Do you dream of running your own holiday business in France? Maybe running a gite, or a chambre d’hotes (B&B) in the sun are what you long for. Lyn Peek has been there and done that. She and her husband Graham run a successful, gorgeous B&B and luxury cottage holiday rental business in Charente Maritime, south west France. Lyn shares her top tips and experiences in 6 lessons in a guide to starting a gite business in France…

LESSON 1: IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS AND GO FOR IT!

After 32 years working in the NHS as a Capital/Service Planner and latterly a Health Commissioner I decided to to take retirement and move to France with my husband Graham. My pension took a hit, but I wanted a new  challenge.

We had finished renovating our Edwardian House in the South East of England. It had taken us 12 years, and we loved that house but it wasn’t a tranquil area and the roads were congested. Taking our beloved Morgan out for a spin – entailed tailbacks and traffic jams

We loved France and had spent many years exploring it in our classic car  so It took just  30 minutes to decide to go with our heart and change our life forever. Too young to do nothing but relax by a swimming pool, we decided to combine our love of France with Classic Cars and organise holidays for classic car enthusiasts.

PROs:

We were serial DIYers. Both experienced project planners. We knew exactly what travelling in a 2-seater sports car with limited luggage space entailed. I had also spent the past 14 years organising trips to France for up to 20 Morgans, in my role as a Centre Secretary of the Morgan Sports Car Club.

CONs:

My French language skills only covered hotel reservations, organising visits and deciphering a menu, my husband had none at all! We decided it would be an adventure. If it all went wrong, we would sell up and return to a sleepy village in the English countryside.

LESSON 2: THE PROPERTY SEARCH

You need to research the area you are thinking of living in really well to make sure it’s appropriate for the business you want to run.

Having explored the whole of France over many years,  we decided that the Charente Maritime/Charente departments would be ideal. It’s the second sunniest region in France. And there’s plenty for visitors to see and do. La Rochellle, Poitiers and Bordeaux airports are close by. The fast train service TGV stops at  Angouleme. St Malo ferry port is just 4.5 hrs drive away and the motorway links are excellent.

Know what you want

Our dream was of glugging a glass of Pineau or Cognac with the neighbours. Dancing at the local fete. Sitting in the garden and hearing nothing but birds and the occasional tractor. Eating a croissant still warm from the boulangerie. That meant searching for a home in a small village, and not being isolated in the countryside. We craved peace and quiet and a property which would give us, and our guests privacy and space.

With high summer temperatures we knew we wanted a swimming pool (or space for one) for guests. We didn’t like leaving our classic car in unsecured parking in France, so why would our guests? A gated property, with lots of parking space and outbuildings to store our classic car(s) was essential

We  set out our budget including renovation costs. The immobilier who found us our  house completely understood what we wanted and took us to view a property in La Tacherie. It’s a little hamlet surrounded by vineyards, but just 5 minutes from the bustling market town of Matha and 20 minutes from historic Cognac.

We walked down the drive on a grey October day in the rain – and fell in love.

LESSON 3: DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE WORK INVOLVED!

La Rose des Vents is a former 19^th century Cognac Domaine, set in 2.5 acres, surrounded by vineyards it once owned. To describe it as “tired and in need of some redecoration” was an understatement.

In the Manor House the kitchen consisted  solely of an old butler sink and a tiled worktop made out of a pine door. The walls of the downstairs loo were papered with old newspapers and all the sanitaryware  in the house was circa 1920. The bedrooms had floral wallpaper from the 50s, and the boiler screened by an old garden fence was in a back kitchen complete with earth floor. But the spacious rooms, original tomettes and wooden floors, sweeping walnut staircase, south facing windows, and gorgeous fireplaces charmed us. The walled gardens had 3 sets of monumental iron gates and the missing slate roof on the stone pigeonnier was covered in a tarpaulin. Being a former Cognac domaine it had outbuildings galore, used to store the huge barrels of amber liquid.

As for the two gites – I wouldn’t wish my worst enemies to stay in them as they were.

Look for the potential

The former estate managers house comprised a kitchen, downstairs bathroom, sitting room and ground floor bedroom. Access to the first floor with its window openings and shutters (but no windows) was via the adjacent workshop. But, it had a walled courtyard with a pigeonnier and secret door leading into the old orchard where a new pool had been installed.

