Boiling a frog Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I think that gite owners need to remember one simple fact.People are paying a lot of money to you hoping they are going to have an enjoyable holiday.Our French neighbours (gite owners) only seem to be interested in taking the money, not in providing an enjoyable experience.They shout at guests enjoying themselves around the pool at 10pm because they are trying to sleep .They do not provide any cleaning material but then complain if the gite is left unclean They complain if people spend all day at the pool.They cannot understand that people who pay 1000 euros want the swimming pool to themselves, and do not want all the French owners grandchildren in the pool at the same time as they are.I could go on and on but will stop at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr orloff Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 This is our first year running our gite. I think much of what the OP requires is a matter of common sense and I hope we provide it. We try to furnish the cottage to a good standard - the furniture is mainly sollid oak. We provide a full pack of basics at the start of each stay and we thoroughly clean the gite each Saturday, including under the beds. I must admit though we do provide green plastic chairs and a green plastic table. We'll upgrade when we can but we do think that the facilities and standard are already very fair for the prices we charge.We try to advertise honestly and provide as much useful information as possible. I'm sure there are many excellent gites to choose from, but if you leave your booking decision late then they probably won't be available to you. We try to treat our gites reasonably. We want children to stay with us so we don't mind a few breakages. We won't deduct for any reasonable wear and tear, but please understand that this may lead to a few mismatched glasses. But we too have a few simple requests of guests, most of which are fantastic.1) Please be considerate of the property - For example, we provided a chopping board - so why cut directly on (and into) the brand new worktop? 2) We don't charge you any extra for electricity but please don't leave all the lights on all the time.3) We understand that times are tough for you but please don't ask for enormous discounts - we need to make a living too. 4) If you request a booking then please pay your deposit as soon as you can - we don't want to appear rude by chasing your money and we are not psychic so please tell us if you change your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fi Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote user="Boiling a frog"]I think that gite owners need to remember one simple fact.People are paying a lot of money to you hoping they are going to have an enjoyable holiday.Our French neighbours (gite owners) only seem to be interested in taking the money, not in providing an enjoyable experience.They shout at guests enjoying themselves around the pool at 10pm because they are trying to sleep .They do not provide any cleaning material but then complain if the gite is left unclean They complain if people spend all day at the pool.They cannot understand that people who pay 1000 euros want the swimming pool to themselves, and do not want all the French owners grandchildren in the pool at the same time as they are.I could go on and on but will stop at that.[/quote]I don't think any gite owners here are denying that people renting our properties are expecting to have a nice time. When we set up our gites we thought long and hard about what we would want and could expect within the confines of the property, and tried to provide that for our guests. This is why we provide a full cleaning kit/teatowels/tablecloths etc etc, and no ornaments for children to break[:)]. However, it is up to the client to read the descriptions thoroughly, ask some pertinent questions, and apply a little commonsense both before and during their stay. If a pool is described as being shared with the owners, chances are the owners will want to use it from time to time. Similarly, as a gite owner who lives on site, on the very rare occasions there is a lot of noise and shouting late at night, it is disturbing and annoying for us and our neighbours and I will politely ask them to keep the noise down (haven't yet been told to bog off but I'm sure that will happen one day). Moral of this story - a little consideration in both directions. If the potential renters want everything to themselves, pay the premium for exclusive use of facilities and privacy. It does sound though as if your neighbours should either "give up the gites" or take a chill-pill!Fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote user="dr orloff"]This is our first year running our gite. I think much of what the OP requires is a matter of common sense and I hope we provide it. We try to furnish the cottage to a good standard - the furniture is mainly sollid oak. We provide a full pack of basics at the start of each stay and we thoroughly clean the gite each Saturday, including under the beds. I must admit though we do provide green plastic chairs and a green plastic table. We'll upgrade when we can but we do think that the facilities and standard are already very fair for the prices we charge.We try to advertise honestly and provide as much useful information as possible. I'm sure there are many excellent gites to choose from, but if you leave your booking decision late then they probably won't be available to you. We try to treat our gites reasonably. We want children to stay with us so we don't mind a few breakages. We won't deduct for any reasonable wear and tear, but please understand that this may lead to a few mismatched glasses. But we too have a few simple requests of guests, most of which are fantastic.1) Please be considerate of the property - For example, we provided a chopping board - so why cut directly on (and into) the brand new worktop? 