The 50 best family-friendly hotels in France
With its exceptional variety of bucolic landscapes, la belle France promises endless family escapades – by sea or sand dune, overlooking horse-ploughed vines or atop a mountain, clifftop or tree. Natural green space for kids to cartwheel around is abundant pretty much all over the hexagon, and as savvy French hoteliers refine their services and facilities to make stays more sustainable, there’s never been a richer choice of places to stay en famille.
All budgets are embraced with signature French panache. Luxurious resorts entertain with action-packed kids’ clubs, outdoor activities galore and hands-on learning ops like patisserie classes, grape-picking and cheese-making. Mid-range hotels pamper young explorers with traditional games, kitchen-garden visits and old-fashioned fun en plein air. Away from towns and cities, hotels increasingly offer flexible self-catering packages too – a cottage on a chateau-hotel estate perhaps – allowing families to mix-and-match hotel dining with their own, memorable market-sourced feasts.
Located in Paris, Provence or pinprick hamlets you’ve probably never heard of: here are 50 of the best family hotels in France
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences (in this case, for instance, the family-friendly facilities) that the hotel might have to offer. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.
At a glance, the best family-friendly hotels in France
- Best family-friendly hotel in France with a swimming pool – Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Monaco
- Best family-friendly luxury hotel in France – Château Saint-Martin & Spa, Provence
- Best family-friendly hotels in Paris – The Peninsula Paris
- Best family-friendly hotels the South of France – Terre Blanche, Provence
- Best affordable family-friendly hotel France – Hôtel The Originals Le Londres, Loire Valley
Brittany
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149
• The best hotels in France
The hotel, which has an old coach-inn feel and is also known for its succulent comfort food, is located by the village of Paimpont with its large lake. Families can enjoy activities such as canoeing, cycling, fishing and hiking, before returning to spacious, light-filled bedrooms with simple furnishings and comfortable carpets.
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£
101
• The best hotels in Brittany
Normandy
Families can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in the area such as hiking, climbing, canoeing on the nearby river and horse-riding. The hotel can also organise days out at the nearby miniature railway or at the treetop adventure park. Extra beds can be added to cosy rooms on request.
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95
Whether you want a family room, or adjoining rooms sharing a bathroom, the property is well adapted for families. As for entertainment, there’s a garden playground for younger children, with a Viking longship and play castle, plus expansive gardens to explore by foot or bicycle, and tennis courts. There’s also an excellent restaurant specialising in classic Norman cuisine where guests can enjoy three meals a day.
From
£
121
With large suites, a dedicated children’s menu and plenty to do, families will feel at home here. Plus, it’s safe – with its indoor play room and a large protected garden, children can play freely.
Food is good and simple, with a daily changing market menu and the option for groups to book an evening ‘Grillade’. Babysitting can be arranged for parents who wish to spend an evening at the large and cosy bar where they can enjoy drinks and place games such as snooker by the warm fire.
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100
Paris
A highlight is the Aqualagoon with its water slides, wave pool, whirlpool and al fresco summer lagoon. Guests enjoy unlimited complimentary entry, while attractions available for an extra cost include a spa, a bowling alley, escape rooms, arcade games, climbing walls, pony rides, boating, mini-golf, archery and tree-top climbing.
There are around 100 apartments and cottages sleeping two to 12 guests. All properties are self-catering – and kitchens are well-equipped – but there’s also an on-site supermarket and bakery alongside a handful of unspectacular yet family-friendly restaurants overlooking the lake.
Family rooms are available, alongside children’s menus and a kids’ club for three to 12-year-olds.
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104
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110
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1,438
Île-de-France
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254
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171
Burgundy
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291
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
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206
Pays de la Loire
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456
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71
• The best hotels in Ile de Re
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78
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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348
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143
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224
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162
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272
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166
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218
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110
Alsace
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175
Rhône-Alpes
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54
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158
Provence
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127
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462
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84
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252
• The best hotels in Arles
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95
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112
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256
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506
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236
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119
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753
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189
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884
Languedoc-Roussillon
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201
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158
Midi-Pyrénées
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94
Monaco
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328
• The best hotels in Monaco
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525
Contributions by Elisabeth Blanchet, Abigail Blasi, Tania Cagnoni, Eddi Fiegel, Robin Gauldie, Lisa Gerard-Sharp, Paula Hardy, Jessica Knipe, Gaby Le Breton, Hannah Meltzer, Mary Novakovich, Clare O’Hagan, Anthony Peregrine, Tristan Rutherford, Louise Simpson, Nicola Williams
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Source: telegraph.co.uk