The large stable had been converted some years previously into a Brocante shop selling antiques and collectables, and part of the building had been converted into a gite. Well, it had a sitting room which housed the fridge, as the kitchen was only 2 metres square and only had space for the sink, cooker and a shelf. You had to squeeze through the door into the bathroom with a sit-up tub. However the sitting room had two sets of French windows, one of which overlooked a lily pond and the other a sizeable walled garden. An open plan staircase led to an enormous mezzanine bedroom, which in turn opened into a large twin bedroom. And there was plenty of room to extend

All our friends thought we were mad.

LESSON 4: DON’T TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL (NOT FOR A SECOND)

I drew up plans on how we wanted to extend the gites.  We met the mayor, confirmed our planning approval, sourced a local builder and placed an advert. We were determined to  open Rose Cottage and Manor Cottage within 6 months. It would keep us focused!

It wasn’t all smooth going with a builder who set a slow pace and we had to work round the clock to be ready in time for the first guests arrival. Graham was screwing the last toilet roll holder on the wall as they turned into the drive. We had been so busy with getting the accommodation ready, we forgot about the swimming pool. In 30 degrees heat, with the summer cover on, the water had turned a luminous shade of green. I am surprised our marriage survived.

LESSON 5: FORMS, FORMS AND MORE FORMS

Keep your cool, there are enough forms issued by different government departments to sink a battleship. Inspections must be arranged to achieve the valued 4 stars from the Tourist Office.

Top tip: Make sure you have a good filing cabinet. Keep every bill, document and letter forever. You can seriously loose the will to live dealing with French bureaucracy.

LESSON 6: IDENTIFY YOUR “UNIQUE SELLING POINT”

There are masses of beautiful gites, villas and holiday cottages in France – the competition is fierce. You have to be organised, like people, be practical and creative. And you must keep the accommodation/pool/gardens in tip top condition – all the time.

It’s good to have a niche. Our passion is classic cars, and we target this market. We organise bespoke tours for small groups, overnight B & B stays and 5 day mini-breaks as well as self-catering cottages. But we also welcome families who come on holiday to relax and explore the area.

Think about what you really enjoy doing. If you can, build your business around it.

Success!

We have now been happily settled in France for several years. Life here is marvellous, the area is beautiful whatever the season, events are held throughout the year and after all these years we are still excited to discover new places to visit and gorgeous  restaurants.  We have welcomed people from all over the world to La Rose des Vents and have made good friends  here. Along the way I have learned to speak French, paint water colours, dance “Le Roc”, cook with a TV chef and adopted various stray cats.

Would we do it again? YES without a doubt. It’s the best thing we’ve ever done.

By Lyn Peek: www.cottagesandclassics.com

The post Guide to starting a gite business in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

There’s lots to fall in love with in France – baguettes, wine, cheese, the Eiffel Tower… and bedding! Given that the average person spends 8 hours a day in bed – a third of your life – then good bedding is a must. And great bedding is something that everyone should treat themselves to. I don’t mean expensive. I do mean great, luxury, affordable, long-lasting and feels as good after every wash as it did the first time you used it, and – sustainably produced. It’s a tall order. But in France there’s a company that meets and surpasses expectations. And their bedding is perfect for holiday homeowners who want to give their guests a good night’s sleep and make them feel pampered.

Luxury bedding that’s just perfect for hotels and holiday homeowners

A while back I stayed at a luxury gite in Nice and I know it might seem weird but alongside loving the Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town, I had the best night’s sleep and fell in love with the sheets. They were cool, felt super-luxurious and were so comfy. I asked the gite owner where she got them from and was told Paris La Chambre and the owner said that since she’d found them, she would never go anywhere else.

Well, I looked them up and ordered a sheet, duvet cover and pillowcases in their linen range. Everything arrived in reusable bags. It is ultra-soft, thermoregulating, seriously comfy and feels like you’re staying in a top hotel. And it doesn’t matter how many times I wash the linen, it’s like new every time. I also got some of their cotton Percale bedding, which is incredibly light and feels crispy new whenever I wash it. I don’t run a hotel, gite or B&B but I love a little bit of luxury!

