10 Tips for Getting to France With Kids by Plane or Ferry

Book flights 5-8 months ahead and choose Tuesday or Wednesday departures to save money while aiming for early morning Paris arrivals to combat jetlag. Pack 3-4 complete outfits per child, extra diapers, snacks, and entertainment like tablets with headphones. Consider Emirates A380s for spacious seating or ferry routes from Dover for a relaxed journey with room to stretch. Target suitable travel months like October through March for better weather and fewer crowds. These strategies will transform your family’s French adventure.

Choose the Right Flight Times for Your Family’s Schedule

When you’re planning a family trip to France, timing your flight booking can save you hundreds of dollars and set the tone for a smoother vacation. Book your Europe flights 5-8 months ahead to maximize savings, especially for international routes.

Target the cheapest travel months—October, November, January, February, and March—while avoiding expensive summer peaks in May through July.

Choose Tuesday or Wednesday departures to save $25-$350 per ticket compared to pricey Sunday flights.

For arrival times, aim for early morning flights around 7-8 AM in Paris. These arrivals give you a full day to combat jetlag through light activities and help kids adjust to the time difference.

Morning flights also work well with children’s nap schedules during travel, reducing crankiness. Consider booking multi-city tickets if you plan to fly to distant southern destinations like Nice or Provence and return through Paris, which can be more efficient than relying solely on train connections.

Pack Smart Essentials for Traveling With Children Under Five

Packing for international travel with toddlers requires strategic planning that balances essential needs with luggage limitations. You’ll need 3-4 complete outfits per child, plus extra pajamas and layers for unpredictable European weather.

Pack 1.5 times your anticipated diaper supply—you don’t want shortages mid-flight. Include wet wipes, diaper cream, and backup diapers even for potty-training kids.

Bring diverse snacks like fruit pouches, crackers, and granola bars alongside sippy cups and bibs. Use a snack box to contain loose items and prevent messy spills throughout your journey. Sleep essentials matter: pack familiar loveys, portable sound machines, and extra blankets to recreate comfort in unfamiliar spaces.

Don’t forget your basic first aid kit with children’s pain medication, thermometer, and sunscreen. Store digital and physical passport copies as backup documentation. Smart packing prevents stress and keeps everyone comfortable.

Book Emirates A380 Services for Extra Space and Comfort

Once you’ve got your luggage sorted, choosing the right airline and aircraft can make or break your family travel experience. Emirates A380s offer exceptional space that’ll transform your journey to France with kids.

You’ll find economy seats with 32-34″ pitch and 13.3″ touchscreen entertainment, plus USB and AC outlets to keep devices charged.

For families with two adults and two children, automatic seating together is attempted, though paid seat selection guarantees your preferences.

Consider the upper deck’s twin seats—perfect for couples traveling with kids seated nearby. Children under 13 are always placed with adults, and bassinets are available through Manage Your Booking.

The aircraft’s massive entertainment catalog and spacious cabins mean less fidgeting and happier travelers for your French adventure. Emirates operates the world’s largest A380 fleet, ensuring consistent availability and service quality across their extensive route network.

Consider Ferry Options for a More Relaxed Journey Experience

Why rush through airports when you can turn your journey to France into part of the adventure? Ferries offer stress-free travel with small children compared to flying, giving you space to stretch out and relax during the crossing.

For budget-conscious families, Dover routes are your cheapest options. DFDS Dover to Dunkirk costs £200 for four people, while their early booking offer provides 15% off Dover sailings.

If you’re seeking a more leisurely experience, Portsmouth to Saint-Malo overnight by Brittany Ferries offers comfortable cabins and restaurant service like a cruise ship. For those wanting to minimize driving time once in France, choose ports closer to your destination – Caen offers just a 1-hour drive to many Normandy attractions.

Longer crossings let you have lunch and let kids burn energy. Once you dock, you’ll find family-friendly attractions nearby – Saint-Malo’s ramparts for pirate adventures, Caen’s Festyland theme park, or Cherbourg’s submarine exhibitions.

Prepare Entertainment and Comfort Items for Long Travel Days

Long travel days with children often become endurance tests without proper preparation, but the right entertainment arsenal transforms hours of potential meltdowns into manageable journey segments. Pack kid-friendly headphones and pre-load tablets with downloaded content as backup for failed in-flight systems. Audio books provide variety beyond video entertainment, though you’ll want to alternate screen time with non-screen activities to prevent crankiness.

Fill seat pockets with quiet fidget toys like Pop-Its, marble mazes, and infinity cubes that offer endless manipulation without loose parts. Reusable sticker books and Water Wow! drawing books create mess-free engagement, while magnetic blocks and travel-sized puzzles challenge older kids. Don’t forget compact games like playing cards and 2×2 Rubik’s Cubes that entertain for hours in minimal space. Consider providing each child with their own personal backpack filled with age-appropriate activities to foster independence and keep them engaged with their own entertainment choices.

