Holiday rentals generally known as
gites,
are available in all regions of France. Most of them are rented out by
French owners, but there is a significant minority of holiday rentals
in France that are owned and run by foreigners - British, Dutch and
Germans in particular. There are also gites and bed and breakfast
accommodation with Australian owners or American owners, and some of
these can be found in this directory.
Renting from
English-speaking owners can often simplify the procedure for other
English-speakers; but most of the French owners who advertise with
Gitelink speak or understand enough English to avoid major problems of
communication. Renting from French owners will often be a good solution
for visitors looking for the authentic French experience and plenty of
local knowledge; though it should be said that many foreign owners have
made a particular effort to get to know their region or area, and can
provide a wealth of local information too.
Paying for gite accommodation
Payment is no longer a problem anywhere, at least for
visitors
from the European Union. All European banks have signed up to the SEPA
(Single European Payments Area) agreement, and payments can be sent
quickly and easily anywhere in Europe once you have the IBAN number of
the owner of the accommodation. SEPA transfers are often free, notably
within the Eurozone; Swiss and UK visitors will of course pay an
exchange commission.
Some of the holiday rentals
in this directory are listed with Gites de France, but many are not.
The absence of a Gites de France label has no bearing at all on the
quality of the accommodation. Click here for more information on the
Gites de France rating system.