In fact Paris la Chambre, the company who produce the bedding are so confident that you’ll love their stuff, that they give you a 90-day try-sleep-wash guarantee or your money back.

Run by British-born Ian and American-born Alison – Paris la Chambre is entente-cordiale at its best – stylish, elegant, comfortable, affordable and clever! They cut out the middleman to keep the price low, use eco-sustainable production methods and plant 10 trees for every order they receive.

And for hotels and holiday homeowners, they make you an offer you can’t refuse! Preferential rates, free deliveries in France, payment in instalments and personalised support.

Find out more about Paris La Chambre’s hotel and holiday home bedding programme

The post French-made sustainable luxury bedding appeared first on The Good Life France.

We talk to British expat Tony Brown who lives in Vernantes, Maine-et-Loire in the Loire Valley where he owns a gite, writes and gardens…

Can you tell us a little about you and where you are from?

After a working life in the building industry in southern England, I decided that France was less cluttered and less frenetic than the UK. All the reasons most people come to France  – the laid back lifestyle, the great food and wine, often better weather and a relaxed way of life are in abundance here in the Maine et Loire.

Where do you live in France and what inspired you to move to that particular place?

Some say its fate, others say it’s luck, but landing up here in this village was really accidental. I was on holiday, it was a summers day and there was a cloud burst, one of those heavy ones, that soaks you in two minutes. Luckily, or was it fate, I was outside an Immobilier (estate agent) store in Baugé, a town 20kms from here. They had just opened after lunch and I sought refuge from the rain. After very little discussion, possibly because it was in French, of which I knew little, the agent said: ”It’s going to rain for a while but it will get better later. Come, let me show you the area.”  The area included his list of properties which were for sale, not that I had any intention of buying anything, let alone a property!

Several stops later the afternoon was slipping away. The sun had come out and we were in the last but one property, when I suggested going back to collect the car and I would be on my way. “Just one more” he said.

As soon as I saw the unloved pair of cottages dating to the 19^th century, I knew I could turn them into a lovely home to retire to and bought them. I spent a lot of money doing them up and now have a beautiful 3-bedroom property which I rent out as a holiday home.

A stone building at the back of the house provides me with a lovely home. From here I write stories and love to garden and share the vegetables I produce with my guests.

Can you tell us more about the area, what there is to do and see…?

Vernantes is a lovely village, set upon gentle slopes just above the beautiful city of Saumur just a 20 minute drive away. There are plenty of facilities in the town which is tranquil and relaxing. There are so many attractions around here you can easily fill a fortnight’s stay with theme parks, castles, vineyard visits and more. Puy du Fou is close by, it’s the best theme park I have ever visited and Futuroscope is simply amazing. Le Mans racing circuit is only 70 kms away.

If you’re looking for walks around the pleasure lakes try the one at Rille where you can swim or hire a pedalo, just 20 minutes away. St Nicholas de Bourgueil is just 10-15 minutes away and has a beautiful lake. The Loire is on the doorstep with its chateaux and vineyards. The lovely villages of Baugé, and La Fleche with its authentic market and great zoo. And within easy distance, there’s Le Lude with its beautiful chateau, Angers, Tours, Azay-le-Rideau and Chinon and Saumur.

It really is a most lovely part of France, and that laid back lifestyle I wanted – it’s here by the bucket load…

Tempted to move here?! Read our expert’s property guide to the Maine-et-Loire

The post The Gite Life in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire appeared first on The Good Life France.

British stand-up comedian, mod, expat, goat whisperer (maybe) – and now Chambre d’hote host – Ian Moore’s unique insights into life in the Loire Valley will make you laugh out loud…

Hosts, Goats and Chambres d’Hôtes

There’s a point in my first or second book, probably both, where my wife, Natalie, and I sit down and have one of those ‘The future, what shall we do?’ conversations. We’d already lived in France for a few years, but the weekly commute back to the UK to perform stand-up had left its mark; a hollow eyed ‘dead man walking’ stare whenever I had to leave home and the family, a spine so damaged from overuse of budget airlines that it resembled a fairground helter skelter and a mini-bottle rosé addiction from trying to make the Eurostar feel more glamourous than it actually is. It was time for a change, we agreed. Time for a new chapter in our life.

