And if you are not sure where to stay then take a look at our gîte pages for inspiration or maybe treat yourselves to a week in a chambre d'hôte like La Roseraie and be pampered!  What follows are some news updates and information to help you get the most out of the France For Families web pages.

Travel News

Ferry Services:
After many years Hoverspeed suspended its services on their cross channel route between Dover and Calais at the end of 2005. Until the opening of the Channel Tunnel this was the preferred route for many, as it had the fastest crossing time. However competition and rising fuel costs have contributed to the company's financial problems that have resulted in the decision to cease operations.

On a more positive note, Boulogne is re-emerging as a major port on the French side of the channel thanks to the introduction of the relatively new Speed Ferries crossing to the port. To further enhance Boulogne's  position as a major contender in the ferry stakes the town has just opened a new 3km auroroute road link going directly between the port and the A16, greatly reducing traffic congestion in the town and cutting travel times to Paris and beyond. Plans are afoot to make town improvements in the old town, in shopping areas and restaurants and also include the introduction of more hotels, thus encouraging day and short stay visitors to stay in and around the town.

New cross channel route:
You may recall that back in the last quarter of 2005  we wondered what would happen to the Portsmouth to Le Havre route in the light of Brittany Ferries decision not to take over the route from P&O.  Well, a new ferry company, L. D. Lines has now entered the scene. Their ship Norman Spirit is now making the 5 ½  hour crossing once a day between France and England - overnight from Portsmouth and an early evening departure from Le Havre. The ferry has a passenger capacity of 1850, and can carry 700 cars and 110 lorries. With only 59 cabins however you may be advised to book early if your family likes their creature comforts on the outward haul!

Opening of A28 between Rouen and Alençon:
The long awaited new 125 km stretch of the A28 from Rouen-Alençon is now open, and could cut journey times by up to 50 per cent between the 2 towns. A temporary rest aire can be visited near Gacé that offers the possibility of buying hot drinks. This is available until the opening of a new permanent service station at the beginning of June 2006.

French School Holiday Dates

Here are the new dates for French school holidays in 2006 which may prove helpful in the short term if you are planning skiing holidays, or in the summer for planning your travel dates:

B & B (Chambres d'hôtes)

Staying in a French chambre d'hôte can be one of life's little joys and even more so if you have the opportunity to partake in the table d'hôte dining experience (dining with the family for your evening meal) that many offer. This often needs to be booked in advance, so if your stay is purely as a stopover then it pays to be absolutely certain that you have left yourself enough time to get to your destination before dinner is served. The delight of this option is that you get to enjoy good family cooking and regional specialities, more often than not with your host/hostess. Of course longer stays are also an option and from our experience many of the chambre d'hôte that we have stayed in would make an excellent base for a long weekend or even a week; we have met many holiday-makers of all nationalities who have done just that. Check out our suggestions or else browse through some of the guides that we recommend - there is always somewhere to suit your budget and needs.

Gîtes

France For Families now has a directory of gîtes for many of the different regions of France. Each gîte is but a click away, so why not see the large choice on offer. One gîte with a difference is the holiday concept offered by Country Kids in the Ariège area of France. This could be just what you are looking for, combining a gîte holiday (with all the freedom that that brings) with special child care options for young children, allowing you time to yourself or with older members of the family doing those things that are outside the reach of pre-schoolers. We think it is a fantastic idea!

Well all that remains is to wish you the very best in arranging your French holidays this year.  Please do let us know about your experiences so we can keep France For Families updated with as much new information as possible to share the best of France with everyone.

With very best wishes
France For Families