From a guesthouse on the Côte d’Azur to a chalet in the Alps, a farmhouse B&B in the Loire to a chateau in Limousin, we’ve selected hotels that know what kids (and their parents) need

　　1. Le Lodge Kerisper, La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany

　　This breezy boutique hotel is the perfect base for a seaside holiday, just a stone's throw from the beautiful beaches of Brittany's south coast. The style throughout is beach-hut chic with lots of pale wood and linen, but it's incredibly family-friendly, too: there's a small heated outdoor pool and garden, books and board-games to borrow, mountain-bikes for hire and a baby-sitting service. There are 20 rooms including several family suites, some of which have private, shady terraces, and inter-connecting rooms which can cater for family groups of all sizes. There's no restaurant but the yachting town of La Trinité-sur-Mer with its crêperies and seafood restaurants is just 100m away.

　　2. Chateau Ribagnac, Limousin

　　The Bergot family became unwitting TV stars when they featured in the Channel 4 series No Going Back, which followed their move from London to France in 2003 and their struggles to renovate a dilapidated chateau deep in the Limousin countryside. Ten years on, and there's no sign of the toil that went into creating this relaxed country house retreat. Patrick and Colette have three young children so they know exactly what's needed to make a family holiday work. Just let them know what you need in advance – from nappies to cots – and it will be waiting for you in your suite when you arrive. All five guest rooms are spacious and kitted out with a mix of French antiques and contemporary furnishings. Outside, there are 86 acres of grounds to roam with lakes, nature trails and outdoor games. Evening meals (on offer five nights a week) are a relaxed and sociable affair, with a 6pm sitting for children and an adults-only sitting at 8.30pm (baby monitors provided).

　　3. Villa Nais, Bormes Les Mimosas, Côte d'Azur

　　This friendly family-run guesthouse tucked away in the hills between St Tropez and Hyères offers a peaceful respite from the heat and crowds of the Côte d'Azur. There are just nine air-conditioned rooms, most of which overlook the small (fenced) swimming pool and a terrace with views of the valley, but what really makes this place ideal for families is the communal barbecue and kitchen area with fridge, freezer, microwave, sink and dishwasher – perfect if you don't want to eat out every night. There's a tennis court and table tennis, and Wi-Fi in all rooms. The charming little town of Bormes-Les-Mimosas and the beach at Le Lavandou are a short drive away.

　　4. Novotel Thalassa Oleron Saint Trojan, Ile d'Oleron, Poitou-Charentes

　　They might not win any prizes for design flair or local flavour but there are times when nothing quite hits the mark like a Novotel. What the Novotel Thalassa Oleron Saint Trojan lacks in bijou charm, it makes up for with a fab location right on the beach, great-value family rooms with terraces or balconies, and decent facilities. The hotel is on the Île d'Oléron, a more affordable and less crowded alternative to the chi-chi Île de Ré a bit further up the coast, and linked to the mainland by a bridge. It's connected to the island's thalassotherapy centre so parents can indulge in some restorative treatments while children are taken care of in the kids club (French school holidays only). There are tennis courts, bikes to hire, table tennis, free Wi-Fi, play areas and the sandy expanse of Plage de Gatseau on your doorstep for sandcastle building.

　　5. Hotel Alpina, Morzine, Rhone-Alps

　　Morzine might be known as a winter sports destination but it has plenty to keep active families happy in summer, from hiking and mountain-biking to horseriding and white-water rafting in the Haute-Savoie. The Hotel Alpina is a cosy, no-frills chalet-style hotel with a small pool on the sunny side of the Morzine valley, a short walk from the town centre and the Super Morzine Bubble lift. Simple rooms are kitted out in Alpine style with lots of exposed wood, and most have balconies. In summer the hotel is part of the Multipass scheme which gives access to all the operating lifts of the Portes du Soleil area (pedestrian-only), Morzine's swimming pool complex, indoor ice rink, tennis courts and local bus service, for €2 a day (free for under-fives).