‘Well one thing we’re definitely not doing,’ I said, tapping the table for emphasis, ‘is opening up our house as a chambres d’hôtes! We moved here for peace and quiet, not for other people.’

Natalie laughed, ‘Can you imagine?’ She snorted, ‘You as a host? Having to be nice to people?’ She could barely control herself now, which was slightly insulting. ‘No, definitely not a chambres d’hôtes!’

A comedian with a B&B in France

Our chambres d’hôtes opened in 2018 in a u-turn so dizzying that the term u-turn itself seems inadequate, It was more a triple axel half loop with salchow and our heads still haven’t stopped spinning. So why the change of heart? Had the sardonic stand-up comic, the professional cynic, mellowed? Was I suddenly, that awful thing, a ‘people person’? Well no, not exactly but in the end, you have to take what you have and work out the best way forward. I wanted to be at home more and concentrate on writing and the French house prices meant that, having sold up in Southern England, we had a big property with numerous outbuildings that would make a fine bed and breakfast independent of the family home. And, despite being told too many times for comfort, that maybe I wasn’t ‘genial host’ material, it was still a no-brainer.

‘I can change,’ I kept repeating, ‘not commuting every week will soften me.’ Of course, this was before French bureaucracy got involved, a combination of rabbit warren and threshing machine that has one purpose in mind, and one purpose only – to break you. For example, the necessary courtesy visit to the local Mairie to tell them of our plans added an extra 5,000€ to the bill when it turned out the new stable for the horse, let’s face it a glorified shed, also needed planning permission.

‘Your horse needs planning permission,’ said the Mayoress apologetically.

‘I don’t think we’ll get her upstairs to your office.’ I replied, to no-one’s amusement.

When renovation on the outbuildings eventually began, it was a massive relief. Not just that the project, eight months after that Mairie visit had finally begun, but that our outbuildings were finally being put to some practical use rather than acting as a Brocante recycling depot. For years we had pitched a stall at the local Brocantes and every year, thanks to Natalie and the children, we’d come back with more needless junk than we’d set out with. Now it was time to end this rigmarole and dump the whole nonsense at the dechetterie. (My favourite French word incidentally, dechetterie, it’s the local refuse tip but literally sounds like De-Shittery – which is exactly what it is.)

Eight fraught months later the place was finished, the gravel for the driveway went in on October 28^th and our first guest arrived the following day, ‘This is beautiful,’ the guest said, ‘have you been open long?’

‘About 40 minutes.’ I muttered under my breath.

Goats can sell B&B nights!

The idea of opening in the depths of winter was our canny way of using what would certainly be just a trickle of guests as Guinea-Pigs while we learnt the Chambres d’hôtes ropes, but immediately we were booked up! We had always reckoned that the heart of the Loire Valley was going to be fairly busy what with the chateaux, the wine and the cheese and so on, but the world famous ZooParc de Beauval just 20 minutes away is open all year round and packed out to boot. Plus, Natalie never stops smugly reminding me, our own mini-farm is partly stocked with animals from the zoo itself. Not Pandas, well not yet anyway, but our goats came from the zoo. They are, and I hate to admit this, a selling point. I’ve had a fractious relationship with the goats. I see now why the Zoo Beauval was so keen to be rid of them. They’re constantly finding new ways to escape their paddock and eat the roses, while encouraging the horse to do the same. I once had to wrestle a goat to the ground in our neighbour’s garden when she complained of being attacked. I carried the thing back home, it clinging to me like a hairy rucksack.

I had complained bitterly about their behaviour for years but was now told that they couldn’t be sent back, that they were, in fact, a non-negotiable asset and I had to put up with it. I stormed out to the field to address the goats personally and in no uncertain terms.

‘Now listen goats,’ I began, finger-wagging at the bemused animals, ‘I’ve had enough. But you play fair and I’ll play fair…’

I gave them the dressing down they thoroughly deserved and felt strangely empowered by my futile actions not realising that while doing so, a crowd had gathered. Three families staying in the chambres d’hôtes had assembled quietly to see what the fuss was all about. What they got was a middle-aged man in a tight-fitting suit reading the riot act to three utterly disinterested farm animals. I went red.

