Best places in France for a cheap family holiday from Provence to Normandy
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
France has been a family favourite for British holidaymakers for decades. In fact, around 17 million of us go there each year - and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
But where can you head if you want to make the most of your trip?
Mirror Travel has teamed up with holiday specialist ­Eurocamp – which has been helping British travellers enjoy French ­getaways for more than 40 years – to share its exclusive insider travel tips in eight key regions.
Find out the best things to see and do, the best cheap eats and shopping, not to mention the Eurocamp parks in the region you won't want to miss...
You can also find some great Eurocamp deals in our handy guide here .
Which regions are in the guide?
Riviera/Provence
Picardy/Normandy
Loire Valley
Brittany
Languedoc-Roussillon
Dordogne
Gironde/Gastony/Pyrénées
(Image: Getty)
1. Riviera/Provence
The Riviera is a procession of chic towns, blissful beaches and dazzling light. Inland Provence is renowned for its atmospheric hill towns and verdant valleys.
SEE & DO : Catch a ferry from Hyères to the beautiful traffic-free islands of Iles de Porquerolles. Verdon Gorge is the French Grand Canyon, where giant Griffon vultures have been reintroduced.
DRINK : Rosé wine is a speciality of the region – enjoy a glass at trendy W-Brasserie in Sainte Maxime (great icecreams too) or head to Toulon for a cocktail with Med views at Cote Jardin.
EAT : La Brasserie Tradition and Gourmandise in St Raphael is the perfect place for Med dishes with a contemporary twist, eaten on a flower-decked terrace. Or try Auberge du Teillon in La Garde – a cosy bistro offering plentiful French cooking at good rates.
SHOP: The markets in Fréjus are fun and colourful, with ceramics, art, leatherwear and fashions on the seafront, while the town centre market sells great wines and local produce. For seriously good wine visit Cave Des Cariatides, on Rue Sieyes.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. La Baume : Boasting two Californian-style pool complexes, there are also plenty of sports from football to volleyball on offer.
2. Domaine des Naiades : Just 900m from the beach, this park boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
3. Les Lacs du Verdon : With a water park and brand new playground on offer, your little ones won't be stuck for things to do in this park!
2. Picardy/Normandy
Famous for its historic beaches and rustic cuisine, there’s more here than you think.
SEE & DO: Explore the genteel seaside town of Deauville. Grand but not stuffy, there are hotels offering afternoon teas, as well as a racecourse and big-hitting film festival.
Try kite-surfing at Kite Paradise in Houlgate and visit the Christian Dior Museum in Granville for some fashion history.
DRINK: Head to Houlgate to try Le Royalty or Les Marigot.
EAT: Try fresh oysters, scallops and lobster. Stock up at Les Halles covered market in Le Havre or enjoy a leisurely lunch at Aux Delices (the steak frites, moules marinière, and Normandy fish stew are recommended).
La Flambée is a stylish townhouse serving fine French cuisine, including agneau de pré-salé (naturally salty lamb).
SHOP: In Picardy’s St Valéry Sunday market you’ll love browsing the vibrant glasswear, clothes, gifts, sunglasses and bric-a-brac.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. La Vallee : With the new 'Plus' Kids' Club operating six days a week, there's even more entertainment on offer for kids at this fun-filled park which also boasts a children's pool and water slides.
2. La Cote de Nacre : It's just a 20-minute transfer from Caen Ferry Port, this park boasts a covered pool, games room and a play area for the kids.
3. La Bien-Assise : This pet-friendly park is just a short trip from the ferry at Calais so you can be enjoying your holiday in no time - and dining on the iconic French cuisine at the park's authentic French restaurant.
(Image: Getty)
3. Loire Valley
Known as the Garden of France, this a great place to explore and unwind in lush, leafy surroundings.
SEE & DO: Get a bird’s eye view with a hot air balloon ride, leaving from the towns of Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont and Loches.
Visit Château d’Ussé – the inspiration for the original Sleeping Beauty.
Embrace the dark side at the Museum of Sorcery in Concressault. Discover more about witchcraft, tackle a ‘haunted’ maze then chill with a picnic.
DRINK: Catch the footy with local beers at Le Liverpool in Saumur or pop into Le Dolmen in Bagneux, a bar next a prehistoric burial chamber.
