Searching for accommodations for family vacations is my least favourite part of travel planning. Pre-kids it went like this: find chic looking accommodation close to great restaurants or with a stunning view, filter by price and choose from all.the.options. Add 2 kids to the mix and now I have a million filters: multiple bedrooms, reasonably priced, maybe a kitchenette? definitely a common area because i don’t always feel like going to bed at 8 pm, close to transit in case we want to sneak back for nap time etc. etc. etc. Then when I think I’ve found the perfect place, I read the fine print and they either don’t allow children or cost more than i’ve budgeted for our whole trip and I’m back to square one.
So, if you’re like me and are looking for a FUN, affordable and family friendly accommodation for your trip to France do not overlook CAMPING!
Yes that’s right: camping. You might be super skeptical especially if you’re North American and you’re used to tent or trailer camping with communal “sanitation stations”. Sure, some of the european campgrounds that are like that and if that’s your jam, camp away. But, there are almost 400 campgrounds in France and there is literally something for everyone and for us it checked every single box and more.
So, if you’re like me and are looking for a FUN, affordable and family friendly accommodation for your trip to France do not overlook CAMPING!
Yes that’s right: camping. You might be super skeptical especially if you’re North American and you’re used to tent or trailer camping with communal “sanitation stations”. Sure, some of the european campgrounds that are like that and if that’s your jam, camp away. But, there are almost 400 campgrounds in France and there is literally something for everyone and for us it checked every single box and more.
We started our search here (although https://www.campsited.com/ is another great website with options outside of France as well!)
We narrowed our search down by location and ensured that we were able to find a place with 2 bedrooms, air conditioning, and a kid friendly pool area in a location part way between Marseille and Nice. We settled on Camping Port Pothuau in Hyeres which knocked it out of the park. Here are the things we loved about it:
We narrowed our search down by location and ensured that we were able to find a place with 2 bedrooms, air conditioning, and a kid friendly pool area in a location part way between Marseille and Nice. We settled on Camping Port Pothuau in Hyeres which knocked it out of the park. Here are the things we loved about it:
- “kiddie fun” accommodation: a mobile home with airconditioning and 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We particularly loved that one bathroom was a “toddler” bathroom with a bathtub, a toddler toilet, a change pad and a low sink with step stool. The second bedroom had bunk beds in it and the unit came with a play house for the front porch.
- Odds and Ends: from plastic plates, cups and cutlery to high chairs, pack and plays and even strollers we were SO impressed with the equipment that the campground was able to provide.
- Kiddie pool: We loved the large shallow pool with three water slides and water features. The water was warm and there was plenty of shade on the pool deck.
- Free shuttle to the beach so we didn’t have to worry about parking
- Kids club with lots of activities for kids from 4-12 as well as a playground
- Price: Less than 100 euro a night in the off season it was a steal of a deal!
We also used it the same way we would use a hotel or vacation rental ... as a home base to do daytrips around the area. Hyeres was not an area I had heard of before but one of the reasons it appealed to us was because unlike so much of the south of France, this area is known for sandy and kid friendly beaches. Want to know more about what to do in Hyeres? Check out 10 things to do in Hyeres.
I hope we’ve convinced you that if you’re looking for an affordable and family friendly accommodation option in France, camping should definitely be on your radar. If you’re considering camping in France or anywhere else in Europe here are some tips:
I hope we’ve convinced you that if you’re looking for an affordable and family friendly accommodation option in France, camping should definitely be on your radar. If you’re considering camping in France or anywhere else in Europe here are some tips:
- Consider how you want to use the accommodation: do you want to use it to explore the area or to spend the days relaxing at the pool or beach or playing tennis or hiking. Use this to guide how you choose your campground. You may want to find the best water park or you may be more interested in the proximity to historical sites or specific towns.
- Look at what is included: some campgrounds include parking, shuttle to the beach, sports equipment, kids toys and other kid’s necessities like high chairs, travel cots, baby baths etc. Some also have heated or covered pools, kids clubs, tennis courts, bicycle rentals or other perks.
- Pack accordingly: In reading the fine print for the campground we noted that we needed to bring our own fitted sheets for the beds. Check to make sure you pack any necessary extras that you wouldn’t usually need at a hotel or vacation rental.
- Off Season: Peak season in France is from July 1 to August 30 and prices go up (and vacancy down) significantly during this time. Consider traveling outside of these times to save money and have a broader choice of where to stay. We chose to go during the last couple of weeks of June and it was perfect!