France family-friendly travel guide

France’s weather can be quite varied from one part of the country to another, generally becoming hotter and drier as you move southwards. In the southwest, Brittany can be very wet, particularly in the winter, and is driest in May. Along the Mediterranean, most rain falls in spring and autumn; summers are very dry and hot. In the rest of France (including Paris) the weather is temperate, with warm summers and cool winters when the temperature hovers around zero. Except in the Alps and Pyrenees, snow is relatively uncommon.

Airfares to and around Europe are generally cheaper in the northern winter and hotel rooms can also be discounted. France goes on holiday during August, when accommodation and transport bookings are at a premium – except perhaps in Paris, since most French flee to the countryside. The best time to visit most regions, including Paris, is between April-June and September-October.

You do not need a visa for France if you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen and hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the time of your visit.

France is one of the westernmost countries in Europe, sandwiched between Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

Most visitors from Australia are likely to fly into Paris, which has two international airports, Orly and Charles de Gaulle. Qantas, Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines, and European carriers such as British Airways fly here. Air France no longer flies into Australia. Paris is about 22 hours flying time from Australia, including a stopover in Bangkok, Singapore or another Asian destination. 

Flying within France is a virtual monopoly of Air France, including high prices, but you can get just about anywhere from Paris in less than a hour’s flying time. A cheaper option is the reasonably priced train system, which is fast and efficient and links 50 cities and many more towns and villages all over the country. 

In Australia, Rail Plus sell French rail passes. Children between four and 11 years travel for half the adult fare. The passes are valid for three to nine days and include unlimited train travel in any one month period. In addition, the pass allows you reductions on the cost of certain other transport, such as Bateaux Parisiens (Seine river cruises) and Sea France ferries to the United Kingdom. 

The Paris Metro is fast, regular, cheap and will get you to just about anywhere you want to go in the city. Interconnecting RER lines head further out into the suburbs, as well as to Disneyland Paris. The metro is generally safe during daylight hours, but keep an eye out for pickpockets. 

The only problem you might have with younger kids is the correspondences or transfer stations, where there is occasionally a long walk from one platform to another, and rather inconvenient if you have a stroller. Within the city, tickets are just €1.40 and you can buy a booklet of ten tickets for €11. Further into the suburbs, tickets are priced on a distance basis. Children four to 10 years go for half price, under four years free. 

If you’re going to use public transport a lot, get a Paris-Visite ticket for one to five days, which is valid not only on the metro and RER but on buses and the funicular to Montmartre as well. Alternatively, you can purchase a Carte Orange, which gives you a week of travel on the metro or transit bus only, within central Paris, for just €15. You need a passport photo for the latter and you can only buy it Monday through Wednesday.

You should also take a batobus (water taxi) or bateau mouche (sightseeing boat) along the Seine River for stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame cathedral and the Louvre. The views are especially good at night under spotlight.

One of the most delightful ways to experience rural France is by barge along France’s vast network of canals and waterways. Barge holidays are available in Burgundy, Champagne, Provence and the Camargue, among other regions. Prices vary widely depending on the level of luxury; barges can be simple family affairs or delux boats outfitted in brass and mahogany with your own chef.

Rental cars are expensive in France (and come with a 19.6% GST on top of the daily rate), especially if you want an automatic, but driving is often the best way to see the magnificent French countryisde and visit out-of-the-way villages and chateaux. This is particularly true in Burgundy, Brittany and parts of southwest France, where the rail system is sparse.

It goes without saying the Paris and the rest of France is full of fine restaurants, but not all of them welcome boisterous kids. French kids tend to learn early that eating is an almost religious experience in France, and they usually sit quietly at the table and seldom baulk at fine fare such as foie gras, blue cheese or even sips of wine.

That said, there are restaurants that have kid’s menus, usually posted in the window, and many eateries can be convivial places that are frequented by neighbourhood families. At lunch time, bistros or cafes are a good bet, since they usually provide snack-type foods that will appeal to the little ones, such as cheese melts, crusty sandwiches, slices of quiche and pastries. Cafes also routinely serve hot chocolates. Creperies are also common, where you can try a variety of flavours and fillings in very thin, French-style pancakes. Don’t overlook dining in your hotel, since many of these have kid’s menus or at least a couple of dishes that might appeal, such as spaghetti or chicken.

Make sure you order any meat, including hamburgers, bien cuit (well done), unless your kids are used to eating meat rare, which is the way it usually comes in France.

With a bakery and delicatessen on nearly every street corner, France is also well set up for picnickers. Chains such as Pizza Hut and McDonalds are also everywhere in Paris, if all else fails to impress little travellers.