Plan Multi-Destination Trips to Maximize Your French Adventure

France’s diverse regions offer distinct experiences that complement each other beautifully when you’re planning a multi-destination family trip. You’ll find that combining Paris with Normandy creates perfect historical connections—start with Louvre scavenger hunts, then explore D-Day sites in Caen.

The Loire Valley pairs wonderfully with Provence, letting kids experience fairy-tale châteaux before discovering Roman history in Arles.

Consider practical logistics when planning your route. TGV trains whisk you from Paris to Avignon in just three hours, making southern destinations surprisingly accessible.

Brittany’s Saint-Malo offers tidal adventures at Mont-Saint-Michel, while the French Riviera provides beach relaxation after culture. Family-friendly activities range from pastry tours in Paris to dolphin-watching excursions along the coast.

Four-week loops from Calais to the Pyrenees maximize your adventure, incorporating everything from Alpine activities to coastal explorations.

Smart routing ensures you’ll experience France’s full spectrum without exhausting young travelers.

Research Regional Temperature Variations Before Packing

Once you’ve mapped out your multi-destination route across France, you’ll need to pack strategically for markedly different climates that can catch unprepared families off guard. France’s diverse geography creates distinct temperature zones that’ll impact your kids’ comfort and activities.

Oceanic regions like Brittany and Normandy stay cool with 15.5°C summers and mild 6°C winters, requiring layers and rain gear.

Continental areas including Burgundy swing from hot 18.5°C summers to freezing 1.5°C winters.

Mediterranean zones like Marseille offer warm 18°C+ summers with mild 8°C winters, perfect for lighter clothing.

Mountain regions stay considerably colder year-round.

Pack versatile layers that adapt to these variations. Include waterproofs for high-rainfall areas receiving 850-1,500mm annually, and lighter fabrics for sunny Mediterranean regions with 75% sunshine levels. France’s location in the temperate zone means families can expect warm summers and moderately cold winters across most regions, helping you plan appropriate clothing for shoulder seasons.

Coordinate Travel Dates With Extended Family Members

While booking solo family trips offers flexibility, coordinating travel dates with grandparents, cousins, and extended family transforms your French adventure into a memorable multigenerational experience.

With 57% of parents planning to travel with grandparents and children, you’re part of a growing trend that’s up 17% from last year.

Start planning early since 85% of families prioritize school holiday alignment. Summer holidays work best for 68% of families, while 33% book trips 2-3 months ahead.

Consider using travel advisors—71% of parents now embrace professional help, up dramatically from just 17% previously. With 81% consulting children on holiday destinations, involve the younger family members in choosing French regions that appeal to multiple generations.

Since 80% of respondents fund children’s trips and 78% cover grandchildren’s expenses, discuss budget contributions upfront.

Take Advantage of Increased Flight Availability to Popular Destinations

Getting to France with your family has never been easier thanks to a massive expansion in flight options and availability. Air France alone is operating up to 900 daily flights to nearly 190 destinations during summer 2025, with capacity increases of 4% for long-haul routes and 2% for European destinations.

You’ll find particularly great options for Mediterranean getaways, with 8% more capacity to Italy and 3% to Spain.

The airline has added 29 seasonal routes, including family-friendly destinations like Palma de Mallorca and Rhodes.

With France recording its highest daily flight average of 9,408 flights in 2024 and budget carriers like Transavia expanding to 123 destinations, you’ve got more choices than ever to find affordable, convenient flights that work with your family’s schedule. The growing popularity of budget travel trends means families can access competitive pricing while still enjoying convenient booking options for their French vacation.

Prepare for Arrival at France’s Top Family-Friendly Regions

When you land in France with your kids, you’ll discover a country perfectly designed for family adventures across five distinct regions, each offering unique climates and attractions.

Paris Region welcomes over 44 million travelers annually, featuring Disneyland Paris’s 10.4 million visitors and 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites nationwide.

The French Riviera offers Mediterranean warmth with destinations like Nice and Cannes, while Normandy and Brittany provide mild oceanic climates perfect for coastal exploration.

Provence and Corsica deliver hot summers and dry winters, ideal for outdoor activities.

The French Alps and Pyrenees offer continental climates with snowy winters and pleasant summers.

France’s extensive transportation infrastructure includes high-speed trains connecting major cities, regional trains serving smaller towns, and comprehensive bus networks that make traveling with children remarkably convenient.

You’ll find the best visiting conditions during late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) across all regions, ensuring comfortable weather for your family’s French adventure.

The Sum Up

You’ve got all the tools you need for an amazing French adventure with your kids. Don’t overthink it—trust your instincts and embrace the journey’s unexpected moments. Whether you’re soaring above clouds or sailing across waters, your family’s creating memories that’ll last forever. France is waiting with open arms, croissants, and countless discoveries. Take a deep breath, double-check your passports, and get ready for the trip of a lifetime. You’ve absolutely got this!