How to Save Money on a Family Trip to France

[rohny jones]

Do you want to bring the entire family to France for the vacation of a lifetime? If so, you probably want to look for ways to save money wherever possible.

Let's go over a few ways that you can save money on your family adventures in France:

Think about arranging a vacation package:

Look into available French vacation packages that cover a variety of different costs in order to save money. You might be able to find significant savings with this option.

Be open-minded about your accommodation arrangements:

France has an excellent star-rating system that provides an accurate representation of different accommodation options. Don't be worried about staying in a 3-star hotel rather than a 4-star, as the standards are generally still very good.

Also look into bed and breakfasts, which are extremely popular in France. Try to book bed and breakfasts in advance if possible. It is quite common for bed and breakfasts to include dinner in the price (and, of course, breakfast is also free). If you plan to stay in one town or region for a minimum of one week, you could think about booking a vacation rental. This will give you use of a kitchen, meaning that you can prepare your own food.

You could also book a holiday cottage (referred to as a gite). These are found in many different parts of France and you can find a variety of different sizes to fit different family or group sizes. Yet another good budget option for staying in France is to take part in a home exchange. This would mean that a French family would stay in your home while you stay in theirs in France free of cost. If your family loves the great outdoors, you could also spend some nights camping in France. Even campgrounds there are governed by the nationally regulated star-rating system, so it's easy to find reliable information and reviews.

Consider rail travel:

Traveling by train is very common in France among locals and tourists alike. Rail travel will also help give you and your family an especially genuine and memorable European experience. If you will travel by train for long distances, you could be worthwhile to purchase a rail pass. In such cases, a rail pass will cost you less than point-to-point tickets would. If you want to buy a rail pass, you might have to purchase it while you're still in the United States, so make sure to plan this in advance.

Skip renting a car if you're spending your time in cities and towns:

There is really no need to rent a car in most cases if you are spending most or all of your time in cities and towns in France. You will really only need a vehicle if you want to spend a lot of time exploring the countryside and going to very small villages. France is known for having excellent public transportation, even in smaller cities. If you decide that you do want to rent a car and will be in France for at least 17 days, think about choosing a temporary lease program from Renault or another car company that offers such an option. This will help you save money.