2) We don't charge you any extra for electricity but please don't leave all the lights on all the time.3) We understand that times are tough for you but please don't ask for enormous discounts - we need to make a living too. 4) If you request a booking then please pay your deposit as soon as you can - we don't want to appear rude by chasing your money and we are not psychic so please tell us if you change your mind.[/quote]brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boiling a frog Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I agree with you that they should give up or take a chill pill but from comments made on this and other threads I suspect that the same comment could apply to many gite owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I'm replying with trepidation as I fear this is a delicate subject... but I thought I would post our gite holidays experiences over the last three years. We have stayed in 6 gites and a few hotels in France in this period. I like to think we're a quiet unassuming family, we know what we're looking for, we don' ask for a lot and always leave a clean and tidy gite... we'd never think of leaving damaged or broken property (gite owners must get fed up with that!) and we have never stolen anything (some people are dreadful!) Basically we want clean, comfortable and sometimes we'd like a private pool.We tend to book well in advance, I do use trip advisor and reviews but there are not that many reviews around for gites so it's harder... and we very often book through large rental sites... but I always check for private websites. We've been booking gite holidays for decades so we're old hands at it.3 years ago we booked and paid a high premium for 3 weeks in August for a 4 bedroom gite, with exclusive use of grounds and pool in the Lot. The photos looked great, we provided the owners with details of our party and what we needed. We lived in the UK then so we were very much looking forward to our holiday. When we arrived we were dissappointed. The owners failed to mention that the house that looked so majestic over-looking the valley was infact their home... we 'lived' upstairs in the converted attic looking out over the side of a hill! The pool photos must have been taken with a wide angle lens and we're very mis-leading and the entrance down to the pool was so steep my in-laws couldn't use the pool. In fact we had to really rev the car and approach the drive at speed to get our car up with hill (seriously!). The beds were dreadful... the stairs in the conversion were impossible and dangerous... the sofa looked great but under the cushions were large planks of hardboard where the springs had gone... the outside seating area was beside the duck/chicken house so not only were the ducks and chickens everywhere at meal times, we also had to beware of their poo whenever outside... I'm sure you all get the picture that it was not what we were expecting... clearly we had been mis-led... but the £3000 still left our bank.The following holiday we stayed in a very nice gite, owners perhaps a little too friendly... almost wanting to be our best friends... but the gite was very well presented and the beds lovely. In fact it was almost perfect...except for the garden furniture in the longe. Very nice hardwood but very very uncomfortable. The weather was good so we sat outside for the most part... but as the rest of the gite was so well equiped it seemed odd? Also, whilst not a problem for us the stairs to the third floor were totally unsuitable for younger children, just very steep and going up into an attic floor without proper banister rails... just a hole in the floor really... if I had had young children I would have been very worried... and they had a HUGE dog... she was very friendly but we felt it should have been mentioned as she was free to wander the grounds.The next gite we stayed in... no complaints... but the next... we paid £800 for a week in April and it has to be the worst place we have ever stayed in. The photo on the website wasn't even the gite!!! we complained and stayed a day and moved. The new gite was amazing. These were french owners who lived about 200 yeards away. The furniture was old and big and dark but in keeping, the gite had everything we needed and whilst it was all a bit dated it didn't matter... it was fit for purpose, clean and we all slept well, cooked with ease and the chairs were comfortable and I would go back and recommend it.The last gite... very clean and tidy... the most bizarre thing was we booked for three so they only made up one side of a kingsize bed? our master bed was so uncomforable that in the end I was glad to get home. The sofas were very good and the kitchen well equiped. The shower was fitted in such a way as to make it almost unusable. There was a glass table which I always hate as I fear something will be dropped or damaged... never think these are a good idea but maybe that's just our taste. The owners we're very pleasant and all in all it was ok... just wish the beds had been better.Sorry if this has been long and boring but I just felt that sometimes we clients feel let down by the gites we stay in. I can totally understand how frustrating it must be for owners that do their utmost for guest and then fing your property abused... that would drive me nuts... but there are a great number of less that great properties out there and it's a shame... I can well understand why some people try gites for a year, have a bad expereience and dont try again. We love gite holidays so we'll keep taking them, but maybe all you good owners should insist on some kind of quality standard and ensure that the bad guys cant get it![:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fi Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote user="Boiling a frog"]I agree with you that they should give up or take a chill pill but from comments made on this and other threads I suspect that the same comment could apply to many gite owners.