Renting a Gite in France9 June 2009  So you are considering a holiday in France, and would like to stay somewhere other than a traditional hotel or bed and breakfast, but when you begin searching for accommodations the language and descriptions of some of the types of available lodging are unfamiliar to you. Don’t worry- a stay in a French vacation home will be quite easy to arrange after reading the information here. First of all let’s tackle the terminology. In France, a rental home, similar to an Italian villa or Swiss chalet, is known as a gîte (pronounced jeet). Many gîte are privately owned and managed directly by the owner who lives nearby so as to provide a friendly reception and assistance for guests.
Traditional gîtes are often the converted homes of former farm workers or barns, and are located on the same property as the estate’s main house. If you are considering renting a gite in France, many gîtes are completely furnished and set up perfectly for create their own meals there during their stay. Some land owners will even have several gîtes set up on the same property so as to accommodate multiple separate guests or groups. Some gîte will operate very similar to a traditional bed and breakfast in that the owners may provide one or more meals throughout the day that guests can choose to partake in or not. Taking these meals with your host and other guests often offers a unique opportunity to get to know new exciting people of another culture.
If you have never travelled to this destination before, and you are thinking of renting a gîte in France it is important to familiarize yourself with the different classes of gîte so that you can choose the style that will be best for your needs. First, there is the Gîte Rural, which indicates accommodation in a non-urban setting, typically by the sea or in the mountains. The Gîte Rural is usually outfitted with one or more bedrooms, and its own kitchen and bathroom. Another type of gîte is the Gîtes d'Enfants, which, as you may have guessed, offers accommodations for families with children, and often offers special activities for children. If you see the term Gîte Equestre, that indicates a gîte specifically designed to accommodate travelers on horseback.
When looking to rent a gîte in France, be sure not to be confused by Chambre d'Hôtes, which are more like the traditional bed and breakfasts, offering accommodations in an attached building and usually including a meal. These are different from gîtes which are always detached holiday homes.
Read more Travel Articles |
