Are we bonkers to consider a long drive with the kids for our holiday?

[Fidgetsmum]

Going to France for 2 weeks. Kids will be 4.5 yrs old (daughter) and 16 mths (son).

If we drive, it'll be to Folkestone, Channel Tunnel, then 9hrs 45 mins drive to the destination. We've never done more than a few hours and both kids have been ok with that. On the way down it'll be at night, and on the way back it'll be daytime.

We'd love tips on how we can make this work without having nervous breakdowns. Like how many stops and for how long. And how to keep 4yr old happy and entertained.

Thanks in advance!

[Fuschia]

We went to France when twins were 2 and child no 1 was 7

It was ok

Story CDs ... Few new little toys

They wanted to walk all round the ferry

We drove to Bordeaux

10h plus

Nice services with play area at le Somme

Stayed overnight in formule 1 at le mans

[ClareC]

Night will be fine! Daytime...... Could you travel night instead?

[Fuschia]

French motorways are much smoother than the uk

[The Nappy Lady]

Book auto route stay in advance if you want to break the journey up - they are often full if you just turn up.

We did it when DD1 had chicken pox at 2 so we couldn't fly. Survived but ended up spending 4 long hours in a service station - 3-7am with her while hubby who did all the driving got much needed sleep in the car.

Films on the iPad are a godsend I'd say for this type of thing, though you get child will be tricky.

Doesn't Piriton help with travel sickness AND make them sleepy. ;-)

I'd say def. stagger the journey over 2 days if you can at least on the way back, maybe make it special by finding somewhere lovely to stop over?

Good luck.

[Fuschia]

Food when travelling is much better and if you stop overnight half way you can get picnic food at a supermarket

We found our journeys absolutely fine but did take two days each direction with an overnight (very cheap at formule 1)

Avoid the heavy weekends for the influx out of Paris though

Tolls are expensive

Lots of motorway is unlit

I wouldn't have been able to do it overnight, mr f duesnt drive and I lose concentration after 3h max

[Fuschia]

Food better than uk I meant

[nunheadmum]

We find kids songs CD's a godsend on long drives....'wheels on the bus' type ones. Can drive us a bit mad but Monkey Music ones have earned their money for us.

Having driven to Scotland (8-10hrs depending on the traffic) both in one go and with a split, I'd advise stopping off if you can. But try and break the back of the journey on the first day if you can.

[Fidgetsmum]

Thanks very much for all the advice. Almost everyone else we've spoken to has said do it in two jumps. I'm reticent as I feel the journey eats into my proper holiday time, but it's so expensive to fly and drive, that it will have to be.

[nunheadmum]

It all depends how good your kids are in the car and whether you can factor in some sleep time. We're lucky that our two do tend to enjoy a bit of sitting, staring into space so we could probably manage a long one if we wanted to.

I think the issue is more a safety one for us - trying to drive for all that time if they are playing up and getting on your nerves, just seems unsafe to me. For us last time there was a risk of a crying toddler so it was a no-no but maybe now they're bigger, it could be do-able.

[Fidgetsmum]

Yes. That is worth considering. We did a 3 hour back from Bristol this weekend and older one was absolutely fine, but little one had a good shout for 15 mins before dropping off and then woke just before we got home with a good shout too. I think we'd just pull over if there was a real shout going on... as long as we're not in a rush to get anywhere, I think we'll be ok. Shall report back in June!