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Telegraph

The most affordable holidays in France this summer

Creamy brie smeared on a crusty baguette, crisp local wines sipped in a sun-dappled square and Alpine wildflower meadows to roam – our love affair with French holidays shows no signs of fading. A recent poll by Ink Digital may have ranked our neighbour across the Channel as the second least-affordable half-term destination worldwide, but we've got you covered. We've sourced 15 affordable escapes – from beach holidays and mountain retreats to city breaks and luxury for less – that offer value without draining your savings or cutting corners on quality. What's more, they've all still got availability remaining this year. Remember, affordable doesn't mean cheap; it means sourcing smart alternatives. For example, a seaside apartment in the Languedoc can offer the same sun and sea as the Riviera at a fraction of the cost, and smaller cities like Carcassonne or La Rochelle offer similar cultural depth to Paris, without the inflated price tag. Plus, it's so close that those conscious of their carbon footprint can swap planes for trains and ferries. Find the perfect break for you: Beaches Mountains Families/groups Luxury for less City breaks Beach Charente Maritime Charente Maritime, on the west coast of France, is a little-known alternative to the Cote d'Azur – it's far enough south to rival the Mediterranean coast for sunshine in the summer, and its beaches are big and sandy. Its capital is La Rochelle, but day trips to the seaside villages of Royan, Cognac and La Tremblade – world famous for its oysters and mussels – are a must. A seafood platter here costs around €24 in comparison to €40 to €100 around Nice. How to do it Siblu (020 8610 0186) offers a week in a two-bedroom self-catering holiday home at Les Charmettes sleeping four people from £1,121 total, departing August 16. Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen start from £831 return with Brittany Ferries. Corsica Don't overlook Corsica, the Mediterranean's French-owned island with more than 200 beaches. For the last few years, August has been a quiet month and travellers can benefit from prices lowered to lure them back. Pick up picnic supplies at the rustic L'Île-Rousse market, then laze on nearby Calvi Beach, or head south to seek out the iconic horseshoe bay at Palombaggia, the Instagram-worthy pontoon posted on the turquoise waters of Santa Giulia Beach, or to pretty pine forest-backed Pinarello Beach. How to do it Corsican Places (01489 866931) offers seven nights at L'Ancre Bleue, a four-bedroom villa with a private pool and panoramic bay views from £699 per person, based on eight sharing in June, including flights and car hire. Easyjet fly direct from Gatwick to Figari from £105 return. Cote d'Azur Prefer to be on the soles of your feet, instead of sunbathing? Why not walk the glistening Cote d'Azur coastline? Home to glitzy Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this stretch of southern France is notoriously expensive, but this self-guided walking tour, which flows at a sedate pace, comes in well below the usual £1,000 holiday budget. Enjoy views of pastel-coloured mansions tumbling down to beaches, citrus tree-scented air and long seafood lunches. How to do it KE Adventure (01768 773 966) offers the seven-day Walking Menton to Nice trip from March to December from £785 per person, including accommodation, some meals, self-guided information pack, luggage transfers, but excluding flights. Mountains Clarée Valley The French Alps aren't just for snow bunnies with deep pockets. Come summer, think: wildflower meadows, larch forests and cooling glacial lakes. Most holidaymakers invariably head to the Alpine honeypots of Chamonix and Lake Annecy, but opt instead for the Clarée Valley, a well-kept secret near the Italian border that was saved from over-development by a local farmer's daughter. Follow its walking trails with an experienced guide and support family-run hotels to find the best value in this affordable alternative. How to do it Mountain Kingdoms (01453 844 400) offers an eight-day guided Clarée Valley walking holiday from £2,070 per person, including, accommodation, meals and flights. Departing July 6, August 17 and October 12. Morzine Seeking complete seclusion? Golèse Refuge is a new remote mountain hut couched between the Giffre and Manche valleys, based at 1,660 metres and completely unreachable by car. A 1.5-hour hike from the town of Chardonnière, it sits amid sweeping mountain pastures and is the ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding peaks of Bostan, the Dents Blanches, or even the Dents du Midi and Mont Blanc. Refuel in its snug rustic restaurant, dishing up regional Savoyards specialities. How to do it A four-night stay at Golèse Refuge (0033 450 9059 53) in a private room, half board, costs from £244 per person. Easyjet fly from London Gatwick to Geneva from £57 return. Families/groups Mercantour National Park Want to walk but have young ones that lack enthusiasm – bring a donkey! This self-guided family walking tour, suitable for children aged five and above, explores the undiscovered Mercantour National Park and equips you with a well-cared-for donkey to carry your bags and keep morale high. Staying in a mix of ecolodges, yurts, hotels and mountain inns, you'll follow old postman trails between hamlets, with time for picnics and four-legged cuddles. How to do it Responsible Travel (01273 823 700) offers the self-guided six-day Mercantour Family Walking Holiday from £589 per person, including full board accommodation, but excluding flights, departing mid-May to mid-September. British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Nice from £189 return. Canal du Midi Bundling everyone onto a boat often works out far cheaper than purchasing multiple hotel rooms. Try the Canal du Midi, a 150-mile-long Unesco-listed 17th-century waterway that threads through the vineyards, medieval towns and canal-side villages of the Languedoc region. With