Self catering in France for two weeks

[Offtofranceforfirsttime]

In a gite. What shall we take with us (car) and what shall we buy there (supermarket 10 mins drive)

have never done this so appreciate any good list sharing/ any tips!

Have been warned wifi patchy, first on list is a ton of board games 😂

My two have outgrown their allergies now but we did have dairy and soya allergies for a while. We found stuff in bigger supermarkets and Biocoop. We never had gluten issues but I have definitely seen plenty of gluten-free things there. Definitely take any favourites though, as you won't find the same stuff (mine like Oatly for example and I couldn't find it).

I've had to google Picard and the food is available at Ocardo and M& S, currently salivating over a goats cheese, honey and walnut pizza!

Lots of great advice here.

We go to France every year. My tip for long journeys is to find a Flunch for lunch. They are usually just off the motorway in the big hypermarkets just outside towns, and are great The deal is you buy a protein/pizza etc and then there's a buffet where you can get as much veg/potatoes etc as you like. So your fussy kid can have steak hache, chips/mash/pasta and a few carrots/broccoli, while you can have lots of different veggies/ratatouille/couscous salad etc etc. It's a great way of filling up of some veg, which can be hard to come by travelling in France - the puddings are delicious; the crappy gifts the kids get with their meal are sometimes quite good. And if there are two adults, you can potentially leave one supervising the kids in the little softplay bit while the other goes and does the supermarket run. We love a Flunch!

Gluten free stuff is available in supermarkets, but if you're going somewhere for a coffee and pastry/cake, it's very unusual to find anything GF (even if you ask).

I'm a bit puzzled at some of the things people are suggesting to bring. Toilet roll and kitchen roll for example; they take up so much room when travelling, but will be available in every small general shop and supermarket here. Maybe bring one loo roll for the lay-by aires and as a spare for your first night.

Herbs too - you can buy fantastic fresh herbs here, I've never made so much tabbouleh in my life!

As had been mentioned, halloumi is difficult to find, but Grand Frais sell it. It's the proper stuff, not the neat cube you often get in the UK, but misshapen hunks, it's lovely.

On the healthcare front, pharmacies are great for very minor issues, but if it's something slightly more serious, many small towns have a cottage hospital with a staffed emergency department. We've been a number of times, and have seen a doctor with 5 minutes every time. Don't forget your health insurance and EHIC/GHIC.

I would take a well-stocked first aid kit, with everything from painkillers to indigestion remedies to plasters & more. They don't sell anything like this in French supermarkets or corner shops, you have to go to a pharmacy. When we went recently (to St Omer, a decent sized town), pharmacies closed at 1pm on Saturday & didn't reopen until Monday. There are emergency pharmacies, but only a few & it's quite a mission to get to one & is very frustrating for just a couple of painkillers.

@Snoringgently my rationale is that kitchen roll and toilet paper are much more expensive, and create a space that can be filled with delicious French groceries on the return journey.

I’ve always driven so neither space nor weight are a major factor. Obviously travelling by air is different.

It’s interesting to see what varied priorities we all have.