‘New members of staff,’ I said striding off like Basil Fawlty, ‘just breaking them in.’

I expected Natalie to be angry at the show too, but no.

‘That’s it,’ she said, ‘give the punters the angry, absurd, pent up man that’s in your books! That’s a great selling point!’

And that’s how it happens. One minute you think you have to calm down to run a BnB like the perfect host and the next you’ve created your own kind of ‘man at odds with the world’ theme park. A sort of Dollywood for expats. But you know what? It works.

Ian has written two books on living in France and travelling as a comedian. In 2019 his first fiction was published, a crime novel set in the Loire Valley. All his books are available here www.amazon.co.uk/Ian-Moore

And if you fancy a few days at Ian’s Chambres d’hôtes and to watch a grown man swear at livestock, you can see the place here www.lapausevaldeloire.com

The post Comedian’s guide to starting a B&B business in France! appeared first on The Good Life France.

When it comes to filling your gîte weeks there’s lots you can do to help yourself…

Tips on photographing your gîte

How your gîte looks on the internet to potential clients is one of the top things you must get right. Photography is vitally important for a successful holiday let. It’s the owner’s best chance to create a good first impression. It helps the guest to begin building a picture of the surrounding area as well as the property they’re looking at. It’s good to include a choice of external shots from all angles (to include swimming pools and gardens). Also include descriptive internal shots to highlight sleeping arrangements and bathroom facilities. Plus a collection of shots from the surrounding area which include local attractions, restaurants, countryside etc.

A lot of attractive holiday homes just don’t achieve their full potential because they aren’t shown in their best light.

Use these top tips to make your photos better:

Always take photos on a sunny day and usually early in the morning is best, or early evening. But not in the full light of mid-day.

Include photos of the outside, interior and locality.

In the kitchen have a bowl of fruit on the table, maybe lay out some bread, wine (local of course) so that your guests can see it how it will look when they are there.

Make sure the garden looks as it will when guests stay. Sun beds round the pool, parasols up over tables etc. If you’ve got a lovely terrace or barbecue area, set it up to look as it does when people are enjoying it.

On a sunny day if you sprinkle the lawn and flowers beds with water. It can really make your photos zing.

When taking photos of the bathroom, include towels etc, as it would be when guests arrive. And, honestly I don’t think anyone wants to see a loo up close so leave that out!

Put vases of flowers in the rooms. If you do have a beautiful fireplace, light it so guests can see how it looks.

Don’t have people in your photos – guests want to imagine themselves there, not other people.

Guests can fall in love with a holiday property before they even get there. It enhances the enjoyment greatly. There’s nothing better than daydreaming about an upcoming holiday in the days and weeks leading up to the departure date. And, photography helps to make this happen…

The post Top tips to increase your gîte bookings appeared first on The Good Life France.

Londoner Linda Devine moved to France with her husband Bernard, an engineer, in 2014. After a lifetime of work in hospitality including management roles at the Ritz, Hilton and Accor Hotels, she knew just what makes guests happy and bought all the experience to her latest venture, a gorgeous gite near Carcassonne in the south of France.

We talk to Linda about life as a gite owner in France…

What made you choose this area to live in?

We were introduced to France through a colleague who was married to a French girl and she recommended an estate agent in Castelnaudary, our nearest town. We found Laurac le Grand, a medieval Protected Village, which was once the Capital of the Languedoc area. In fact, Laurac still has ancient underground grain stores, just off the Causeway. In 2002 we bought a holiday house in the village to renovate and in 2014 finally moved to France. We decided to buy a gite as a way to boost our income. When we found La Petite Maison Devine, we knew straight away that it was perfect. It has one bedroom but the house is very roomy, spread over three floors with a view to die for, as well as a large private terrace and parking.

What’s it like to run a gite in France?

I really enjoy the whole process from the client bookings and marketing to the design ideas for the rooms. But what I love most is making sure that guests have the best holiday experience, that they go home happy and having had a great time. Bernard’s engineering background is really great for ensuring La Petite Maison Devine remains pristine and in tip top condition!

