A smart low-cost family break in welcoming surroundings

What wonderful memories we shall have of our holidays in the Nord! Three generations of us all together in a country gîte in Hainaut: the children, the aunts and uncles, and the grandparents. A 4 bedroom gîte paid for with Chèques Vacances, all to ourselves.
There were plenty of leisure activities for everyone, whatever their tastes. We even got reduced rates for the children. They visited the aquarium and the Museum of Natural Sciences in Douai with grandma and granddad. On the way they saw the Belfry. We went to the underground quarries and also bought some of the famous Bêtises de Cambrai sweets Afterwards we took advantage of these few hours of freedom to go for a walk in the countryside. When we all got back to our accommodation we enjoyed telling each other about our day in front of a roaring fire!

In our gîte in the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park we were able to enjoy the area of protected outstanding natural beauty, perfect for walks and days out. My parents spent a day on a farm learning about the growing of endives or chicory, depending on where you come from! They even brought some back with them and we cooked them as a gratin. The week's holiday ended with a discovery weekend. Saturday was an inexpensive family tour of the spa resort of Saint Amand-les-Eaux, the Abbey Tower museum devoted to the history of the former abbey and the Fine-Arts, and then a ride on the tourist train. On Sunday, we joined in the celebrations of the Giants. Following local tradition, the men all got dressed up as women! It was a right laugh!
How wonderful to be able to have a good time without worrying about the cost! Roll on the next holidays!

Sylvie, delighted to have been able to organise this holiday with just a few clicks.

Weekend with pals in an accessible gîte in the Nord

Friday evening we all got in the car and set off for Flanders Opal Coast. At last we're off on an inexpensive weekend, all mates together. Luckily we managed to find a Tourisme et Handicap gîte, one with wheelchair access. With Yohann and his wheelchair it's never easy. 
On Saturday we spent the day in Dunkerque with the traditional walk around the harbour. On the beach, we hired a beach wheelchair and a rickshaw specially adapted for disabled persons. We had a bite to eat in an estaminet where we met some young ch'tis from the region. We even went out with them in the evening; a free concert in a small bar, a really convivial evening out.
Since our gîte was in Houtkerque, on the frontier with Belgium, we decided on Sunday to go around the shops in La Panne and enjoy their local specialities: mussels and chips for lunch, washed down with one of their many beers, and waffles for an afternoon snack. On Monday we did our last sightseeing: the famous Cassel windmill, the Bergues belfry and the Gravelines lighthouse. 
This weekend in the Nord really was fantastic! A great atmosphere in the group gîte for all of us! Roll on the next chance to take a break in the Nord. We'll go to the Braderie in Lille.

Romain, delighted with his special offer weekend in the Nord.