EAT: Head to pretty Saumur for duck, steak and fish in at L’Alchimiste or visit the historic Auberge Saint Pierre, serving rabbit and coq au vin in a quirky 15th century building.
SHOP: The city of Tours is shopping heaven. From luxury items to art via more indie options, you’ll find everything you need. For local food specialities – both sweet and savoury – there is a comprehensive selection at Les Douceurs Tourangelles and La Livre Tournois.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. Le Chateau des Marais : From the picturesque old manor house location to the lazy river, it's ultimate relaxation here.
2. L'Etang de la Breche : Ideal for those who don't like to spend all their time by the pool, this park has a 9-hole mini golf course, not to mention it's a short drive to Saumur and Chateau.
3. Les Alicourts Resort : Budding footballers will no doubt enjoy the two on-site pitches, while culture vultures can explore the stunning castles nearby.
4. Brittany
A popular choice with the British, it offers rugged headlands, seafood, crepes, cider and fishing villages.
SEE & DO: The Carnac stones are a vast set of 3,000 prehistoric standing stones, some arranged more than 6,000 years ago. Start at the Maison des Mégalithes and book a guided tour in English.
Visit Perros-Guirec with its 40km of marked walking trails. Here you can yomp along the 2km Sentier des Douaniers – from Ploumanac’h Moors to Perros-Guirec – marvelling at 66ft-high pink granite boulders along the way.
DRINK: Sip delicious local Muscadet wine in the Cave Saint Michel in Quimperlé or overlooking the River Laita at La Cale D’Anaurot.
EAT: Enjoy a modern twist on traditional Breton crêpes, with a nod to Japanese cuisine, at Michelin-starred Le Comptoir Breizh Café, St Malo. For fresh seafood and shellfish head to Le Faouët, or sample fabulous moules marinière and crème brûlée at the L’Argoat restaurant.
SHOP: Fancy some sea snails? The farmers at France Haliotis specialise in organic ones, perfectly cooked in salted butter. For the sweet-toothed, the old town of St Malo has a dazzling selection of chocolate shops.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. Domaine des Ormes : Ideal for the active, this park boasts a high wire adventure park, horse riding and an 18-hole golf course.
2. La Pointe St-Gilles : Unwind with a relaxing treatment at the health spa or take a short coastal walk to the resort of Benodet in this laidback park.
3. Des Menhirs : This park is surrounded by breathtaking views from the Quiberon peninsula to a picturesque port town.
(Image: Getty)
5. Languedoc-Roussillon
A diverse area with warm sandy beaches on the Med. It is the world’s single biggest wine-producing region.
SEE & DO: Carcassonne is a wonderful walled city where you can stroll through the fortifications and enjoy a meal in the walls.
Aqualand in Cap D’Agde has waterslides galore, while Narbonne’s Natural Park is home to a varied fauna and flora, including many species of birds.
DRINK: Red wines using Carignan, Cinsault and Grenache grapes area a speciality here.
At Canet-en-Roussillon, Le Caraibe and Le Coco Loco are popular spots with locals and tourists alike thanks to their great sea views.
EAT: Can Marcel in Canet-en-Roussillon offers top-class cuisine in smart, minimalist terrace surroundings, while Vigatane Cafe is great for Catalan-themed meals.
The fishing village of Marseillan Plage is perfect for an evening alfresco meal with many seafood restaurants.
SHOP: Canet-en-Roussillon is a fashionista’s playground with chic boutiques – and prices to match! Head to Boulevard Cassanyes for French fashion brands, jewellery, accessories and more.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. La Chapelle : Pick up trinkets in the quirky night market, or rent a bike and take a cycling tour of the beautiful area.
2. Le Soleil : The only park with beach access in Argeles-Sur-Mer, it's also a stone's throw away from plenty of bustling bars and restaurants.
3. La Beach Garden : Tucked away on the edge of a nature reserve, there's everything from a lagoon pool to the nearby Marseillan beach.
6. Vendée
Miles of beach come as standard, but there’s more to explore if you can tear yourself away from the coast.
SEE & DO: Le Puy du Fou is a spectacular medieval experience set in the heart of an ancient forest. Stay for the evening show – an open-air performance of Vikings at war involving 850 people.
