Page 260 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

258  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling with Children Travelling on a Budget Time
Families visiting Brittany Costs in Brittany vary a great France is one hour ahead of
benefit from a range of deal by season. Hotel rates and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
discounts. Admission to all gîte rental prices as well as other and six hours ahead of US
national museums and costs, such as those for ferry Eastern Standard Time (EST)
monuments is free for EU crossings, are higher during in winter, and moves another
residents aged under 25 and the peak July–end of August hour ahead to daylight saving
for all under-18s; most private holiday season. If you can time (DST) from late March to
attractions have reduced prices choose when to travel, avoiding October. DST in Europe begins
for the under-12s. Children the summer season will work slightly later and ends earlier
under 12 travel for half the out cheaper and you’ll miss than in North America.
adult fare on most public the crowds. The French use the 24-hour
transport, and children under Costs can also be cut by staying clock; for example, 7pm is
4 travel for free if they don’t in chambres-d’hôtes rather than expressed as 19:00.
occupy a seat. hotels. Prices are lower, they
Many country hotels and are often more attractive, and Electricity
B&Bs (chambres-d’hôtes) have breakfast is included. Staying in
family rooms with several a self-catering gîte can be more The voltage in France is
beds (chambres familiales), economical still, but most require 220v-AC, and plugs are of the
which can be shared for a a minimum stay of a weekend or standard two-round-pin type
reasonable cost. Some hotel a week. Camping is very popular used in most of Europe. Buy
chains (notably Novotel in France. There are many sites a plug adaptor (or a voltage
and Ibis) specialize offering mobile homes, pre- transformer if coming from
in family accommodation pitched tents, gypsy caravans the US) prior to your trip.
and often have good offers and bungalows.
(check their websites for When dining, go for the set Responsible Tourism
more information). If you menus – ordering à la carte will
are staying in one area, a be far more expensive – and Facilities for environmentally-
self-contained gîte can be take your main meal at midday, friendly travel are based on
exceptional value. not in the evening, as the best- France’s rural tourism network.
Many restaurants offer value menus du jour, or formules, Farmhouse accommodation
a children’s menu (menu are often only available for is available through Gîtes de
enfants) for around €8–12. lunch. Crêperies are also great France (see p222). Visitors can
For children who won’t eat for a light, bargain meal. find out about local green
more intricate French fare, Sightseeing can be made tourism (tourisme vert or eco)
there is the traditional Breton more cost effective with the use initiatives, activities and organic
crêperie, offering a range of of multi-entry discount cards markets (marchés bio) through
delicious sweet and savoury (see p257). If you rent a car, book tourist offices. For green travel
pancake fillings. it online to get the best rates. facilities, see p264.
DIRECTORY
Customs CDT Haute- Loire-Atlantique US
Information Bretagne–Ille- Tourisme ∑ travel.state.gov
et-Vilaine Tel 02 51 72 95 30.
Douanes 5 Rue Pré Botté, ∑ tourisme- Travellers with
Tel 0300 20 03 700. 35101 Rennes. loireatlantique.com Special Needs
∑ douane.gouv.fr Tel 02 99 78 47 46.
∑ bretagne35.com Tourisme en Pays de Association des
Tourist la Loire Paralysés de France
Information CDT du Morbihan Tel 02 40 89 89 89. Tel 01 40 78 69 00.
PIBS Kerino, Allée Nicolas- ∑ apf.asso.fr (French)
Brittany Tourism Le-Blanc, 56010 Vannes. ∑ enpaysdelaloire.com
1 Rue Raoul-Ponchon, Tel 02 97 54 06 56. SNCF
35069 Rennes Cedex. ∑ morbihan.com Travel Safety ∑ uk.voyages-sncf.com
Tel 02 99 28 44 30. Advice Tel 0890 640 650.
∑ brittanytourism. Finistère Tourisme ∑ accessibilite.sncf.
com Tel 02 98 76 20 70. Australia com (French)
∑ finisteretourisme.com ∑ dfat.gov.au
CDT Côtes d’Armor ∑ smartraveller.gov.au Tourisme &
7 Rue St-Benoît, France Tourism Handicaps
22046 St-Brieuc. Development UK Tel 01 44 11 10 41.
Tel 02 96 59 06 58. Agency ∑ gov.uk/foreign- ∑ tourisme-
∑ cotesdarmor.com ∑ france.fr travel-advice handicaps.org

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