
Best Family Friendly Hotels in France
France – sometimes dubbed ‘l’hexagone’ due to its six-sided shape – is home to what is arguably the most romantic city in the world, and the glitziest rivieras in Europe. The varying climates here will suit all types of traveller – from the cooler north to the sun-soaked south, balmy interior regions and snowy Alpine reaches. Our European neighbour is just a ferry hop, Eurostar ride, tunnel drive, or short flight away. And it provides internationally acclaimed gourmet foods, indigenous cheeses and fine wines – so much so, that French gastronomy has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
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Rhône-Alps, Courchevel
Hotel Barrière Les Neiges
(5 stars)Taking its name from the surrounding snows, this mountain chalet gives direct access to the slopes. This Hotel Barrière has 20 guest rooms, 22 suites and a penthouse, all draped in sumptuous cream and silky white fabrics with strewn faux furs, offsetting the natural wood structure. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Les Neiges has two restaurants, a bar, a cigar lounge and a pretty terrace for exterior dining accompanied by the DJ’s beats. And in the Diane Barrière Spa, guests will find six treatment booths, a hammam, sauna, cold bath, swimming pool and aquatic course, all spread across 1,000 m2 of pampering space.
Aquitaine, Martillac
Les Sources De Caudalie
(5 stars)Take a five-star spa holiday at Les Sources De Caudalie. Set beside a peaceful lake, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in the countryside, yet it’s just a 20-minute taxi hop back to the city centre. The hotel’s menu of ‘vinotherapy’ treatments has been inspired by the region’s produce and there are both indoor and outdoor pools. Additional alfresco amenities include a tennis court, a 3-hole pitch and putt golf course and free bike hire to explore the surrounding Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards. The building is grand, but it was crafted using reclaimed materials from local farms. And, combined with its own kitchen garden, Les Sources De Caudalie boasts an excellent carbon footprint.
Ile de France, Paris, 8th arr.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
(5 stars)If you saw the final episodes of HBO’s Sex and the City TV series, you’ll recognise Hôtel Plaza Athénée as the splendid establishment in which Carrie Bradshaw stayed. The character was wowed by the view from her suite balcony, and you will be too as it’s opposite the capital’s most iconic emblem. The front elevation features wrought-iron balconies planted with colourful flowers and is found on Avenue Montaigne, close to designer boutiques. After a spot of nearby shopping, you can unwind in the hotel’s Dior spa and dine in its Michelin-starred restaurant.
Languedoc-Roussillon, Puissalicon
Château St Pierre de Serjac
(4 stars)This enchanting 19th-century Chateau Pierre de Serjac is the first word in luxury and style and boasts eight elegant rooms for guests to choose from nestled in a traditional wine estate. The city of Montpellier can be found just an hour away and for people who want to be surrounded by nature while enjoying first-class amenities such as a spa and outdoor infinity pool, this is the perfect place to stay. Guests will be able to spend their days cycling through the countryside or playing tennis on the onsite court before enjoying fine dining in the hotel’s restaurant.
Ile de France, Paris, 8th arr.
Le Bristol Paris
(5 stars)Sitting in the centre of old historical Paris, on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, The Bristol was the first hotel to be labelled a ‘Palace’ (French terminology for a hotel a cut above five-star). Opened in 1925, and now one of the Oetker group hotels, its marble foyer, crystal chandeliers, 17th-century tapestries, and Louis XV and XVI style furnishings, resonate affluence. The hotel has an award-winning spa, a sixth-floor swimming pool with panoramic views across Paris, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. Just 14 miles from Orly Airport and 18.5 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the hotel also offers charging points for electric vehicles, should you decide to hire a car during your stay.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Monte Carlo Beach
(5 stars)The Monte-Carlo Beach serves as a meeting point for lovers of glamour in the Riviera, and immensely benefits from its close-to-sea location. Situated between a pine forest and the sea, It provides a serene atmosphere. The luxury resort overlooks the azure horizon of the Mediterranean Sea and has rooms whose décor is a mix of contemporary notes, and the spirit of the roaring twenties. Visitors also get to swim in the saltwater Olympic pool overlooking the beach.
