Self-Catering France

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Self-Catering Self-Catering France VFB Holidays 

	VFB Holidays
Normandy House, High St, Cheltenham Glos. GL50 3FB			MAP
tel: (01242) 240 340; brochures (01242) 240 310

Award-winning French specialist with 350-plus properties, started in 1970. Prepares a fact sheet for clients with four pictures of the holiday home after your provisional booking and before you commit. An en route hotel booking service is offered. The web site includes links to local tourist boards, travel advice, quarantine laws etc, plus a cottage search facility and property fact sheets, plus booking facility.
They describe themselves as ‘painstakingly selective about what we offer,' which is combined with ‘on-the-spot quality control'.

Where

The Alps/Jura, Alsace/Vosges, Ardeche, Auvergne, Brittany, Burgundy, Cote Atlantique, Dordogne/Lot, Gascony/Landes, Gorges du Tarn, Languedoc/Roussillon, Loire, Normandy, Pays Basque/Pyrenees, and Provence.

Style

French-owned, in local rural style, some modern. Around 35% offer pools. Range from a two-bedroomed seaside cottage in Brittany to an 18th century ‘mas' sleeping eight, with its own pool, in Provence. The brochure refers to ‘a wide variety of options from character cottages with the emphasis on comfort and the practical needs of families, to luxury villas with pools. Around 60% of properties offer a washing machine and/or dishwasher. If you want something more luxurious, the suggestion is that you speak to the reservations staff who can guide you. Owners generally live locally so can welcome visitors and sort out problems swiftly. All are required to be equipped with specific items including a kettle, teapot, iron, ironing board, bottle and tin opener, candles and spare light bulbs. There are also always outdoor eating facilities and a barbecue (except in around five cases where local laws prohibit them to prevent forest fires). All properties are inspected every year.

Season

Year round. Heating is extra as is wood for wood stoves or a fire.

Facilities

Cots are provided to French standards and sizes are indicated on the fact sheets.

Extras

Bed linen and household linen are available at around half of properties, included in the price. Towels are offered for hire at around half properties F134 for a set for two, F37 extra sets. Final cleaning is included in the price.

Sample Price

An 18th-century restored property with pool in Dordogne costs up to £1,395 for the first week for up to six in peak season. Price includes accommodation, ferry crossing for a car and passengers plus personal insurance