Planning a getaway with children takes a lot of coordination. The hardest part for many families, however, is finding the money. Between lodging, meals, and activities, a single week can add up quickly, even at a campground. Still, some households can dramatically lower their costs without hunting for last-minute deals.

Mother organizing travel checklist and children's gear on a kitchen tablePin
Planning a family getaway requires lists and careful coordination.

That’s what Halima discovered. A single mother of six who lives in Denain in the Nord region, she long thought a proper family vacation was out of reach. “I couldn’t afford to pay for a campsite that cost 3,000 euros,” she says in a testimony shared by the CAF. Fortunately, her local community center told her about the Family Vacation Assistance (Aide aux Vacances Familiales, AVF) available through the VACAF program. Since then, she has been able to travel with her children on two occasions.

Depending on the rules set by each CAF office, the aid can cover a significant portion of the trip — sometimes up to 75% of the total price. Even better, families can receive support across multiple years as long as they remain eligible and follow their CAF’s requirements. There’s no fixed destination to accept: roughly 3,000 partner accommodations across France — from campsites to holiday villages, by the sea, in the mountains, or in the countryside — participate in the scheme.

Family campsite with tent and children playing near the seaPin
VACAF partner campsites across France offer reduced rates for eligible families.

And the savings can be striking. For her first trip in 2023, Halima paid nothing: “The community center covered the rest, everything was free.” Two years later she used the program again for a stay that cost 1,100 euros. “I received 550 euros from the CAF and I paid 550 euros,” she explains. Keep in mind, though, that funds are limited, spots fill up quickly, and each CAF has its own rules for renewing assistance.

Not every family automatically qualifies. Eligibility is based on factors like your household’s family quotient, the number of children, and your local CAF’s specific criteria. To check your status, log in to your account on caf.fr or contact your CAF directly. If you’re eligible, visit vacaf.org to browse partner accommodations and then contact the chosen site to make a reservation — the subsidy is applied directly to the bill. If the paperwork feels overwhelming, a community center can help with the steps. That support is what encouraged Halima to try it: “They were right there to guide us, but we were the ones calling the campsites,” she recalls.