Gîtes are... typically self-catering cottages, houses or apartments with one or more bedrooms (a few are studios), a lounge-diner, kitchenette or kitchen, bathroom or shower room, toilet facilities and are situated in the countryside, in villages or near the coast. They are regularly inspected under the Gîtes de France quality label. This is a guarantee that the accommodation meets specific standards and complies with the national charter of the Gîtes de France organisation. Gîtes are let on a weekly basis Saturday to Saturday and are priced per gîte per week. Most départemental reservation offices charge an arrangement fee - around £10. Sheets, household linen and/or a cleaning service may be supplied on request if indicated. Pillows and blankets or duvets are provided. Most owners require a sum held against damage - payable on arrival, reimbursed on departure. Heating is rarely included - all information comes with the rental agreement. You are strongly advised to take out all the necessary holiday insurance. Most gîte contracts offer an optional cancellation insurance. The rental contract The gîte rental contract is issued either by the French reservation office or the owners themselves. A deposit of 25% together with Amis de France's commission is payable at the time of booking. For contracts issued by the reservation office the balance is due one month before arrival. For contracts issued by the owner the balance is due on arrival.

Ears of Corn 'Ears of corn' are used to indicate the degree of comfort and standard of equipment. 1 ear of corn -small oven / rotisserie, hotplates, refrigerator, pressure cooker. Crockery provided according to the gîte's capacity. Basic level of comfort. 2 ears of corn -Good level of comfort / more facilities. 3 ears of corn -Very good level of comfort / more facilities. 4 ears of corn - de luxe. Most are graded 1 - 3 and each gîte is individually marked indicating the facilities offered. Regardless of category you might also find use of a swimming pool, fireplace, barbecue, and/or children's games eg. swings, sand pit, etc. (A new system of grading 1 to 5 is being introduced and those being graded are marked 'n') Experience the 'real' France France, for us, means warm summer evenings sharing good food and local wine, early morning croissants and generally being part of the French way of life. Having enjoyed gîte holidays for twenty years, we love the relaxing freedom this type of holiday provides. We've seen amazing scenery, made many friends and improved our French. Now it's easy for you to share this experience. Whether you enjoy exploring picturesque villages steeped in history, walking in beautiful countryside, following energetic pursuits or just taking it easy, there's something for everyone.