[/quote]I'm still very new at this game and haven't had time to get jaded yet! I just try and let my guests get on with their holiday with the minimum amount of "input" from me. However, when young children arrive, their parents seem to be delighted to discover some "built-in" playmates (my mob) - I just have to guard against being used as an unpaid childminding service [:)] Fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Ok... me again...[:$]... after my essay earlier I thought I would go and see if the worst of the gites had been removed from the holiday company's website... I'm shocked to see that not only is it still there, but no amendments have been made at all... even the photo and the incorrect information is still there. [:@]Maybe it's just me but please have a look at some of these photos and tell me if I am being unreasonable... we paid £890 for a gite at the end of April (not easter or UK holidays) near Lunel in Herault...This is the child's bedroom... what you see is basically the entire room...and these are the steps in and out of the bedroom... this room is specifically advertised as being for a child.[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite11.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite12.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite1.jpg[/IMG]This is the master bedroom... I can appreciate head-height can be an issue in some converted barns but this is sold as a luxury Mas... greyman is 6'1" and getting in and out of bed was a very cautious affair! the only place in the room where you could stand upright was by the door.[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite8-1.jpg[/IMG]This is the landing outside the bedrooms... I feel that as a luxury family villa this is rather basic and unsafe considering the drop below.[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite10.jpg[/IMG]This is the dirt and dead insects on one windowsill... I had to clean like this all over the gite and have about 30 different photos much the same from different parts of the gite[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite3.jpg[/IMG]this is the well stocked library[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite6.jpg[/IMG]these are the magnificent grounds, a place to relax and enjoy al fresco dining (we found the BBQ like this!)[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite2.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite9.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite7.jpg[/IMG]this is to give you an idea of the beautifully appointed, recently refurbished to a very high standard gite...[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite4.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb311/ppspecs/badgite5.jpg[/IMG]We booked though a large well known company that is meant to specialise in quality property. We have complained and written and I am really shocked that their website is still selling this property giving false information and showing an incorrect photo of the house. The mis-selling includes even the most basic details such as this ...detached luxury villa... when it is attached to another house that is nothing to do with the property! I would welcome your thoughts ... but I guess no-one will be wanting to recommend a gite for our half term break in Perpignan now [:$] [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr orloff Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote user="Rose"]maybe all you good owners should insist on some kind of quality standard and ensure that the bad guys cant get it![/quote]Can't do that, unfortunately. But what we can do:We advertise on a Dutch site - it has a guestbook where guests can post their comments directly and independently - so they can give you negative feedback if they want. You then have a right to reply to their comment. We're new to this game so we have only had one comment posted so far - fortunately it is high praise. We have a website and shortly I will be posting our guests comments. Naturally, I will select the most positive comments as I wish the website to remain succinct, but I do also intend to link to a blog where I will post absolutely all the feedback we receive, warts and all. I will do this because I have every confidence in our gite and in the way in which we portray it to potential customers. And if any justified criticism is raised then we will rectify things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianes Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Rose, the gite you stayed at looks horrendous and you have every right to complain.After reading everything on here, it seems there are good and bad guests and good and bad gites. I agree with the person who said that everyone should spend a night or two in their own gite. I know someone who had friends stay in theirs before they advertised it, and asked for honest feedback on what could be improved, or should be changed. Ours is a second home and we stay there as often as we can, so we want it as nice for us as possible obviously and the guests get the benefit. It is also beneficial to be a renter once in a while too, so you can see things from the other side. We haven't been in another gite in France since we bought our house, so can't compare current French ones. We did consider going somewhere different at one point and started looking at other gites, but some were too basic for us, and we were worried we would hate them. We have had one or two short breaks at cottages in England which were interesting. Two were lovely and we picked up some good ideas from them (little touches they had added, and the wording of their letters and term and conditions), but one was horrendous. It looked lovely from the outside - but inside it was a hovel, with cobwebs on the cobwebs, mildew, ancient rickety furniture etc. We did complain to the letting company, but it didn't get us anywhere - and they are still advertising it this year.Some guests seem to want 5 star luxury at 2 star prices .... and some 2 star gite owners try to charge 5 star prices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr orloff Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 The gite is clearly very poor. We wouldn't dream of dangling giant stars from the ceiling at face height!