One to two months in France next summer while on mat leave. Anyone done this? Advice? Dos / donts? Location ideas?

[GoodLuckTime]

Will be on mat leave next summer. DH French. Our life is in the uk, but his family (parents, cousins) all living in France. Our kids bilingual, I'm learning French.

We're thinking of spending 1-2 months in France over July and August next summer while I'm off. Anyone done this? How did It go? Dos / donts?

Our ideas so far:

• would like to rent somewhere with enough space we can have extended family (both sides) visit easily, so 4 bedrooms minimum
• on the fence about in a town or not, but thinking better to be in a least decent sized village with shop so I don't have to wrangle the kids and baby into the car every time we need something, especially as DH may not always be there if we stay for longer.
• pool or not on the criteria? Gives easy activity for days at home, but limits choice and likely increases cost.
• if we stay for longer would look for holiday clubs for older dc for some of the time. Is this realistic? They speak fluent French so stuff for local kids an option, though English language also fine. This summer sc had got a bit bored and lonely by the end of 8 weeks off so it's many for the company.

Location

• looking at the Alps. Like that it will be warm and sunny proper summer in the day but cool at night. Have looked at chamonix and annecy but both seem v expensive. Read that chamonix v good for older dc activities (eldest will be five). Any other (more affordable) ideas on these lines? Looking for walks, cable car rides, swimming, a few simple expiditions, nice town to potter around.
• now also looking at Briancon, which looks lovely and more affordable, but worried about travel for uk visitors (looks like flight to Turin then 2-3 hour drive??
• would consider further south but don't want to be too near the coast where is can be v hot and hard work with a baby (will be 4/5 months)
• have considered the north coast too (Brittany) but seems like more of a gamble weather wise and repeatable stuff like swimming less of an option.

How about les Vosges area - within striking distance of Gerardmer? lots going on that's similar to the Alps, but quieter - we were there in August and it never felt that crowded. Easy enough travel from Strasbourg if flights are important. Weather isn't hugely predictable, but similar to the Alps. Easy to pop over to the Black Forest for trips. Not many English around compared to the other parts of France we've spent time in.

Whoops posted too soon.

Give me your ideas oh France knowledgeable MNers!

Try somewhere like Samoens or Les Gets. Both busy in summer but wont be as packed or expensive as Chamonix or Annecy. There are often good deals on chalets and lots of kids activities.

I think Samoens great for families- great open air pool, big park with pony rides, zip wires, walks etc and a lovely llttle swimming lake and beach perfect for little ones 5 min away in Morillon. The alps are amazing in the summer, you'll have a ball!

Vendome

Lovely town very pretty
Great municipal pool
Less than three hundred miles from Birmingham to drive
No need to use 🚗
Less touristy so not as exprnsive

I know Briancon well, it's really lovely and plenty to do in the summer. It was a 2hr drive max for us in winter, so may be even less in the summer without the snow. You can also fly to Grenoble (just over 2 hours) or Lyon (2.5-3 hours). The medieval town is beautiful, so many happy memories there. It's also a proper town rather than a ski resort so cheaper shops etc.

Another vote for Samoens - guests can fly to Geneva and be with you in about an hour. Lots to do that's touristy but also a proper liveable place with real people in, unlike many of the other resort towns.

Some great ideas here, thank you all.

Any suggestions for good websites for rentals etc? I'm on Airbnb which is maybe the best options to search multiple locations. Also looks to encourage discounts for long term stays.

The chamonix tourist website has a section for long term rentals but slim picking there and the short term one had nothing under €800 per week!

I wouldn't recommend Airbnb as most hosts wouldn't accept a long booking this far out. Airbnb keep the money until you get there, so if you cancel the owner risks having an empty summer with no income.

Try the French sites, abritel or leboncoin. I would also suggest you don't stay in one place, you will have a much better choice if you stay for 2 weeks and then move on. Use the opportunity to see more of the country, beach for a bit then mountains for a bit. As an owner I am happy to get 2 week bookings, but wouldn't take a 4 week booking in the summer.

I was just about to say the opposite to frenchfancy
Don't move to often. It's knackering. I come back to the UK for 6-8 weeks each summer. First half with DH, second half on my own with the kids. Packing up the house every 10days is the pits. Pick 2 or 3 places (town, mountains, beach?) And stay for longer in each place.

Do you want to be close to DH family? or as far away as possible

Does DH also plan to take the summer off, or will he be coming back to the UK for work? Location to make travel easier/more cost effective?

One worry about having a pool would be safety if you have small DCs to keep an eye on as well as a baby by yourself.

Also consider what you would do if there are any medical considerations for you or the new baby (or any of the other DCs).

No particular need to be close to DHs family. I'd originally suggested trying to be close enough for day visits, so reverse of the situation we have in the UK where my parents are about 1- 1.5 hrs away and we meet up every few weeks vs DH's parents which is longer vists once or twice a year.

But DH thinks his parent will want long visits anyway.

Alps are the right side of france for us to stop with them on the way there / back, and / or they can come and stay for a while.

I speak OK french and am having lessons to improve it so think we would be ok if any illness when DH not there.

Plus DH's side is a medical family so if any serious emergency would be delighted to swoop in and completely take over 'help'. They are already surprised that eldest DC has survived infanthood without dosing every sniffle with antibiotics and dosing every scratch with a wide array of sprays and creams.

I agree with previous posters, i'd like to keep moving around to a minimum as packing / unpacking is indeed hellish.