Skip to content
5 min reading time
Published on 17/07/25, Updated on 17 hours ago
‘Adult only’, two little words that make some people dream and others rage. A fast-growing trend in the tourism sector, it is also at the heart of a major national debate. Is banning children from certain hotels, campsites or restaurants really discriminatory against families, or is it simply a well-thought-out offer marketed to attract upper-income groups looking for tranquillity? Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon, which seems to be attracting particular attention from the government.
A growing trend
Who hasn’t dreamt of lounging by a hotel pool without seeing and hearing children running and screaming? This dream is already a reality, in the form of “adult only” establishments. An attractive proposition at a time when 84% of French people surveyed by Odoxa believe that ‘parents too often allow their children to disturb the peace and quiet of others’.
These offers are not new. Many destinations are known and appreciated for their virtual absence of children, such as the United States and the Caribbean, to name but a few. The offer has also developed well in neighbouring countries such as Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.
France still on the sidelines
In 2019, an estimated 8% of Spanish sites did not cater for children. By way of comparison, according to AFP, adult-only establishments represented ‘a mere 3% of the supply’ in France in 2024. And of the 7,400 campsites listed by the FNHPA, only around twenty fall into this category, so the offer is more than marginal.
In recent years, however, this type of offering has become increasingly popular throughout France. One example is La Château de Lacomté campsite, which ‘went from a family campsite to an adult-only campsite in 2009’, as co-manager Stuart Coe explains.
This development is obviously in response to growing demand, both from ‘couples with children who decide to go away without a break and who obviously don’t want to put up with other people’s children’ and from people without children ‘who want to travel in peace’, explains Valérie Boned, President of the Les Entreprises du Voyage trade association.
‘The increase in demand is undeniable’, she stresses, assuring us that ‘Covid has accelerated the trend’. As a result, ‘the development and, above all, the diversification of the offer’…
This content is for subscribers only. You have 80% left to discover.
Every week, Hospitality ON Team brings you an expert look at the world of hospitality.
By becoming a member, you will have access to a complete ecosystem: exclusive content, jobs, etc.
Already a member ?
Login
Every week, Hospitality ON team brings you an expert look at the world of hospitality. By becoming a member, you will have access to a complete ecosystem: exclusive content, jobs, etc.