What do you love about where you live?

Having lived and worked in central London, the peace and tranquillity that permeates Laurac puts everything into perspective. And the views are stunning. There’s nothing to beat a cup of tea on the terrace with the sound of a cuckoo in the background or a glass of wine enjoyed in the hot tub whilst looking at the stars. Many of our world weary travellers arrive tired and irritable and seven days later we say goodbye to rejuvenated people!

There’s so much to fall in love with in this area. For a start, there’s Carcassonne. The hilltop city looks like a Disney castle on the skyline. We love the Canal du Midi, you can easily hire a boat and just float along under the shade of the trees that line the side. It’s great to stop off and take a break in a café set up in one of the old Lock keepers houses. Eating fresh tarte au citron, drinking in the fresh air, taking in the stunning views, we really are so lucky.

We really enjoy walking through the rose coloured city of Albi with the scent of lotus blossoms on the air, the sight of the magnificent cathedral and ramparts lifts your spirits.

On a clear day the view from the 5km stretch of Narbonne-Plage, with the Pyrenees etched in the distance, is simply awe inspiring. One of our favourite things is to wander the esplanade people watching and finish off with a delicious supper in one of the many restaurants.

What three top tips would you give to others moving to France

1. Learn the language, it’s essential if you want to live life to the full in France.
2. Make yourself known to the local community, particularly the Mayor. Offer to help with Summer Fetes/Christmas Fetes etc and simply join in.
3. Enjoy it – the wine is good and the cheese is amazing!

The post The Good Life for expats in Carcassonne appeared first on The Good Life France.

The last few years have seen unprecedented numbers of buyers seeking homes in France and particularly homes that can be run as a gite business.

It seems that TV shows like Place in the Sun and Escape to the Chateau have fuelled the desires of many Brits to give up the rat race and escape to the sun, run their own gite business and live the good life. Here are some top tips for how to run a gite successfully.

Location, location, location

It’s probably the number one thing to consider when you’re thinking about running a gite business. Are you somewhere people want to visit and can they reach you easily? Think about transport – are you near enough to a ferry or airport that guests can comfortably get to where you are. How far is it to amenities, shops and restaurants? Most guests will want to be able to at least have access to restaurants within walking or easy cycling distance.

Be objective when you’re searching

You need to think of your property as a product, not just as a home. It’s so easy to fall in love with a huge property, romantic ruins and sprawling outbuildings you just know will make fabulous gites. But, if they’re going to take years to do up and cost a small fortune to renovate to a good enough standard, is this really the right property? You might be better off finding something that’s less work, less expensive to do up and ready to market sooner, especially if you’re dependent on an income generating gite.

Make sure there’s a market for your gite

Make sure the location you’re looking at isn’t already saturated with gites, you’ll be making life harder for yourself right from the off. If you’re moving to a little village and there are already a high number of holiday homes for hire, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

Check the competition

If there are already holiday homes in the area you’re considering, try to find out which are the most successful – and why. Book a stay at successful gites so you can experience what makes guests so positive about them and see if you can apply what you discover to your own gite.

Know your client

What are you offering? Family friendly accommodation? Close to the seaside, sports facilities, nature parks, fishing lakes? Will any one type of guest be more lucrative than another? Can any type of guest be out of season which means you may have more chance of renting out weeks all year round? These are all things to consider to ensure you’re buying the right property, in the right location.

Start your business plan as soon as possible

Don’t wait until every T is crossed and every I is dotted. Start your business plan as soon as you can. Register your gite, start a list of to do’s for how to market your gite, you don’t have to wait until open door day, as soon as you have an idea for when you’ll be ready for business – it’s time to get the ball rolling.

Marketing is critical

When it comes to getting people to find you so that they can book your gite, there’s work to be done. Register with a good agency (like French Connections!), get a website, create a social media presence. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the big 3 and if you’re going to do all three – beware it can take time because the most important thing is to be consistent, post every day or every other day. You might be better picking just one platform and working at it. Advertise online with websites that have an audience that matches the one you seek.

