Dordogne Landlady

Does anyone know yet the route the deviation is to take whilst the bridge is being replaced?

Just to add my little bit to this subject. We clean gites as a living in the Dordogne and believe me it can be very hard work, especially when people just walk away and leave it in a mess, and then there is the pool and garden to do in the short amount of turn-round time. Then there is the laundry which keeps me busy for the rest of the week. I am sure the property owners do not realise how much we have to pay in social costs, forget the tax we don't earn enough to pay it!! Then there is the cost to get to the property which we do not charge extra for. We charge 20 Euros per hour and after paying our cotisations we do not even see half of that. I cringe when I see adverts looking for changeovers and offering to pay 12 Euros per hour!!

The charge varies slightly depending on where the guest is resident, i.e. Europe or Australia, America etc. Also if the guest does have a Paypal account it is cheaper for them. The usual charge is around 3.5%. Far cheaper for the long distant guests to pay this way and nobody has yet refused to pay because we pass on the charge. We do stress this at the time of the request and just ensure it is added to the total amount of the deposit. Also no frightening bank charges for you from your French Bank if they do a transfer outside the Euro zone to your French account.

We have been using Paypal now for about 4 years and no regrets or problems. Occasionally someone makes it difficult for themselves because they do not understand how to pay, but most users are fine. Excellent for the Australians and Americans to pay, the fee is very small and much cheaper for them to pay this way and for us. Previously we were charged 16 euros just to bank a Spanish euro cheque. Most guests pay as soon as you send them the "payment request" so deposits arrive quick and nobody seems to mind us passing on the small charge. After all it makes it cheaper for them to pay this way. Transfer to your bank is normally within 3 working days. Guests do not need to have an account with Paypal, but worth mentioning this to them as some people think you do. Give it a go.

The best thing we ever did was create a FREE website with Independant Owners. So easy to create and really is free. Although we did choose to pay a small sum of around 24 Euros to obtain the web stats which is really helpful. You can see where the enquiries are coming from and where they are seeing you (even if they do not enquire). So really useful. As for spending thousands on advertising, we would be broke if we did. We are only with 3 paid sites and spend less than 400 Euros. The last 2 years for us have been excellent. We have been on first page of google for B&B in our area for most of last year. On most type of searches people enter we are usually somewhere on the first page. All seems to have happened since we joined i.oweners. Agree with previous tip, do several searches and only choose those companies who regularly appear on 1st page. Get on as many free sites as possible too (we are on approx 34), some really do produce the business and every click helps. Search for Free Advertising B&B and it is amazing what you find. Only takes your time to add your details. Good photos are essential. Good luck for 2011.

We have used Bluesky petrole heaters for years now with no problems. We buy the petrole in bulk at start of winter. Just put new fuel into all heaters and now they are cutting out with error E4 constantly and we are starting to freeze! Have taken them apart and cleaned all we can think of, bought another bidon of more expensive fuel to try and prove it is not bad fuel we are using but still no go. Anyone else had problems like this. We have 5 heaters and only 1 is performing ok.

I always buy polycotton sheets with PERCALE and never, ever had a problem. In fact current sheets have now been in service for 7 years and still as good as new. Dorma range are good, but make sure they say Percale. Pure cotton are lovely in heat of Summer but not good when you are sweating over an ironing board in 30 degress trying to remove the creases. Dunelm Mill sell Dorma sheets at very good prices.

Hi Carole, we have been in France since 2002 and my husband was taking Warfarin when we arrived. He had to switch to Previscan and has had no problems at all. Had to go for weekly blood tests to start with so the doctor could adjust the dose required. Now he has his monthly tests and controls the dose pretty much himself as he knows by now what is a high reading for him. Still drinks and eats everything, not always in moderation either!!

Hardly a captive market in the Dordogne where there is a B&B at every turn. Hard work and marketing has kept us in business now for 7 years. We already work together with a number of B&B's in the area by passing enquiries over if we cannot be of help. My point was not to upset people who have already spent time and money establishing themselves, introduce yourself and work with them if possible.

Just the sort of guests us B&B owners love, people spying and then we find they have set up in competition just round the corner. When we first started we had a meeting with the local Maire to explain what we wanted to do and if we could put signs up and where. Lovely guy gave us every help. Six years later, Brits moved in round the corner and overnight whacked up their signs on our posts, even had the cheek to put them above ours. No knock on the door to introduce themselves and ask first. Just tread carefully or you may ruffle a few feathers which have already been hard earn't!!