I'm dreading the long drive down to the south of France this summer.
Can't you fly instead?

Too much baby and toddler paraphernalia to haul around, unfortunately. But I'm not doing it in one go. We're going to stop on the way - I just don't know exactly where.
Try Logis de France.

What's that?
Think of it as a cheaper and less intimidating version of the Michelin guide. There are around 3,500 Logis hotel-restaurants, all independently owned and identified by their green-and-yellow hearth logo.

Are the rooms cheap?
They vary between €40 and €160 (£26-£103) - not the cheapest in France, but less expensive than similar hotels in Britain. The food is excellent, and the site lists the price of all the menus. Children's menus are offered everywhere.

Can I book them without having to call France?
Yes - "in four cliks", according to the site (which is more efficient than the spelling suggests). You can even cancel or change a reservation online.