Take feedback seriously

Lots of people invite friends and family to stay when they first open. This is fine if you think they will be comfortable being honest instead of what normally happens, they love everything because they love you! Why not run a contest to offer a free weekend to strangers in return for honest feedback – it creates a buzz and you’ll get the truth.

Network

Link up with your local tourist office to see if you can be on their list of recommendations. If you’re in a small village, make sure the neighbours know about you, they might have family and friends who want to stay in the area. Join Facebook groups that might be able to help you market your gite.

Stand out from the crowd

Work out what you’re offering that differentiates you from the rest. What have you got to offer guests that other gites don’t? Swimming pool? Near a chateau that’s a popular visit? Why not link up with them to offer guests a favourable rate?  Hot tub in the garden? Near a restaurant of renown – would they be up for offering your guests a free aperitif. Not everyone will be open to doing something different to work with you to make you stand out from the crowd – but it’s worth trying.

The post 10 tips for running a gite business in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Peter Friend, joint owner of the award winning B&B La Villa Mazamet in the Tarn shares his top tips. The villa has been named France’s top luxurious B&B for several years and, says Peter, there are lots of things you can do to make your own B&B have a better chance of success…

Location

Location and accessibility to good transport links cannot be under estimated.

Community

Get involved with your community, local trades people, tourist office, etc. from a very early stage. This will encourage engagement and support for your business. Part of our ethos has always been to make sure we support the community in which we are based. For every 1€ we spend on running the business, 85 cents are spent in the town of Mazamet. And don’t be afraid to shout about that too, especially to your local Mayor!

Feedback

Listen to your guests and ask for feedback on their stay, your amenities and facilities. Plough some of your profits back in each year to make sure you not only keep on top with the décor and maintenance of your property but also add to the guest experience – return guests will always notice the smallest of detail and love it when you have taken their feedback on board.

Internet marketing and website

Get your website and marketing plan in place at least a year prior to opening your doors. Engage with guests via social media and E-newsletters to help develop return visits.

See your website as THE main marketing tool and invest in professional photography – this is a potential guest’s first engagement with you and you need to get in right.

Work together

Work with other B&Bs locally and regionally – don’t just see them as competition as you can work with them during busy periods or when you might need them to take a loyal guest you can’t accommodate.

The post Top Tips for running a successful B&B in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Mediterranean beaches, majestic mountains for winter skiing and cycling in summer, and some of the most popular cities in the world – France is the perfect place to buy a holiday home that you can also rent to tourists. But what type of property is best and where do you even start looking?

Although buying in France doesn’t come with any guarantees, it does bring with it a certain peace of mind. You’ve already got the numbers, and a business case, on your side. France is the world’s most visited country.

But how do you choose where to buy when every region of this vast country has so much to offer?

Align location search with rental needs

For holiday home owners who want to rent out as much as possible, there are certain places that stand out. Cannes on the Riviera is always a good choice as there is a year-round rental market there. It doesn’t just attract tourists in the summer, there are conferences all year round that constantly bring in thousands of business visitors.

Annecy in the Alps is also popular all year round. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful town, but its location near the Alps and on the lake means it is popular with families during the summer holidays, avid skiers in the winter and walkers throughout the year.

Make sure your criteria factors in your target market

Identifying the criteria for your new purchase is best accomplished by putting yourself in the shoes of your guests.

Think about is who will rent your property. Are you aiming for holidaymakers, business people, golf enthusiasts or skiers, for example? Imagine what would be the most important factors for them when looking for a rental property.

There are also some features that must be considered more seriously when you’re buying to accommodate paying guests and not just making decisions for yourself. For istance, if you’re buying a villa in the South of France then a pool is important. An apartment in Paris needs to be in a sought-after arrondissement with local facilities nearby. If it is on a high floor you need to find a building with a lift.

Consider hiring a property manager you can trust

Online reviews are important. It’s critical that guests find the property spotless, in good working order and that there is someone around to help them deal with problems should they arise.

If you live in another country, then being able to rely on the services offered by a property manager is crucial.

If you do live in the region then it can be cheaper to deal with any issues yourself – as long as you are happy to drop what you are doing at a moment’s notice. In the long run it can make more sense to factor the cost in to your business plan, just so you know the property will always be running at its best.

