Lake in France © Ben Cappellacci@flickr CC-BY
The wonderful part about visiting France is that you really can do this on a budget. Whether you drive over and then tour around northern France or go further west to the Dordogne or indeed anywhere in the country, there are some really very good places to stay at en route which certainly won’t break the bank.
This is especially true if you are taking the whole family away for a holiday. Gites are great self catering places to stay at which give you all the independence you would ever need to have whilst you are away. But there are many guest houses which offer very affordable accommodation as well. These are a great choice if you are planning to explore the many different regions during your stay in France.
If on the other hand you want to stay in one place for any particular reason then choosing to stay at one of the many farm-stays in France could be a really good option. You can choose to stay on a working farm and get involved with the practical side of things or you may just like to find a farm where the children would be able to get a hands-on experience at just petting and playing around with the animals found there. The great part about choosing farm-stays is that you can find them in absolutely every region of France, in the north, south, in the west of France, central or in the eastern regions. One thing you can be sure of is that if you do decide to have breakfasts or a meal at a farm-stay, then the food is going to be superb and very typical of the area.
France © Suvodeb Banerjee@flickr CC-BY
There are also some great vineyards which offer short break holidays that involve learning about viticulture. These are splendid solutions for anyone who wants to have a great time in lovely settings whilst learning about how wines are produced in France.
With the advent of the Internet finding an affordable place to stay has been made extremely easy, but if like me you love to go out on a limb and find places to stay as you drive along, then this makes the trip a wonderful adventure. Of course, this is not easy if you are planning to take young children away with you, but if you are travelling with a friend or partner, it can be great fun exploring the many villages and countryside and then finding a really quaint place to spend the night at.
Countryside in France © Matt Perich@flickr CC-BY
Self-catering holidays in France are very popular and you can find many short let houses or apartments that are very good value for money. Of course it does depend on the time of year you plan to travel over to France as the price of your accommodation and availability will vary on the seasons, but finding a lovely affordable place to stay is pretty easily done these days. Holidaying in France means you will get to sample a wonderful way of life, incredibly good food and of course all the fine wines and produce that are so typically French.