In theory for a property to be called a gite the owner must live close by so that they can be available to help and welcome their guests. Often gites are old farm employees cottages or properties converted from outbuildings or barns on land in the owners grounds or gardens. These days gites can be opulent and you'll get top class accommodation and even pools, it is rather more likely they're now vacation cottages but can still offer good price family accommodation. The foundation of a gite is it was the barn or outbuilding at the base of a French familys garden so that they can have a tendency to be quite tiny. So you'll see more families going with folks, bros and sisters in tow. 1 or 2 may select local hostels, or chambres dhotes, the French equivalent of B-and-B. The primary reason folks tend to not think ab out this option is cost, though that concern isn't obligatory. Costs differ from area to area, so to reach a real comparison, we are able to take figures from the favored Cote Fleurie, an area approximately encircling Deauville. To give a fair comparison, 10 of each sort of accommodation were selected, with the highest and bottommost costs overlooked, to give a fair median figure : 3 Bedroom Gites - These were chosen from gites that offered detached accommodation, good garden space and a comfy standard of furniture.
We probably did have to barely broaden the area to find appropriate chateaux though not too far. All costs were calulated on a top season basis and any separately listed necessities ,eg bedding, or fuel costs. It can be surprising to see that an outwardly opulent vacation castle in France can work out far less expensive per head than a modest vacation cottage or gite. Because of this, and for the sheer opulence, French castle hire is more popular but be aware they do book up early so plan far ahead to get the very finest French chateaux available.
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