Family Vacation Deals: How to Travel Without Breaking the Bank

Due to financial constraints, some families with children find it difficult to afford vacations, whether it be to the beach, mountains, or just a weekend getaway close to home. However, there are financial aids primarily provided by the Family Allowances Funds (Caf) or the Agricultural Social Mutual (MSA) that allow families or just children to travel and take a break from their daily routines. Here’s an overview of the support offered to families:

Vacaf Assistance for Vacation Planning

The Vacaf aids, offered by the Caf and the MSA, enable families or children to go to vacation centers, camps, or colonies, for example, for a maximum duration of 14 nights. Depending on your family income quotient, the Caf and the MSA cover up to 70% of the expenses related to the stay. The remaining cost is paid by the families. The chosen location must also be one of the vacation centers accredited by Vacaf in France or abroad. There are two aids under the Vacaf scheme: assistance for family vacations (AVF) and assistance for children’s vacations (AVE).

AVF Assistance for Families

As the name suggests, the assistance for family vacations (AVF) pertains to family stays, whether it be camping or vacation villages. Simply put, it helps reduce the amount of rental fees. “The eligibility criteria depend on the internal social action regulations of the Caf” to which you belong. Generally, to qualify, you must be an allocant, receive at least one family benefit, have one or more dependent children, and have a family income quotient of 700 euros or less (or up to 800 euros for recipients of the disabled child education allowance). Some Caf also offer families, in addition to the AVF, an aid for transportation costs. “It is calculated based on the distance between your home and the vacation location, as well as the period you choose to travel,” according to the organization’s website.

AVE Assistance for Children

The second scheme, assistance for children’s vacations (AVE), is exclusively for children and teenagers who wish to go on summer camps, mini-camps, or other group stays. The eligibility conditions, previously identical to AVF, were revalued in 2026. The Caf indeed increases its contribution for young people aged 6 to 17 years by raising the maximum family income quotient to 950 euros. The aid can also climb up to 70% of the cost of the stay and can be combined with the Pass Colo. Now, “almost one in two beneficiary families” can claim the AVE. Eligible individuals will be notified through a message in their “My Account” space, stating the granted amount. All that’s left is to choose a stay on the Vacaf website: “the aid is paid directly to the vacation organization, sparing families the need to advance the funds.”

Pass Colo Assistance for Youth Aged 11

In addition to the AVE, young people can benefit from the Pass Colo, a financial aid introduced by the government to encourage 10 or 11-year-olds to go on summer camp. Specifically, the Caf covers part of the child’s stay. The flat-rate aid varies between 200 euros and 350 euros, depending on the family income quotient.

Vacation Check Aid of 200 euros for 18-25 Year Olds

The National Agency for Vacation Checks offers aid covering 75% of the cost of the stay, up to a limit of 200 euros per year per person, for young people aged 18 to 25. This amount can thus finance a vacation stay at the beach, in the mountains, or in the city, in France or Europe, from a selection of trips in the “Departure 18:25” program. “The amount is directly deducted from the price to be paid, with a minimum remaining cost of 50 euros,” according to the aid brochure.

To receive it, young adults must have a reference tax income of less than 17,280 euros per year for one tax share, and be a scholarship student, or in a apprenticeship or professionalization contract, holder of a future or generation contract, enrolled in a second-chance school, a volunteer in civic service or having completed their mission less than a year ago, or be monitored by Child Social Assistance.

Childcare in Leisure Centers

There is also support available for children’s leisure centers. This allows families to reduce costs by using either universal employment checks (pre-financed Cesu), provided by the employer or certain communities, or the Caf’s vacation aids (AVF or AVE). These schemes cover part of the cost of the stay, based on the family’s income, to facilitate access to leisure activities for children.

How to Benefit from Vacation Checks?

The vacation check, which comes in the form of a checkbook, helps fund vacations as well as cultural and leisure activities (sports camps, camping, colonies, transport, restaurants, amusement parks, shows, museums…). It’s up to the employee to pay a portion, which is supplemented by a contribution from the employer or the Social and Economic Committee (CSE). Note that the vacation checks are valid for two years, following their year of issue.