Ile de France, Paris, 16th arr.
Shangri-La Paris
(5 stars)Stay in the regal building that was once home to Prince Roland Bonaparte. It’s listed among France’s “Monuments Historiques” and has an enviable location opposite the Seine and facing the Eiffel Tower. As such, rooms (all with seating areas, marble bathrooms and Guerlain toiletries) have an outlook of one or both of these landmarks, with private balconies providing the opportunity for the most romantic of selfies. The hotel group has its roots in Asia, so you’ll find plenty of aesthetic and cultural influences, particularly in the food. And the dining at Shangri-La Paris is something very special, with two refined restaurants, one of which is Michelin-starred.
Ile de France, Paris, 1st arr.
Cheval Blanc Paris
(5 stars)Just moments away from the Louvre and the Marais, the Cheval Blanc Paris gracefully rises out of the Seine. Occupying a historic yet beautifully renovated Maison, the Cheval Blanc’s interior – designed by Peter Marino- is playful and distinctly French. The hotel’s 72 rooms and suites are intimate and luxurious, many also boast commanding views of the city. Many of the hotel’s exclusive suites even have some of the best views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine to be found anywhere in Paris. The Cheval is home to the Dior Spa and Rossano Ferretti salon and thus it meets every beauty and wellness need of its guests. The Cheval is home to Hakuba, a stylish Japanese restaurant, and Le Tout-Paris a Michelin-starred brasserie and cocktail bar which gazes out over Paris. For a true culinary experience, guests can also dine at Plenitude, a three Michelin star restaurant which serves some of the best food to be found anywhere in France.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Saint-Tropez
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière
(5 stars)This former wedding gift became a hotel in 1904, sought after by the Parisian Aristocracy during the 1920s. Now the 12-acre resort boasts 99 bedrooms, a relaxing pool terrace, a kids’ pool (part of their Summer Camp complex), an indoor pool (in the Valmont Spa) and a lane swimming pool for sportier types. There are five restaurants onsite, serving everything from Peruvian-Asian fusion food to Mediterranean buffets and antipasti. As well as a 1000 square metres spa, tennis courts, boules green and a private beach — Jardin Tropézina.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
(5 stars)As part of the Four Seasons group, you can expect high-end understated luxury as standard at Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. Set on a peninsula enclave, by a small fishing village, this area has long been popular for famous faces seeking an escape from the limelight, in the lap of luxury. The award-winning spa’s hydrotherapy circuit is a great way to unwind and begin your holiday, before sampling Michelin-starred cuisine at the Chef’s Table in Salon des Collections. For 360 degree views, steam bath, hot tub and a ‘Great Gatsby’ feel, book the Suite Cocteau Penthouse, one of its 74 rooms. Families can take advantage of the kids’ club and there are indoor and outdoor pools for year-round swims.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Tourrettes
Terre Blanche
(5 stars)The perfect place for a countryside break, this hotel is known for being one of the most prestigious golf resorts in the world. Terre Blanche is set inland, in huge lush grounds with beautiful woodland on the doorstep. Wander the gardens’ paths and you’ll be greeted by the gentle floral and pine aromas of this nature haven. Facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a 3200m² spa with a hot tub and a steam bath, two 18-hole golf courses, two tennis courts, a fitness centre and a kid’s club – ensuring the whole family is fully catered for. In high season you’ll have a choice of four restaurants and a wealth of activities, sights and tourist attractions to explore nearby.
Rhône-Alps, Val dʼIsère
Airelles Val d’Isère
(5 stars)The dark beams, heavy ornate wooden fireplaces, oversized oil paintings, wood-panelled tubs and Elizabethan style furnishings found in Airelles Val d’Isèr creates an almost medieval feel. Every room has a bath here, and although there’s a pool and hot tub, the option for a private soak post-slopes is most welcome. Guests have ski-in, ski-out access and can buy ski passes on site. Elsewhere, the hotel has a Guerlain spa, an outdoor terrace, gym, two restaurants (French and Italian) and a bar. Double rooms, through to two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes are available.
