Holiday Rentals: Gites de France
Budget Villas, B&Bs, Cottages and Apartments for Rent in France
If you are seeking a value for money self-catering holiday in France then you might like to look at the range of accomodations available direct from "Gites de France".
The range of "gites ruraux" available from the official agency is huge: 43,800 properties at the beginning of 2007, and increasing by about 2,500 a year. By booking direct you avoid paying a percentage to an agent, and enjoy a much wider choice of properties.
Avoid high booking fees
Some ferry companies add 30 percent to a gite’s rent, and then lock you into using their crossings – not a good deal. Also, many agents offer only the more luxurious end of the market, but if you are prepared to rough it without, say, a dishwasher, then why not try a lower “head of corn” (“epi”) rated holiday home? The range is from 1 epi to 5 epis; the lower rated gites can be truly charming old buildings in beautiful, calm, rural locations. The rating system simply reflects the facilities available such as electric coffee machines (2 epis and up) and microwaves (3 epis and up).
For example, a three bedroom “2 epis” cottage for up to five people in September in the beautiful Limousin region could cost you around 240 euros a week (approximately £160); during the same month a two bedroom “2 epis” stone cottage for up to four people in Haute Normandy, a couple of hours from Calais, costs around 185 euros (approximately £125) a week.
One way to book direct
You may book your property on-line in English with the official agency. You will then be sent two copies of a rental contract (in French) by post.
You sign one copy and return it to the local official agency which manages gite bookings; if you do not speak good French then it is wise to ask a friend who speaks the language to explain the contract to you. The rental period is usually from 4pm Saturday until 10am the following Saturday. Mid-week and weekend bookings may also be available, depending on the season. You will be sent the contact details of the person who holds the keys to the gite; you are expected to telephone them a few days before your holiday to arrange your arrival time. Unless your French is good or the owners speak good English then this can be a real challenge. Unfortunately the local gite agencies are not always very responsive to requests for help with the language, but if they are willing to help, then this is a practical solution. If they will not help then you will need to ensure that you can find a way of communicating with the owner – a friend who speaks French could perhaps telephone on your behalf.
Preparing for your Holiday
You will normally be expected to bring your own sheets and pillowcases (but not other bedding) unless you let the owners know in advance; bedding rental usually costs around 10 euros. You will need to bring your own towels. Owners also assume that you will clean the property before you leave, but you can usually ask the owners to clean the property for a fee if you arrange it in advance. You may be asked for a deposit on arrival, the amount will be specified in the rental contract.
Remember that many supermarkets are closed on Sunday, and if they are open it will only be until lunchtime. Many close at 7pm or before on a Saturday evening, so bring toilet roll and perhaps supplies for the first meal or so, just in case.
A gite rental is just one way in which to enjoy France on a budget.
