To go to france with a baby and nowhere booked

[BlackberryandNettle]

Just that really. DD is 5 months old and pre-weaning. Normally we'd book a self-catered cottage but we're going on a Sunday (next Sunday) and returning the following Saturday. I'd like some flexibility to drive down the coast and see a few places. Is it crazy to think we'll find hotels easily with space for our baby? Will it just be stressful? We'll have the car but were not planning to camp.

I wouldn't.

YANBU

We went to France out of season, pre-DC, and had no difficulty finding hotels. Do you have a travel cot you can take, just in case (unlikely though it is) the hotels can't supply a cot?

Bon voyage!

I wouldn't really class next week as out of season though. DD goes back to school on Tuesday, but many schools go back the week after.

French schools go back on Tues so it's out of season here. And most French holiday in France so that's an awful lot of holiday makers out of the picture.

My parents used to do this with 2 kids, it was always fine.

But remember you will get horrified replies as some people would never dream of doing this as adults, without a baby.

How are you feeding, if breastfeeding I would go for it.

I'm actually bottle feeding but happy to pack 6 days of formula, plus microwave steriliser and milton just in case.

We did this in Scotland when dd1 was 5 months. Just pitched up in an area pretty much north of Glasgow/Edinburgh and booked in for a night.

Dd1 had her first toast (back in the Bad Old Days of early weaning) in a b&b in Dunkeld, slept under the table in a Chinese restaurant in Aberfeldy and ate scrambled eggs in a lodge in Spean Bridge.

It was fantastic. Go on, you should do it!

How will you make up formula if you can't find a place to stay.

But we were actually heading home, even further north!

Well, I still think it's perfectly doable. If you're worried about making up formula - and it's true few French hotels provide kettles - you could take the little cartons of ready-made formula. Some mineral waters are suitable for babies (if you're not worried about using boiled water) but check the label first as some have too much sodium.

Icanseethesun - She will find a place to stay. A travel cot though is a good idea as worst case scenario you have to have a room somewhere that is basic and doesn't have cots for babies.

I have never booked - and have been away with dd2 aged 6 months for three weeks, then sailed to santandare just me and dd1 (8) and dd2 (18months) and camped for a months travelling across spain and then france with tent.

I have never had any problems getting campsites or accommodation, don't see what the problem is really? This has been June - August. the peak season. Whereas you are looking at off season so no problem at all - go for it.

Feeling a bit more positive after reading these. Ivykaty, sailing across with two young kids is brave! We were going to use the ready liquid formula so the only issue will be sterilising a batch of bottles each day. She is still sleeping in the little bednest cot, the top cot section of which is collapsable and compact, we'd just take it with us.

Just to add my bit. On the 9th August I was trying to book a hotel in France to stay in between campsites and there were absolutely no vacancies at all.
I was really shocked but I guess it was peak time.
Good luck.

Definitely go. It's not high season here any more. We never have booked any sites in France at this time in August. French schools have gone back, here in the Gard, anyway. Have fun. The weather is great atm and getting hotter.

August is the main holiday time for the french but the kids go back to school next week so you will be fine, there are always loads of gites and hotels with vacancies

Nearly all French families are already home thus week preparing for the "rentrée" (back to school) so next week should be fine.

Also, formula is readily available in made up bottles (in the milk aisle of the supermarket, pink tops) or your usual kind can be made up with evian.

Go for it

The very worst it s going to be Is you end up staying in Forumle 1 motels which are clean, but very basic. As from the sounds of things you are only going to sleep in a hotel go for it.

Sounds fab. Take an ice cream tub and some milton tablets rather than microwave steriliser, then you know you can sterilise wherever you end up.

I wouldn't but that maybe just my wish to plan ahead. I don't think it will be a problem. Have a good holiday.

I wouldn't rely on access to a microwave, but other than that, it sounds fine.
Remember that you can find free internet in Macdonalds, should you want to book into anywhere. It might also be worth temporarily signing up to one of the expat boards where you can put a shout out for a B&B for the next night if necessary.

Enjoy yourself, it sounds great.

The traffic might be rubbish this weekend in the direction of Paris, and don't forget almost all shops are closed Sundays and very many shops and restaurants are closed on Mondays too outside of Paris.

Logis de France is a group (not a chain) of hotels which are usually decent and reasonably priced. A lot of them have baby facilities. Their website is a bit shite but you could do some research. Gites de France have b&bs (chambre d'hotes) and website shows availability.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

I'd happily do it as I was bf and coslept, as long as you have all the bits you need for the baby. But I'm small and at a pinch we could sleep in the car.

I've done it with a toddler. A baby is even more portable. I don't think you're mad at all.
And DS loved it. Thought it was a great adventure.