Why

The South of France is incredibly chic and sophisticated with lots glitzy resorts. It is also however very family friendly full of coves and beaches, wonderful wildlife and action packed gorges for exploring further inland. Possessing a unique clarity of light much beloved by artists such as Matisse, Cézanne and Gaugin, Provence is a region to stimulate the senses.

Stretching from the delightful port of Cassis along to the sundrenched beaches of St. Tropez, Cannes and Nice, the French Riviera has long attracted the rich and famous. From these world-famous seaside resorts to smaller coastal retreats this sun-dappled haven of the south offers a host of pleasures for a family holiday.

When and How

South of France is a great year round destination but can get crowded in July and August. There are still plenty of places to escape to though. Try to catch a festival and travel outside of school holidays if your children are still young as you will get better value and there are fewer tourists. May and June are best.

You can fly to Nice or Marsaille airports. There are lots of flights from Ireland and the UK ranging from scheduled and budget flights. You can check special offers or deals and book flights here.

If you decide to take the ferry from Ireland you can take the ferry from Rosslare to either Cherbourg or Roscoff or from Cork to Roscoff and take your time getting there. From the UK there are several ferry routes and the Eurostar. Camping operator prices can include a return ferry crossing. You can book ferry crossings here independently and do check out our guide to travelling with the kids by ferry.

Hiring a car is essential to get to see all of the best of South of France and explore this wonderful area even if it is just for a few days. You can book car hire here.

Family friendly accommodation

There are a wide range of family friendly accommodation options available. Most hotels welcome children even if there are no special facilities and you can check for special offers and deals here with booking.com.

If you want to book a self catering option Hoseasons have some great villas in stunning locations with special offers and deals. Pierre & Vacances offers excellent properties including apartments and holiday villages with lots of family friendly activities and things to see and do.

If you decide to try camping your family can take their pick from a basic tent to the latest luxury mobile home or even a tree house with Keycamp. Our recommended operators for France include Siblu, Keycamp and Eurocamp.

A good campsite to look at is La Baume, Frejus which is a lively and well equipped park with a wide range of the facilities including two pool complexes and a four lane waterslide. There is a new indoor pool, tennis courts, a children's play area, a beaches close, evening entertainment, kids clubs and it is close to be lovely town of Frejus. You can book this with Eurocamp.

The Four Seasons in Provence is just outside the village of Fayance amongst pine and oak trees, with a stunning backdrop of mountains and fields of lavender. Set in intimate one and two-storey villa-style buildings, families will love the spacious suites built with natural wood and carved stone, each with separate living spaces and private terraces. A wide range of treatments are available in the Spa using local organic produce such as olive oil, honey, lavender and herbs. Golfers will be in paradise on the hotel’s two golf courses, winding their way through pine and oak clad hills and valleys.

Children will be fully occupied either in the large infinity pool or at the hotel’s Kids for all Seasons club which runs throughout the summer for children between 2 and 12 which is free of charge. There is a kid’s pool and playground and babysitting, highchairs, sterilisers, buggies, baby baths and potties are available on request.

Le Beauvallon sits in the exclusive residential enclave of Beauvallon near Sainte Maxime, overlooking the Bay of St. Tropez. The hotel's speedboat makes regular journeys to and from the town. On ten acres of lush parkland, Le Beauvallon offers space, luxury and tranquillity, coupled with personalised service for those who wish to be in the heart of the Cote d'Azur. Families can stay in room or suites.

One of Le Beauvallon's unique features is its private beach found at the hotel's Beach Club, which also boasts a heated 25 metre swimming pool, a relaxing seven metre heated outdoor Jacuzzi and a gymnasium. Children will love exploring the gardens, complete with a Wendy house, perfectly furnished even with a miniature grand piano. All the family will delight in the hotel’s cinema room with its first class airline eats and of course popcorn. Bottle warmers, buggies, baby listeners, changing mats, highchairs, formula milk, baby food and nappies can all be requested. Character bed sheets, kid’s size bathrobes and slippers are provided for children.

What to see and do with the kids

If you would like some inspiration from things to see and do with the kids have a look at the tours and activities offered by isango.

The beaches are fantastic although they can become very busy in high season and parking can be an issue. Try to get there early.

Visit the Pont du Gard which was a Roman scheme to carry water along an aqueduct. It has an interactive program for children from five to twelve.

Have an adventure in the Gorges du Verdon, Europe's deepest river gorge. This is the French equivalent of the Grand Canyon and you can have great family fun doing canooning, abseiling, swimming and jumping off waterfalls. Check minimum ages.

Visit the Parc National du Mersactour which has beautiful flora and fauna and is great for walking.

Do some walking, bird spotting or pony trekking in the Camargue which is famous for its white horses.

Visit Nice which will enchant children with its seaside walkways where they can walk and run and stop for ice cream.

Teenagers will be interested in a visit to St Tropez and the international celebrity element. In St Tropez you can visit the aquarium for children established by Jacques Cousteau. You can also take a boat trip from Quai des Etats-Unis.

Visit the town of Avignon which its maze of mediaeval streets.

Visit Aix-en-Provence for the markets and take a visit to the studio of Cezanne the artist.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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