Why a self-drive holiday is the perfect family break
Parents with young families know all too well the perils of travelling on a long plane journey with children. Tears and tantrums and boredom and bickering do not make for a relaxing start to a holiday and when you're breaking the bank to treat the family, it can make you wonder why you bother.
We all want holiday memories to last a lifetime, but instead of travelling halfway round the world, why not look a little closer to home? A self-drive holiday to France does not only remove the long, tiring plane journey from the equation, but it's likely to cost a lot less, too.
If you choose to drive, you are totally in control of the journey. Kids a bit fractious? Stop off, get some fresh air and let them stretch their legs for a while. Feeling a bit peckish? Come of the motorway and find a cosy little independent cafe for some lunch. You can stop wherever and whenever you like with a self-drive holiday.
Once you reach the Channel, you can board the ferry quickly and easily without the need for a lengthy check-in process involving queue after queue. There's no waiting around for several hours as you would at an airport. Plus, kids will enjoy the excitement of the cross-channel ferry journey and, unlike on a plane, there are plenty of opportunities to move around and take in some fresh sea air.
Wouldn't it be nice to arrive at your holiday destination feeling refreshed and energised, rather than exhausted and grotty? Once in France, you have the same freedom to stop as often as you like. If you're staying in southern France, why not take your time getting there?
Plan your itinerary to take in some scenic routes and book ahead at guesthouses or short-stay gites along the way. You'll see a lot more of the country this way and make the journey a real part of your holiday.
Once you reach your final destination, you can't go wrong with a gite holiday. Self-catering gites are a great way to ensure privacy and quality time as a family for the entirety of your break. Many gites have their own swimming pools, vital for cooling down on hot sunny days.
When it's time to head back home again, you can enjoy the same, stress-free journey you did on the way. And if you aren't quite ready for the holiday to end, simply incorporate a couple more overnight stops on the way home!