Property managers do cost money, but if you can’t do the job yourself, they really are worth it. You need someone to ensure the property is kept in excellent condition, that the rentals run smoothly and to show up in an emergency.

While having a local neighbour keep an eye on the place can seem like a cheaper, easier option, it isn’t always the best for long-term rental yields.

A professional property manager will have a much keener eye and it’s their interest to do a great job.

Take action to keep the outgoings down and the rental yields up

Having a holiday home that you rent out means you need to motivate yourself to keep things in good working order. Investing in quality fixtures and fittings from the start, for example, should mean you don’t have to constantly employ a handyman further down the line to fix kitchen cabinets or wardrobe doors.

Make sure you get all of your systems (air conditioning, heating, pool filtering, washing machines, and so on) serviced every year. Be aware that renters will overuse everything and probably won’t take the same amount of care as you, so you need to get them checked.

If the air con stops in the height of summer while the tenant is on vacation it will be classed as a disaster. The call out and repair charges will be much higher. And guests could ask for money off. And give you a bad review. Get checks done out of season and regularly.

And if you can, stay in your own property every year and test everything out yourself.

The post Four essential tips to help make your holiday home pay appeared first on The Good Life France.

When it comes to renting our you holiday home in France, these top tips will help you be ready and active in getting those all important bookings.

Special offers

If you’re using a rental listings site to get customers, there’s no doubt that a special offer gets your property noticed online. Make sure the site has dedicated pages for special offers that are prominently displayed. Usability tests show that many browsers search special offer properties first – and some will look only at these listings.

The uses and benefits of special offers are many – from the certainty of bookings made early in the year to filling sudden vacancies due to cancellation and cross-promoting services.

What should you offer? In the old days, it may have been enough to hold out a case of wine or a bottle of bubbly as a lure, but these days holidaymakers are interested in prices and value. Discounts are definitely the most convincing incentive – typically between 10 and 25%. Other options are prices fixed in sterling when exchange rates are unfavourable or offering a fixed exchange rate.

Reviews and response

Holidaymakers generally notice and trust user reviews, so make sure you publish several five star guest reviews in your listing. Choose a selection that highlights a range of features of the property and the attractions of a holiday and include at least one from guests who say they have made repeat bookings.

When holidaymakers do take an interest, it is essential that you monitor enquiries with email and SMS alerts and respond quickly to avoid missing bookings. The most professional owners aim to reply within 2-3 hours – and certainly within the day. Having great technology ensures that you reply in good time to convert enquiries to bookings.

Make sure that you can be reached at the phone number posted on your page or can reply quickly to messages. It’s always best to return both calls and online queries with a phone call as this will establish a personal rapport and answer all questions in one conversation. Be friendly, business-like and positive and have answers ready for all the practical questions.

Calendar and charisma

Holidaymakers often search availability by date, so don’t miss out because your calendar is incorrectly set. To ensure that your property will come up in search results for specific periods, check that you accurately show available weeks. If your changeover date is Saturday, be sure to show availability from the Saturday night – and always keep your calendar up to date.

If you have no bites after a period of time, then it’s quick and easy to refresh your online page. Try a different lead photo, update information, add a plan or describe something new. To get your property noticed, you could also use featured property slots for extra promotion within the website, such as a ‘grabber’ with photo on the home page or your regional pages.

Enticing extras

Grab the attention of potential guests and enhance your own income by offering incentives and extras and really sell these on your listing page. Think about good welcome packs that include local wines and produce. Nice toiletries and good quality linen and towels add a special touch that makes the difference in reviews and repeat custom.  So does supplying bikes, table tennis and other games.

You might also offer additional services such as a home cooked menu delivered to the property (at extra cost), a communal barbecue or  babysitting. Other ideas are organising car hire, taxi transfers, chef service, grocery shopping, restaurant reservations,

There is another big opportunity to release the potential of your property – out of season short-term breaks and activity breaks based around art, therapies, sports or wine tours. Renting weeks out-of-season can be difficult as there are fewer people looking and more owners wanting to attract them. Yet selling themed breaks in out of season weeks can really make a difference to profits.

The post Maximise Your French Holiday Let Bookings appeared first on The Good Life France.