no experience required, families and groups can hire their own boat and pootle along (dog in tow too) stopping for wine tastings at Château de Ventenac, swimming at Jouarres Lake near Homps, strolling through Carcassonne's medieval citadel or for go-karting and mini-golf in Vias. How to do it Le Boat (020 3993 1218) offers a seven-night self-catered stay on board Caprice, sleeping up to six people, starting and ending in Port Cassafières, from £209 per person, departing October 16. Ryanair fly from London Stanstead to Béziers from £57 return. Luberon If you're seeking something for a special occasion, why not hire an entire hamlet? Located in Luberon, 40km north of Aix-en-Provence, Le Grand Banc is a secluded hamlet with 10 houses (sleeping up to 24) set along a private cobbled street. Each home sleeps between two and five people, is individually styled with art and sculptures and offers idyllic views. All guests dine together around the huge outside marble table, there's a saltwater pool, table tennis, pétanque, and e-bikes available to hire. Perhaps a little pricey per head, but a bargain when you have the whole village to yourself. How to do it Scott Williams (01749 812721) offers a seven-night stay at Le Grand Banc from £750 per person based on 24 sharing, including a cook to prepare meals and daily maid service. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Marseilles from £109 return, or travel by TGV to Avignon (1hr30 away). Luxury for less Carcassonne For a guilt-free dose of indulgence, book La Belle Eco – a bewitching 19th-century manor with nine rooms just outside Unesco-listed Carcassonne, that combines Art Deco sophistication with eco-friendly refurbishments such as solar panels, a secret organic garden and a naturally purified swimming pool. How to do it La Belle offer a two-night stay at La Belle Eco from €380 based on two sharing a luxury double room with breakfast. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Carcassonne from £100 return. Villeréal Live out your Marie Antoinette fantasies at Château Majestic, an 18th-century moat-encircled stone mansion set in 10 hectares of private gardens just five minutes from Villeréal, one of France's most beautiful villages, famed for its food markets. Sleeping up to 14 people beneath its soaring ceilings, it flaunts its own herb garden, hammocks, private gym and heated swimming pool. How to do it CV Villas (020 3993 4088) offer seven nights at Chateau Majestic from £664 per person, including return flights from London based on full occupancy. Lot Valley Set near the Midi-Pyrenees region of Southern France, the deeply rural vineyard-studded Lot Valley only reached the British holiday radars in the last decade and is a top pick for affordable stone villas with pools. Try Le Saltrou near Floressas, which sleeps four in the main building and has a separate garden suite for two (ideal for grandparents or teenagers), plus a garden-framed pool. It's 45 minutes from the historical and art-rich Cahors and its Unesco-listed Valentré Bridge. How to do it Vintage Travel (01954 261 431) offers a week's stay at Le Saltrou from £468 per person, based on six sharing and including return flights from Gatwick to Bergerac and car hire, departing August 30. City breaks Nice The second capital of the Cote d'Azur is known for its city beach, warren-like Old Town, Matisse and Marc Chagall museums, plus it's just a 30-minute drive from Calanques – one of France's newest national parks, home to secluded beaches and hidden coves for snorkelling. Find high design at hostel prices at hip chain Mama Shelter, located in Nice's central Cours Julien district. Suitable for singles, couples and families, perks include free in-room movies, live music sessions and giant table football. How to do it Mama Shelter Nice (0033 428 9511 95) offers a Large Mama Family room with a lounge for four people from £272 per night. Ryanair fly from London Stanstead to Marseille from £97 return. Northern cities If you want to do it all, this whirlwind tour of France's standout northern cities has you covered. Kicking off and ending in Paris, there's time for a fresh croissant and a visit to the Mona Lisa, before winding to Normandy's Mont Saint-Michel, the D-Day landing beaches and the Bayeux tapestry. Then move onto Reims for a city tour toasted with a flute or two of champagne from the surrounding vineyards. How to do it Contiki (0808 281 1120) offers the seven-day France in a Week guided tour from £921 per person, including accommodation, some meals, but not international travel. Departures in June and August. Eurostar runs from London Kings Cross to Paris Gard du Nord from £167 return. Paris Finding an affordable bed in the City of Love isn't for the faint of heart. A solution might be Generator Paris, a hostel/hotel designed like a Parisian art-house movie, right in the heart of the 10th Arrondissement and just a 15-minute walk from Eurostar's Gare du Nord. Ideal for friends and families, it's surrounded by hip art galleries and cafés, plus its rooftop cocktail bar has Moulin Rouge -worthy views of Montmartre. How to do it Generator Paris (0033 170 9884 13) offers a five-night stay in an ensuite Deluxe King from £607 per room – use code 20STAY until July 31 for 20 per cent of stays of four nights or more. Eurostar runs from London Kings Cross to Paris Gard du Nord from £167 return. Lyon For bon vivants, Lyon steals the chef's cap from Paris thanks to its distinctive bouchons dishing up local and affordable specialities such as andouillette, quenelles (dumplings) and bugnes (sweet fritters). Foodies will be right at home in the new Cour des Loges, a historic hotel with a gastronomic restaurant led by chef Anthony Bonnet that's competitively priced for its location in the heart of the historic Old Town. June also marks the Lyon Street Food Festival (25 to 29), so prepare to let your belt out a notch… or three. How to do it Cours des Loges offers double rooms from £281 per night, B&B. Easyjet ( fly from London Luton to Lyon-Saint Exupéry from £78 return.