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Dr Orloff... that made me laugh so much!!! [kiss] [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I'm tempted to send this thread as a link to certain gite owners, it's very interesting for those in the business.We've been running a property management business here for too many years - at least that's what it feels like on changeover days. I've been scrubbing loos and extracting used condoms from pillowcases and teddy bears from toilets since the early 1990s.I have also done battle with my client owners over what should/should not be provided in the way of furniture, bedding, equipment, cleaning materials and welcome pack. 'Our' houses have comprehensive 'house notes', with everything from opening times to what not to put down the loo, and importantly how to tell the emergency services where the house is, in French. In case of a heart attack or a stroke this could save a life.Cleanliness is a big problem. Yes in an ideal world a super big clean every week, or at least every month, would be great - but please tell me when to fit it in. These days with fly drive people don't always leave by 10am, others want to be in early and anyway the owners don't want to pay for more than 3-4 hours cleaning (for a house sleeping 6/8) - including checking everything and remaking all the beds. Try doing that in your own house. Included in that time you must defrost the often disgustingly dirty fridge (how do holidaymakers make so much mess in a week?), clean the oven & hob, clean & disinfect all the bins and hoover under the beds as well as flicking a duster and getting mascara off the mirrors. Don't forget the dishwasher filter, the guests never clean that.No, you are not allowed to bring in help, that's ONE person working 4 hours or 2x2!However I am proud to say that in all those years we have never, ever had a complaint that any of the houses we look after has not been clean.Luckily the holiday management side of the business is not now the mainstream work, and Saturdays are generally not too bad. Except for the 8th August (3 properties) and the 15th August (4 properties).I have also been a very disappointed guest in other people's gites, and if disappointed I tell them why, in writing.No, I'm not a housework maniac, my own house is kept in a lived-in state with a quick whizz round if folk are coming to dinner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Well, I can smugly report that I confirm to all the OP`s needs[geek]. I use the maximum allowable number of photos on the listing sites, The majority of the photos are taken by a semi-pro photographer friend of mine. My own website has picture galleries showing every aspect of the gites, multple angles of each room, all exterior angles and of all the grounds. I list the furniture and bed size in each room, and my policy for bed linen and towels is clear too.I keep the online availability up to date, but this is often overlooked by many as I get a hell of a lot of enquiries for weeks that are already full, depite them claiming to have looked at the site.Its clear that the site comprises of the gites and my house, with the outside areas and fazcilities being shared. I rarey use the pool myself, so thats just for the guests. The few times I do use it are on saturdays if I have time between changeovers.I dont provide comprehensive step by step directions, but I do state that the hamlet name is listed in most sat nav devices and I give lat and long. coordinates too. I also have a google map on the site. That way they can plan their own route depending on which of the many directions they come from. I list times and distances to all the nearest towns and cities. Its not diffcult to get here and its well signposted from the road.In The Book in each gite is a list of local shops with opening times, doctors, pharmacies, emergency numbers and basic advice on what to do in the event of power falure etc.I do all the cleaning myself and its done well if my guests comments are anything to go by. Guests are expected to either leave the gite as they find it (i do a follow-up clean anyway as they usually miss things) or they pay the extra cleaning premium. I provide all cleaning products and cloths etc, that way I control what kind of chemicals might be used and go down the drains or possibly leave stains etc.The only thing that lets the gites down IMO is a mix n match of furniture, mostly old fashioned stuff. Its good quality, but pretty dated. Although, all beds had brand new matresseses last year, and all sofas etc have decent quality tailored covers on them.I have never had any real complaints yet. Sure, things go wrong, appliances break and so on, but these problems get put right immediately as I live on site so can react as soon as possible. The last two weeks have seen a dead 8 month old toaster, which I replaced and a telly that has gone all green, which I replaced too. The only "complaints" I had were from one twat who was just a serial complainer - he was kind enough to go through the entire cd and dvd libraries