Advice on France for total, complete beginners!

[soyouthinkyoucandance]

our ds has started French lessons for the last year he is 6. We were hoping to holiday for a week this year but have never been, can not speak the language, wouldnt know where to start. We do like good quality hotels, nice food and some kind of entertainment. Would like to fly rather than ferry or drive but this could be an option

Any advice on what to do, where to stay for complete beginners to France!

If your language skills are very ropey I would suggest sticking to the areas popular with UK travellers so Normandy, Brittany, Dordogne, Paris and Champagne. Outside of these areas even if people can speak english they won't.
If you are staying in Northern France it is IMO easier to drive than fly, Southern France it's a toss up if we didn't want the car we would actually probably take the eurostar and then TGV, rather than fly. Apart from Paris you would probably need a car everywhere else.
We usually have a cottage or stay in Chambre de Hote (B and B) so limited advice on hotels.
There is lovely food everywhere try to eat where there are mostly french people, our best meal ever was in an bar with dining room where the workers came in from the vineyards to eat lunch 3 courses and 250mls of wine for 10 euros.
We have been taking DD since she was a tiny baby in Paris she loves riding the trains, tube and buses. There are carousels everywhere so even the most boring museum can be counteracted with a carousel.
DD is 6 now and has been learning French since she was 2 and half, my French is good and DH points alot.

I would suggest getting the lonely planet guide to France have a good read of various areas and see what interests you.

There are some lovely recent guides to small hotels and other accommodation in France by Marie-Dominique Perrin:

Chambres d'hôtes secrètes

thanks Liz Cat I was also thinking Northern France - Is La Rochelle around there I went as a child and remember there was a lovely beach. I will check this out.

How does your ds learn french at school or after school classes?

You could at some pint try a ski holday , I love the French Alps and y;our son would prob love the snow. We go to Megeve which is an hour and quarter from Geneva. I love France. Yes La Rochelle is fab in the summer too. !!

We went with Thomson al fresco last year to La Garangoire. Fantastic. Lots to do really child friendly, Nice towns & beaches close by. La Rchelle is further down than here. But we felt this was far enough for our first drive with the kids, we sailed into Caen.

It is daunting - but you will love it.
On the drive through france if you are feeling a little nervy and worried about stopping and ordering food - there is always McDonalds.(not ideal I know but first place to try out your french & you always have the pictures as a back up until you find your feet, and your courage).

We found everyone really helpful. As long as you show willing.

I commented on a thread similar to this last year - will attempt to dig it out. Just south of La Rochelle is an island called I'le D'Oleron, we used to go there every year and stayed in this hotel here

La Rochelle airport is 45 minutes drive away as is the TGV station.

Will dig out the link!

Hi yah,

We were the same when we first ventured into europe. I would say avoid paris as they tend not to want to use english. But having said that, your son will prob relish being the translator for you both!
Pick up a rough guide, lonely planet from the library and flick through to see what areas in france interest you then go from there.
At the back of these guide books they have some simple but useful words and sentences to use. We loved giving their language a go even tho 9/10 times they didn't understand us at all. ha ha.
We really enjoyed going to Monet's home in Giverny(?) and also stayed in the coastal town of dieppe.

good luck and enjoy!