It's every parent's worst holiday nightmare. A begrudging teenager, dragged along on a family holiday to France, who spends the entire time moaning about how bored they are, or worse – only replies in grunts and spends the entire time glued to their phone, counting down the days till they can get home.
But the truth is, French holidays can be fun for teenagers, you just need to find the right place and the right things to do.
As a country where culture and sport collide, France offers something really special for these teenagers, a melting pot of festivals, sports, music and fashion. Here are just 7 of the many opportunities France can offer to a teenager on holiday…
1. First up are the famous French jazz festivals. Jazz festivals are far more popular and modern on the continent than in theUK, and if teenagers aren't a fan of the music yet, they will be once they've experienced the intoxicating spirit of one of the French jazz festivals – some of the best to look out for are in Nice,AntibesandGrenoble.
2. Secondly, although a family holiday may not seem to fit in easily with nightlife, the typical caf-bars will be a perfect blend for parents and teenagers. The caf-bar is an inextricable part of the French "mode de vie", and nearly all towns have at least one. They are a perfect place for teenagers to hang out over a game of pool and a beer or two, and anyone over the age of 14 is allowed in with a parent.