Sunday 15 January 2012

Family Friendly Holidays in Normandy

Posted by Rosie

With 2 boys of our own we always appreciated finding a holiday cottage that made life for us frazzled parents just that little bit easier. With that in mind, when we set up Eco-Gites of LĂ©nault we took this on board and tried to plan for families in the way others had done for us when Tom and Ben were much smaller.

So, what makes ours such a family-friendly holiday cottage? Let's start inside. We try and provide all those things that make holidays with toddlers so much easier but would mean you'd need a trailer AND roof box if you wanted to bring them all yourself. In the gite you will find:- a travel cot, high chair, booster seat, changing mat, potty, toilet trainer seat, stair gates, fire-guard, waterproof mattress covers, children's crockery and cutlery, a night light and on request a bottle steriliser and stick blender. There is also the large selection of children's toys, games, puzzles and books (plus a good number for the adults too).

TV - many of our visiting families have said how they have loved not having the TV and the accompanying nagging to watch the box when the weather outside is glorious. However, youngsters, and possibly even more so adults, do sometimes need to flop and for that reason we offer the TV as an optional extra. You can even request it part way through he week if needs be. And free of charge for all guests is unlimited Internet access. Just don't tell the kids of you won't want them to know ;-)

Play area and Boules Pitch
Moving outside our situation is ideal - the front drive is 300m long and even then the roads are incredibly quiet around here making family walks a pleasure. There are also miles of local footpaths that start right at our back gate. We even have a spare toddler buggy if you thought your little one didn't need it but they think otherwise once here! The gite has it's own patio garden with large shady parasol and garden furniture but the real treat is just a few metres away, the play area. In case you are NOT thinking about booking you may not want your children to read the next bit. Our play area comprises a large hard-surfaced play/boules pitch (boules supplied) and a grassy play area where you'll find the double play towers, covered sand-pit, swings (including a baby swing), rope-ladders, slide, mini climbing wall and connecting bridge. If there is one wail we hear from children staying with us, it's "Do we HAVE to go out, we're having such FUN here!" But I haven't finished - there's the covered barn in case you need shade or shelter, table football, bikes and other outdoor toys and the large netted trampoline (although you do sometimes have to ask the cats to get off before you can go on!). 

Baa
Situated on a smallholding, guests can get the chance to live like a farmer without once having to muck out the pigs! Everyone can collect the eggs, feed the chickens and stroke a lamb. Time it right and you'll get to see newborn piglets or just hatched chicks! Our dogs never tire of having a stick thrown for them and at least one of the cats was put on this earth simply to have his tummy tickled.

Once you've chilled all day and the children have worn themselves out in the play area, why not give yourself a night or two off from cooking. We can supply a simple cooked supper, salad and pudding brought to your door ready to serve up and eat. Or if you prefer, why not try our BBQ pack where you can pick and chose exactly how many sausages etc you want and what ready-made salads you'd like, finishing the whole thing off with a pudding or cake. And for a bit of luxury - well you are on holiday - why not order our luxury afternoon tea. Click on the link for more details. 

No-one expects the worse, but sometimes things do go wrong on holiday and you suddenly find yourself in a foreign country with a crisis on your hands. Living next door we are there to help in what-ever way we can. My French is just about good enough to help you through most hiccups you might encounter and there's no problem if you want us to make a restaurant reservation for you or ring the garage.

I think with all this to offer it is not inaccurate for us to say that we really do offer Family Friendly Holidays that don't cost the Earth. For further details including how to book please visit our website http://www.eco-gites.eu/

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