You’ll never be short of things to buy in France, which has everything from antiques and crafts to cutting-edge fashion. In the north, look for earthenware or faïence as well as copper kitchenware and pots. Northeast France is the home of Baccarat crystal, Limoges to quality porcelain. If you aren’t going to be outside Paris, then Rue de Paradis in the city has suppliers with goods from big French factories, including Limoges and Baccarat. Sleek, elegant kitchenware is also a good buy in France; if you are in Paris, head to the Rue Montmartre in the 2eme arrondissement.

For mid-priced fashions that are often knock-off of more expensive brands, browse the Prisunic and Monoprix department stores all over France. In Paris, the Printemps and galleries Lafayette are renowned department stores. The former has a vast selection of children’s books which, while mostly in French, are refreshingly diffferent from those you can find in Australia.

There are numerous fine toy stores in Paris, including the luxurious Au Nain Bleu (408 Rue Saint-Honoré), a wide range of educational games and puzzles at Baby Reve (32 Avenue Rapp) and a huge supermarket-style toy store La Grande Recre in the Forum des Halles, Porte Berger. Also fascinating is the Jouets International du Monde (28 rue des Trois-Bornes), which has hand-crafted toys from all over the world – yes, even boomerangs from back home.

A recent innovation is the parapharmacie, which is a cross between a chemist’s, a health-care store and the beauty product department at Myers. They are large, and products are often heavily discounted (détaxe, similar to duty free) if you spend more than €175. Paris, Nice, Cannes and Monaco have good discount stores for beauty products. The south of the country has always been known for its soap, with L’Occitane, a southern brand of beauty store, now becoming known around the world.

Local produce markets still thrive in the streets of every French town, as well as the Parisian suburbs, and are frequented with missionary zeal by the food-loving French. Don’t miss out on this quintessentially French experience one weekend, and take time out to wander the fresh food stalls and watch locals snap up baguettes, hunks of cheese and tubs of olives.

The French are not big tippers, since service is including in restaurant bills. However, if they have received very good service they might leave some small change on the table. You should tip porters, cloakroom attendants and museum guides approximately a euro.

To avoid standing out from the Parisian crowd, smart-casual is the way to go. The further south you are, the more relaxed fashion becomes. Even so, no bikini tops or bare male chests unless you’re sunbathing.

In the winter months, it is important to pack layers, as temperatures plummet – with Paris often experiencing snow!

Paris is very much a modern European city – and France in general is very cosmopolitan – so practice general niceties. Some important etiquette to note includes dressing modestly when visiting churches, when greeting it is normal practice to kiss on both cheeks, and when asking someone for something (whether it be a stranger in the street for directions or a waiter for a jug of water) always begin with “Excusez-moi de vous déranger.”

You’ll need an adaptor if you want to use Australian equipment in France. French plugs have two round pins and a receptacle for male grounding pin, and work on 220/230 volts.

France is generally a safe destination, with a high quality of food preparation, no required vaccinations and outstanding healthcare, especially when it comes to children. The population of France is decreasing  and anyone who has kids is overwhelmed with quality health care and numerous subsidies. Most hospitals have highly-trained staff, many of whom will speak some English.

It is safe to drink the water anywhere in France. Ask for “l’eau du robinet” in restaurants, unless you want to pay for bottled water, which is either fizzy (avec gas) or flat (sans gas).

By and large, France is considered a safe destination, although still exercise regular safety precautions as you would at home.

Most French have studied English at school and English is fairly widely understood, although many French are reluctant to use it. Hotel staff in major centres such as Paris, the Riviera and ski resorts are likely to speak good English. An attempt to speak French, no matter how clumsy, is always appreciated.

Hello – Bonjour
Goodbye – Au revoir
Thank you – Merci
How are you? – Comment ça va?
I’m fine thanks – Ça va
What’s your name? – Tu t’appelle comment?
My name is… – Je m’appelle
I don’t understand – Je ne sais pas
How much is this? – Combien ça coûte?

During the months of June and July, Provence in southeastern France bursts with colour and scent as fields of lavender and sunflower bloom across the region. Valensole, a small historical town just over an hour’s drive from Marseille, offers the perfect opportunity for kids to swim through seas of lavender or snap pictures surrounded by bright yellow forests of sunflowers. Head to Valensole Plateau for a popular vantage point or wander at your leisure and you’ll give any photo album a splash of floral colour.

Nestled above the glistening waters of the French Riviera, the medieval village of Èze is the perfect spot for a panoramic shot and a scenic wander through French history. A forty-minute bus ride from Nice will bring you straight to the ancient centre of the village, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. Other scenic highlights include the Nietzsche path, the Botanic Gardens and the tallest viewpoint atop the ruins of a 12th-century castle!

No holiday trip to France is complete without at least one shot of the Eiffel Tower. Standing 276 metres above Paris, this iconic landmark continues to amaze travellers with its unique structure and the panoramic views it offers from the top. Make sure you return to the site at night for a shot of the landmark as it brightens the Parisian night sky with a glittering light show.