Nobody spoke English and there was nothing to do

[AdoraLovesCake]

Sorry, this might sound like I am complaining when obviously in another country they won't speak much English.

I decided to go to France this summer as a single pregnant mum with a 1 year old and a 5 year old. Fortunately my friend and her 3 year old son decided to join us.

I booked in a place, by the beach in Northern France, I had been to when I was a young adult, I remember it being quite touristy but very kid friendly. Photos of the place looked like a touristy city where people would speak English.

I speak quite a lot of French and was teaching bits to my oldest daughter so she could ask for a crepe or say please and sorry and simple things like that, under the expectation that most people would speak English. My 1 year old can only speak a few words, so I am not going to teach her French. My friend speaks French well too, and her son also learnt please, thanks, sorry.

We arrived to find a really untouristy place. We unpacked and looked around the town for fun kids stuff. There was nothing. By this time I was exhausted, with an overexcited child and a screaming baby. So we hunted for a cafe or restaurant. Nothing. We went into a small bakery, asked in French for some stuff then asked in English, "Are there any children's playgrounds here?" The baker looked blank at us and soon there was about five French men shaking their heads and repeatedly telling us, "Me French"

So we left and went to the beach. No kids on the beach, just a couple and their dog. Thankfully they let the children stroke the dog. No places to buy ice cream, buckets, spades, balls, paddle boards or anything.

The next day we took the bus, still nobody spoke English and still, towns bare of tourists and kids, beaches bare of anyone and anything.

Thankfully the kids took it quite well, it could have been a whole lot worse. It's just that the research I did made it look good. Maybe I didn't do enough? Maybe I shouldn't have used my memory from 20 years ago? Maybe I should have taught my kids more French?

xxx Cora

Thank you !

Surely a 1 year old wouldn't have a clue whether they were in Somerset or France! A 5 year old would obv notice a different language but surely could be easily persuaded to enjoy a UK holiday.

I thought this was going to be a moan about people who go abroad and think like what the thread title says.

And this is why I don’t holiday in France.

What was the place ? I want to avoid it at all costs.
I think you should never assume that there are going to be entertainment/ shops/ particular type of food/ whatever you need. You should research and plan.
As to language issue… we were in a big resort in Spain and of course reception staff and entertainment team both spoke English but cleaning staff didn’t. So even in a big place you couldn’t expect everyone speak English however popular and touristy the destination was .

You still haven’t told us which town in France you stayed at.

Sorry, why are you answering yourself? Je ne comprends pas.

I agree. Trying your best to muddle through with basic French is met with unfriendly stares and impatience. I don’t know of any other country who takes such umbrage at not speaking their language perfectly. I’m pretty sure they can understand Je voudrais ce pain (while pointing at it) even in my sarf London accent, but apparently not 🙄

Could you not find a playground on Google maps?

I remember a holiday which was also on northern beaches and being surprised by how quiet it was and that there was absolutely nowhere open for food.

Ah yes. French seaside town. Sunday evening.

Google, what is the nearest place open for food?
Answer 1: a potato dispensing machine
Answer 2: Dover.

Live and learn.

I find that if you try a bit then others are more willing to try and meet you half way.

Google translate is wonderful. Really useful when our Ukrainian guests first arrived. They had more English than our Ukrainian but for complicated things it was, and is, great.

It can also read signs, posters etc and translate.

I much prefer Germany tbh I find the french quite rude.
My grandmother was french and she could be very sharp and impatient, she said it was the way of her people.

I can’t understand why you didn’t realise there was nothing to do if you really researched before you went. It’s so easy to do. Even you if you already arrived you could have looked things up on your phone and travelled
on a bus or something?

It was a bad situation made my myself. Next time, I will do better

We went to northern france for a holiday a while ago, and I was also surprised at how many people don't speak much English but that's because we are quite spoilt as a nation and rarely have to worry about learning other languages to get by.
It didn't bother me at all though, I was actually quite embarrassed at the fact I'd made no effort to learn (or recall from school) some basic French to get me by.

i didnt think I spoke much French until my DS became ill over there and suddenly the stress seemed to unlock something in my brain and I was practically fluent.

We all have disappointing holidays sometimes. Ours was 2 weeks in a rainy field in rural SW Ireland. Eurocamp is your friend OP.

We used to go to France when the dc were young I can't say I found anybody rude and our French is terrible and people always tried to help us, I'm not English though and there is a bit of a thing that the French don't like English people.

I feel the same, I have some French and always had a phrase book later my phone. So many staff in shops/restaurants wouldn’t give me a few seconds to make myself heard in French. We took our then 10yr and 7yr old to France and the continuous rudeness was staggering never been back. They were so rude and hostile.

Where were you? It does sound extremely surprising that you went to a beach town in France that you remembered as being quite touristy and family friendly and now there were no cafes/children on beach/places to buy icecream/a playground! I don't think I've ever found a place quite like this on various trips through France, often stopping in the North on the way further South.

However, I don't think you should make the main issue the lack of English speaking! While it is true that lots of part of the world that are likely to be visited by tourists have incredibly good levels of English these days (and I confess theat for that reason I rarely make much effort to learn another language) not everywhere does, and small towns in France can be one of those. Even with my super ropey French (and almost complete lack of other languages) I've always been able to get by and it has never stopped me from enjoying a holiday, even while essentially resorting to smiling and pointing. You said your French is quite good and I don't think improved communication but your kids would have made any difference at all. These days it is pretty easy to get information about a place even if you don't speak the local language.

Research is knowing what cafes and playgrounds will be there before you arrive, and having checked their opening times.

Why are you answering your own reply, and telling us your name and your kids name? 😵

You need Google translator on your phone.

I'm glad it's not just me who is puzzled by the OP talking to herself.

LIke the others though, for a family holiday in France, I would recommend a small group of gites with a shared pool and play area, or a nice campsite with pre-erected tents!

I should say that I love France and generally the French and most things can be excused when you realise — like PP’s granny — it’s the way of their people. Like we in the UK have ours, which is different between the four home nations and even from region to region… I could rule out travelling in a country because they still believe in fixed lunch times 😁