and present me with a list of discs that were dirty. He worked out the EXACT limit of wifi reception, and presented me with a little map -drawn to scale- showing dead-spots of coverage in the garden and the furthermost room of the small gite...I could go on, but I suspect he had some kind of OCD problem. Or maybe he was just a miserable bugger. Nothing was right for him, and I suspect that nothing is ever right for him. His dog attempted to commit suicide during his stay. I would probably have jumped out the upstairs window too if I had to spend much time with the guy.Someone mentioned discounts earlier - I dont haggle on prices and if anyone ever asks outright for a discount, they get a flat refusal. Personaly, I think its the height of bad mannrs to haggle for something you havent laid eyes on yet, and once they have signed the contract, that is the price they pay or they go elsewhere. Im ot doing this for fun or for charity, I do it to make money, and may guests dont appreciate that fact. However, I do offer discount to returning clients and will cut prices as an incentive to fill up odd weeks at short notice or if there are a few odd days between non sat - sat rentals. Also, waiting for a deposit...they are told clearly that when they ask for a rental, I pencil it in for them, but it is not confirmed until I get the deposit. I send the contract and give them 10 days to return it with the deposit. This is more than enough turn around time via the post, and its clear that afer 10 days if I havent received the deposit the slot is opened up again. No exceptions. This means I know exactly whats what, and there is no room for being faffed around.I have stayed in my own gites many times,and do so fairly often off-season. That way I can find what might be needed. Little stuff like the occasional kitchen utensil, more coat-hooks or a better mop bucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Dave said:"I dont provide comprehensive step by step directions, but I do statethat the hamlet name is listed in most sat nav devices and I give latand long. coordinates too. I also have a google map on the site. Thatway they can plan their own route depending on which of the manydirections they come from. I list times and distances to all thenearest towns and cities. Its not diffcult to get here and its wellsignposted from the road."In my experience finding the village or hamlet is not the problem - it's actually finding the house when you get there. I don't have sat nav as I can read a map perfectly adequately - but it is amazing how many times instructions leave out the last final important piece of information eg, what side of the road is it on, does it have a number (and if so can it be seen from the car, or do you have to walk up and down), what colour paintwork, style of house etc - or other distinguishing features.This applies even more so to those places whose photos do not show the exterior, and to visitng friends, family, acquaintances etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 In my experience finding the village or hamlet is not the problem - it's actually finding the house when you get there. I don't have sat nav as I can read a map perfectly adequately - but it is amazing how many times instructions leave out the last final important piece of information eg, what side of the road is it on, does it have a number (and if so can it be seen from the car, or do you have to walk up and down), what colour paintwork, style of house etc - or other distinguishing features. We send a map with annotations, a sketch map in very high detail and photo showing the aproach and where to park for unloading.Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 ditto[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Sat nav gets you to my hamlet, which consists purely of the gite complex. The eighbours are all much further away and there is nowhere ese to go on the access road. Plus the approach is unmistakable from the photos, night or day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Rose, your pictures show a truly dreadful gîte, how could anyone have the nerve to market it for the price you mentioned never mind expect people to stay there for a holiday. Is this the one you moved out of? Were you able to telephone or write to the owners and complain or did the complaint have to go via the agency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Hi Cendrillon - the gite was the one we left. We phoned the holiday company and asked to be moved. The agency at first told us we had to take our complaint to the owner... however, there was so much we were unhappy about we felt that we didn't want to knock on her door and explain that the gite was in a dreadful state and dirty and ill equipped and that she had deliberatly mis-lead her guests by using a photo of her own house and not the gite and by describing her own gardens and not the gite and by stating the gite was detached when it was clearly attached to the house next door... Oh... I could go on!We did get moved and the next gite was lovely... old and perhaps tired in places but that doesn't ever bother us, clean and comfortable is all we really look for and it was certainly that.I have written to the company since and emailed and completed their customer feedback survey... but so far have heard nothing. This thread reminded me and I was shocked to see the property is still being sold with incorrect factual information and the wrong photo... what is most annoying is that this property was inspected in order to be advertise on the site! I have emailed again and I'll await a response... not holding my breath though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Streason Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I have stayed in many gites all over France.I have also just purchased a