franglaise

Congratulations Water Rat and well deserved, your house looks wonderful and very 'cosy' too. We got our 3 epis yesterday too and we're very pleased with that as well (we might go for 4 epis eventually but I'm not sure I want to jump through hoops to get them and I'm not sure if it is really worth it). I have no idea if GdF brings more guests (I have my doubts) but we needed them to get our grant and I suppose they can be useful to get advice (they are also nice people here in the 66). Anyway all the best.

It gets quite bizarre, quite funny and in some ways very French. I phoned the GdF yesterday, spoke to one of the people working there (the one who helped me set up the grant request) and I told him that I really didn't think it was fair to be obliged to remove our links simply because GdF objected to them. To my utter surprise he agreed with me, said that if those websites were bringing me customers, then not to delete them. He added that they had to enter that clause because a few years back they had a complaint from someone who from links to links booked a room (or a gite) which he thought was GdF registered when it was not (or something like that). So the way round it? Exactly what we had considered... a mirror website with which the GdF can be linked while keeping our original website going. It's so French... you make a rule, it's not working so you don't remove the rule, you just ignore it or find ways round it. In some ways I'm quite lucky because the GdF in our department are actually not too officious. Our inspection was very relaxed and friendly and not at all like some of the horror stories I've read. By the way, on the subject of the grant, we need to stay open as chambres d'hotes and members of the GdF for - only - 5 years.

Thanks for your answers. Yes I believe what I wrote is exactly what they mean. I have got their 'charte' and it actually state this. I do not mind linking to them, it's fair enough, but I object having to remove my other links in order to do so. I'm going to phone them on Monday and have a word with them about it. We've also thought of a solution (I'll disclose what it is at a later stage if it works) and I will also check with relevant authorities on the legality of what they're doing.

Hello, We've opened our B&B in July and everything is going fine. For financial reasons (in order to get a grant as we overshot grandly our budget!) we've had to join GdF. The inspection went well, we got our 3 epis (and are in line to get a 4th one and/or a Charmance listing eventually). My problem is the following (I am actually spitting mad). In order to comply with their rules and regulations we have to have the GdF logo on every page of our personal website with a link to the departmental (in our case 66) GdF website, so far so good, no problem. We also need to include the logo and link to the GdF on our link page... yep, we can do that too. But the GdF refuse to appear on the same page as other websites advertising B&Bs which are not referenced by them... websites such as chambres-hotes.org or ourinns or iha.com and therefore they are asking us to remove all our links from our website in order I guess not to contaminate them (honestly!). I cut/pasted their mail to us: Je viens de vérifier votre site ; il parait conforme à notre Charte de lien Internet sous réserve de : - noter à la rubrique "lien" le nom de notre site départemental des Gîtes de France - Par contre les sites paraissant dans la rubrique "lien" font référence à des structures qui ne sont pas labellisées Gîtes de France, et qui peuvent donc induire en erreur les personnes qui consulteront votre site ; ceci n'est pas conforme à notre charte de lien (cf article 2 - engagement du propriétaire - 6ème paragraphe) : il faudrait donc supprimer ces liens   As I wrote above, I'm livid with rage. How dare they dictate to us what can or cannot appear on our personal website (as long as it is not illegal or discriminatory). I don't remember giving them the right to rule my life. Some of those websites actually do bring guests and we have to have a reciprocal link with them if we want to appear on their website, so the GdF are actually trying to stop us earning a living. Can this be really legal? I remember that they were fined a couple of years ago for unfair competition or something like that.   Have any of you come across that rule, and what did you do about it? It so goes against the grain to submit meekly to their petty rules.   Scrogneugneu (or grumblemumblegrumble in English).   Thanks for any advice you may have.

Hello everyone, Just 20 days till opening day after 2 and a half years of major renovation work (we still haven't got water and electricity but they should be connected next week... it's been a nightmare). Anyway being optimists or extremely foolish people, we have already taken some bookings for the summer so I would like your help regarding invoicing. Would someone mind sending me a template or sample invoice that they are using so I could see what information is required? We're not yet Siret registered (I am currently working in an estate agency and I am thinking of waiting to see how the business goes before I go to the Chambre de Commerce). Many thanks in advance (and also for all the previous postings on this forum which have been very helpful). If I find time (ah... optimism rearing its ugly head again), now that I am going to be a fully-fledged 'chambriotière', I'll try to participate to the forum a bit more. All the best Franglaise French born but British expat!

Hello, We are in the process of converting an old winery into a B&B. Work should start next week and we will not be opening until next march. Do I have to register with the mairie before the 31st of December our chambres d'hotes (which will not be operational by then) or can it wait until we actually are ready to open? Thanks. Franglaise

[quote user="Llantony"] And Benjamin - you could be right so I might just wait.  But the Mairie is far from consistent in enforcement.  Friends wanted to put in a small pool (cannot be seen from the street) and were told it must not not be blue, but looking at photos of the village in the display at the Mairie, there are several bright blue pools already.  Likewise, Velux windows in roofs are not allowed but we can see about a dozen from our garden. [/quote] Hello, Regarding the last paragraph, you may find that the Mairie might not be responsible for new rules. If there is a listed building in the vicinity any new building permit requests will be checked by the Batiments de France who have got strict rules about what they allow or do not allow. Of course any new building rule is not retroactive and that is why you may find houses with blue pools and/or velux windows in a conservation area where they are not allowed anymore. As for the problem with the Mairie, the best is to go and see them in person when you're next there but in the meantime to write to them acknowledging receipt of their letter and explaining that you cannot come to France until Easter for family reasons.

Hello, sorry I can't seem to find the general reply button. Many thanks for all your answers. I do understand that most (all?) French B&Bs do not offer the facilities but since I consider that it is really a plus I think the idea is worth importing. As we live down south we will certainly have tiled floors (or maybe wooden) in the bedrooms so I am not too bothered about the risks of spillage. Basically, what I intend to do in our B&B is to give our guests the same level of service I would like to find when travelling, and that includes (among other things) tea and coffee in the bedrooms. We're very far from opening our B&B (haven't even started on the renovation of our house) so I'm sure I'll have many more questions to ask. This forum is a lot more active that the French equivalent! Thanks again.

Hello, Although French is my mother tongue I am struggling! I have been trying to find out what is the French translation for 'tea and coffee making facilities'. I've looked at numerous chambres d'hotes websites but I haven't found anything (I know that tea and coffee making facilities in French B&Bs are unusual but in my opinion - having become almost British- it is not a luxury but almost a necessity). Do you provide this service in your rooms and if so, how is it advertised on your website? Thanks.

Hello. I have been viewing this forum for a few months (very useful) but this is my first posting. We have recently moved to France (departement 66) and are getting our house converted to create 4 chambres d'hotes (that's for the background). We are also getting a swimming pool which will be used by our guests as well. One of the sale person told us that she had been in touch with the Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales and according to them the swimming pool must have a sufficient pomp to filter the whole of the water within 1h30, be equipped with a shower and a separate 'pediluve' (foot bath). I have asked the Gites de France of our department if this was the case and they said that no such regulations - which would greatly increase the cost of the swimming pool - were in force. Do you know of any such regulations? If so are they enforced? Have you been in this situation? I would be most grateful for your comments. Thanks. Franglaise French born but British expatriate