Set your heart a-flutter at L’île aux Papillons, where thousands of butterflies fly in the tropical halls.
Hit La Route de Sel (the Salt Road) and paddle through Sallertaine’s ancient salt marshes by canoe. The evening trip ends with a candlelit dinner.
DRINK: Troussepinette is a powerful spirit made from blackthorn shoots and served as an aperitif. Sip with caution! Enjoy a cocktail or local wine as the sun fades over the Atlantic at Le Comptoir in
Saint-Jean-de-Monts.
EAT: Locals claim the best oysters in the whole of France are served at the Mord’Eau bar in Port du Bec, near Beauvoir-sur-Mer.
Try tournedos rossini, duck, salmon and mushroom pâtes at La Ferme de Melusine eatery in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez.
SHOP: For food, flowers and bric–a-brac head to the French markets in St Gilles Croix-de-Vie, St Jean-de-Monts and Bretignolles-sur-Mer.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. Le Clarys Plage : Looking for a day out to keep the kids entertained? Le Clarys Plage is just a 90-minute drive to the fun-filled Puy de Fou theme park.
2. Les Ecureuils : Tennis, gym and a game of boules are just some of the activities on offer for the more active at this park.
3. La Garangeoire : There's a pretty diverse range of activities from archery to scuba diving on offer at this park!
(Image: Getty)
7. Dordogne
Steeped in history and famous for its wide-ranging cuisine, the Dordogne region offers France in all its glory.
SEE & DO: Explore the network of stunning cave systems featuring some of the world’s oldest prehistoric paintings, such as the Grotte de Bara-Bahau in Le Bugue and nearby Gouffre de Proumeyssac’s Cathedral of Crystal, home to stunning stalactites and stalagmites.
Roque Saint-Christophe near Peyzac-le-Moustier is the largest troglodyte cliff in Europe and was once home to Neanderthal man.
DRINK: The area around Bergerac produces prestigious wines – sample Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in abundance. The vineyard tour at Chateau Monbazillac is particularly good.
EAT: The region is a foodie paradise, famous for forest truffles, confits of duck and goose and the legendary Rocamadour goat’s cheese.
Medieval Sarlat is home to a host of authentic cafes and restaurants; Le Presidial is a French fine dining experience.
SHOP: There are many evening farmers’ markets where you can go for some gourmet shopping. The pick is Aubas, which runs throughout July and August.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. St Avit Loisirs : There's a medieval town just a short drive away, as well as a nearby water park.
2. La Palombiere : Enjoy a spot of wine-tasting or go for a leisurely stroll along some of the picturesque trails nearby.
3. Le Moulin de Paulhiac : There are plenty of attractions nearby by from castles to an aquarium.
8. Gironde/Gastony/Pyr énées
Head for the hills in the Pyrénées, find sun and sea in Gironde and a slower pace of life in Gascony.
SEE & DO: Try your hand at windsurfing or hire a dinghy on Etang de Soustons (Soustons Lake), visit the mountain-top observatory at Pic du Midi to see one of France’s most powerful telescopes and amazing views.
DRINK: Enjoy the wine in Saint Emilion – one of the most attractive of the Bordeaux wine villages with countless wine cellars, or share cocktails by the sea at Le Surf in Hourtin.
Local delicacy Floc is a wine liqueur that is fortified with armagnac brandy – perfect before dinner.
EAT: Visit Tantina de la Playa in Bidart for dinner and views. Thon à la basquaise (tuna fillet in a tomato and pepper sauce) is a speciality. Or try Restaurant La Foret in Meschers-sur-Gironde for seafood and patisserie galore.
SHOP: La Cigale in Nerac was the inspiration for the film Chocolat – so take home some luxurious hand-made treats.
TOP 3 EUROCAMP PARKS NEARBY:
1. Sequoia Parc : Explore the beautiful Cognac vineyards or enjoy a fun-filled family day at the on-site water park.
2. Le Vieux Port : Get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life at the relaxing spa, or a cycle through the lusciously green woodland nearby.
3. Airotel Pyrenees : Not only is it right by a National Park, but this Eurocamp is just 800m from the historic town of Luz St Sauveur.