Blog
Wondering how to take your family on a cheap holiday? Indeed, many families give up on travelling for lack of budget. Yet there’s no need to travel to the other side of the world when France has so much to offer. Here are a few great tips and tricks for sharing wonderful moments with your children without breaking the bank.
All over France, there’s no shortage of destinations for a refreshing break on a budget, starting with the Landes and its natural lakes. Just paying for petrol and tolls is enough to set off for the lakes of the Landes (Lac de Mimizan, Lac de Léon, Biscarrosse or Hossegor) to get away from it all and enjoy outdoor activities.
For lovers of the beach and the ocean, head instead for the French Riviera. The town of Saint-Raphaël is THE destination combining relaxation and adventure, thanks to its golden beaches, the Estérel massif for hiking and its coves for snorkelling.
The town of Antibes is also worth the detour for a cheap beachfront holiday, with its sandy beach and Port Vauban.
Shellfish and seafood lovers, meanwhile, will find their happiness in Brittany. It’s one of the favourite destinations during spring tides for shellfish gathering, a very popular activity in France.
The coastline of the Bay of Morlaix, Locquirec, Carantec or Plougasnou… There are plenty of spots to get started with this free, low-cost form of recreational fishing.
To save as much as possible on your holiday budget, there’s no need to spend a fortune on theme parks and museums. Favour free or low-cost activities such as:
The same goes for food while travelling: several great tips and tricks are available to help you eat well on a budget during your stay, namely:
Depending on the destination, hotels aren’t the only place to stay! You can choose from various affordable accommodation options for your trip.
For stays out in nature, choose to go wild camping as a family. You’re free to choose where to pitch your tent and to move it every day at no cost. By planning your route well, you can make wonderful discoveries during your stay.
Long live home exchange! A great way to save on hotel costs while adding a touch of adventure to your family trip. As the name suggests, it involves swapping your house with another family for the duration of the holiday (subject to certain conditions).
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is one of the best tips worth trying for small budgets. It’s a network connecting organic farmers with volunteers. In concrete terms, during your stay you get full-board accommodation in exchange for helping out with the crops. To do this, become a member of the WWOOF association and get access to host offers depending on your destination.
The secret to a cheap trip is above all good preparation, from choosing the right destination at the right time to booking your flights.
This is certainly one of the best tips you can be given. The earlier you choose the destination for your family trip, the better. Ideally, opt for a less sought-after destination that’s still charming, in order to benefit from reasonable prices. In Europe, the cheapest travel destinations are Croatia, Slovakia, Portugal or Greece.
Another clever trick is to book your stay at least 6 months in advance to find the cheapest plane or train tickets.
To treat yourself to a cheap holiday, it would be more worthwhile to travel to your chosen destination out of season (for example, heading to the mountains in summer or to coastal areas in winter). The one golden rule: avoid travelling during school holidays.
