Holidays spent in hotels and guest houses can help you decide if an area is suitable for you. But renting a property, especially during the winter months, is both recommended and relatively inexpensive.
Hotels And Guest Houses
Hotels in France charge around half as much for a room as you would expect to pay in the UK for two people sharing a room. A hotel – particularly in rural areas – can be easier on the pocket than a
gîte.Look out for the sign
Chambre(s) à Louer hanging in the windows of ordinary domestic property. If the sign is
displayed then a room is available, often at a price that would be considered uneconomic in the UK.
It is a French tradition that you are shown accommodation before you decide whether or not to sign the register. This applies to hotels, guest houses, or even a spare bedroom in somebody’s home. French law requires that prices of all hotel rooms must be displayed in a prominent place, with minimum and maximum guidelines on the outside of the building.
Lists and details of all available accomodation can be obtained at the local
syndicat d’initiative.
Holiday Letting
Gîtes (holiday properties) are advertised in many national UK newspapers, travel agents and via the internet.
They provide furnished self-catering accommodation that can be anything from a chateau to a seaside apartment. They are classified according to the facilities they provide and each local syndicat d’initiative (tourist information office) retains a list of properties available in the area. A national federation imposes rules about minimum standards of furnishing and facilities.
The best way to find a gîte is frequently through personal recommendation. Be wary of newspaper advertisements. Some of those that appear to offer particular gîtes are in fact ‘samples’ placed by letting agencies. The gîte advertised is not usually available, and indeed may not exist. What you
will receive, however, is a wad of unsolicited mail frequently offering inferior quality accommodation at grossly inflated prices.
Most reputable companies issue informative brochures. The following can normally be obtained through UK travel agents:
- Blakes Villas
- Country Holidays in France
- The Complete France
- Vacances en Campagne
These companies are specialists and offer a wide selection of accommodation at competitive rates. Brittany Ferries also offers a wide range of packages that include gîte rental.
Local tourist offices are always willing to send out extensive lists of all forms of accommodation. It is best to restrict your enquiry to the kind of accommodation you need.
Booking Direct
This is often the cheapest way to reserve a
gîte. The problem is that the information you receive from the owner may be sketchy, and in high season the best
gîtes are frequently reserved from one year to the next.
For your protection it is always best to get a written agreement. Some
gîte owners send out printed forms.
It is important to be sure about:
- The duration of the let and times of arrival and departure.
- The deposit. Normally 10% but some owners demand up to 25%.
- Arrangements for the payment of services – electricity, water, etc.
- The facilities – particularly the numbers of beds and bedrooms.
- Exactly what is provided as part of the letting ‘package’.
- Arrangements for car parking. Many apartments are allocated off-road parking for one vehicle.
- Arrangements for picking up and returning keys.
Advance Payments
The deposit paid for a
gîte is either
un acompte or
arrhes. The legal distinction is important.
If you cancel after having paid
un acompte you not only lose the deposit but the
gîte owner can hold you responsible for the full amount due for the letting period.
If you cancel having paid
arrhes only the deposit is forfeited.
However, this does not always mean that it is best to have the deposit described as
arrhes. Un acompte means you can make a claim for breach of contract if the
gîte is unsatisfactory, or if you are denied access. Depending on the
circumstances the damages awarded could be considerable.
Arrhes under French law means that the
gîte owner will be obliged to pay only twice the deposit you gave him.
The best advice when booking direct is to pay
un acompte but to ensure that you have holiday insurance that covers you if you are unable to travel.