poolside crêpe station where children gather round while crispy thin chocolate pancakes are made to order. For mums and dads, there’s poolside massages to help you unwind. 

Golf: If you are a golf-lover, or fancy some father-and-son bonding while practicing your swing, then take to the resort’s prestigious courses. In the summer months there’s kids’ golf lessons for Rory McIlroy-wannabes, and the resort attracts world-class professionals who arrive to train before their next big tournaments – so you could do some great sportsman spotting here too.

Spa: Mums will love the spa and exercise facilities in the resort. Book a private Pilates class or take part in the daily sessions run by the fitness team: we tried the water aerobics (a surprisingly full-on workout!) followed by a plunge in the heated outdoor Jacuzzi to relax. With a packed timetable of classes and extensive spa treatments at your disposal, you can easily counteract all the delicious food you’ll be consuming here.

Food: The hotel has an impressive range for families, and any meal can be delivered to your suite. There’s an extensive buffet breakfast (with delicious homemade bread), as well as Caroubiers restaurant, right next to the golf courses, with beautiful views across the grounds; Faventia, a perfect place for a parents-only evening where the food is made to impress – think ten-course set menus and plenty of foie gras. All four restaurants on the resort have childrens’ menus, so even the fussiest of eaters will be catered for. 

Top tip: Try the region’s Whispering Angel rosé and the Terre Blanche honey, which is harvested by the resort.

 

ACTIVITIES IN PROVENCE

Wine tasting: Head to Château des Selves, just 8km from the hotel where four generations of the same family have built up this lucrative wine- and olive oil-making business: they make 90,000 bottles of wine alone per year.  

For €20 per person and a free shuttle from the hotel, you’ll spend two hours with the château’s experts tasting their wine and olive oil soaked up with bread and delicious cheese.

Local market: The nearby village of Fayence doesn’t disappoint with its market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings where you can sample an impressive range of cheeses, olives and local delicacies. While you’re there, explore the quaint villages’ cobbled streets and its neighbour, Seillans, with its local shops, monuments, cafés and restaurants. 

Get active: For watersports, head to Saint Cassien Lake, just a 10-minute drive from Terre Blanche and very popular with local and visiting families: from the calm pedal boats to explore its nooks and crannies, to gliding at the flying centre, a day spent here will make you feel far removed from UK shores. 

Boat trips: If you’re a family of water-lovers and want to explore further afield, Terre Blanche offers boat excursions to nearby Cannes where you’ll sail around the harbour and stop for lunch in the trendy town.

Kids’ club

One thing that’s immediately obvious at Terre Blanche is how much they love families. If you’re after some parents-only time, the hotel will arrange for your kids to be picked up on the Kids’ Club Bus and taken care of by qualified nannies from 9am-5pm. 

Activities for the kids are split between age groups and include arts and crafts, swimming lessons, tennis tournaments, golf practice, pony trekking and picnics on the grounds nearby – there’s even a sleeping and cinema room for when the little ones are worn out. 

The kids’ club is free for two to 12 year olds, and babysitting can also be arranged in the evenings.

The lowdown

Travel time: A flight from London to Nice takes just 2 hours, and Terre Blanche will arrange a private transfer from the airport to the hotel, which takes approximately 40 minutes.

How to get there: British Airways flies from London Heathrow to Nice; from £174 return.

Price: €785 per night for a Deluxe Suite, or €675 per night for a Super Suite, including breakfast.

Note: Terre Blanche is closed from December to February.