furnished second home in France and although not renting it out, am letting friends, family and colleagues use it for a contribution to running costs (and a commitment to cutting the grass). So I am seeing a very little bit from the other side.The problem with most gites or self catering acommodation is that ultimately the furniture and quality of interior decor is not as good as at home and no matter how silly or unreasonable it is there is always a first tinge of disappointment on arrival. In my new second home (which used to be let out), every bit of furniture, furnishing, appliance, utensil, rug etc is of lower quality than at home (where I have built up and traded up in quality for over 30 years) The majority in my new property is from Ikea, it is perfectly clean and it all does what is expected of it but it is functional rather than "home".I am aware that this view is unreasonable and hopefully the location, weather, views etc soon make it all back but I do believe that each gite has to make up from an initial slight negative. Perhaps a couple of wow factor luxury items would help (a realy high end coffee maker or music system etc) but thats probably totally unrealistic and you would have to bolt them down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Guests break items from plates through to beds(Clair) whether they be "lower quality than at home" or not. These cost money to replace and in a lot of cases guests do not tell you about any damages if they think they can get away with it, so that cost is left with the owner. Hence Ikea comes in handy.I'm afraid it is, for us anyway, unrealistic to put high end gadgets in our Gites as they would break or get broken in the same time frame as similar items at a reasonable price. They both make the same cup of coffee & play the same music at a good standard.As I read this thread through and see what everybody offers as free extras I wonder how nett monies are made. I'm just waiting for someone to post that they run a free tucking in at night service or a brushing sand out from between guests toes free offer!!! and then try to tell me that its their USP and it gets them repeat bookings.Steve Charente Maritime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 [quote user="Stan Streason"]The problem with most gites or self catering acommodation is that ultimately the furniture and quality of interior decor is not as good as at home[/quote]That might indeed be the case in your property, but not in mine. As we live next door, the rental property is an extension of our home.The property I rent out is not furnished with lower quality items, but with furniture which was in our house in the UK. Similarly, the pictures on the wall, the books on the shelves and the other other knicknacks are all personal items (in the case of the pictures, they were shot and printed by Mr Clair in his days as owner and manager of a pro photo lab).I bought new beds, new sofas and new chairs from Ikea to ensure the maximum comfort at a price my business wallet could sustain.The bed base which was broken last week was one of a pair bought new last year. By luck rather than design, the old bed bases are still in one of the cellars and we were able not to deprive the current visitors of the sleeping arrangement they were expecting, albeit not in the conditions I wanted to offer.I sent the devious sneaky dishonest people an email to express my sentiments, but I don't expect a reply. Made me feel slightly better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 When we first decided to open our house as a holiday let we looked at the various commercial websites and following good advice from Quillan decided which we would use.However we also found Your Holiday Matters (YHM) (www.yourholidaymatters.com) a co-operative whose members have a code of practice and are committed to providing holiday locations as advertised. Potential members are vetted. YHM is too fledgling an organisation to be an effective referrals site but I fully support its aim of bringing integrity to the holiday rentals market.The revised website (with new logo) will be launched soon, inshallah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Streason Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 [quote user="Clair"][quote user="Stan Streason"]The problem with most gites or self catering acommodation is that ultimately the furniture and quality of interior decor is not as good as at home[/quote]That might indeed be the case in your property, but not in mine. As we live next door, the rental property is an extension of our home.The property I rent out is not furnished with lower quality items, but with furniture which was in our house in the UK. Similarly, the pictures on the wall, the books on the shelves and the other other knicknacks are all personal items (in the case of the pictures, they were shot and printed by Mr Clair in his days as owner and manager of a pro photo lab).I bought new beds, new sofas and new chairs from Ikea to ensure the maximum comfort at a price my business wallet could sustain.[/quote]Sorry if it came accross that way but it was really not meant to be a critisism. It is natural that we furnish our homes over years gradually getting better and better stuff as we can afford it. I would not expect the sofa in a gite to be as comfortable as mine at home, or the TV so large, or the garden furniture so expensive or the cooker and fridge etc etc.I was just making the point that I have never been to a new gite and not had that initial small sense of disappointment. In the majority of cases it quickly wears off as better location, views, weather kick in but there have been a couple where we have thought, "why on earth did we bother?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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