Renting a house in France

Renting a house in France? Gite rental is a great way to spend a long vacation in France. They come in week long durations, from Saturday to Saturday, and are available in a variety of "quality" levels. The rating system is from 1 to 4 "wheat stalks" (un epi). Some things to know: Gite Rural - you have to have a car; its a rural location and probably very quiet if not isolated. In fact, a car is really a necessity because you will do your own groceries. Doing your own groceries will require that you buy durable bags to carry your groceries because plastic is no longer an option in most of France's grocery stores. Contracts for gites almost always require an advance deposit, but often can be paid by credit card. The balance is due at check in along with a deposit. Make sure in advance if the deposit must be CASH or not!. Linens can usually be rented but for a lot of money. Make sure you have a washer on site! Drying clothes - if no dryer, be prepared for long drying times on the line! Air conditioning - often only in the more luxe properties. Seasons: shoulder and low seasons are often significantly less than high season. Rates are not negotiable as most owners give up the management of their gite rental to the main service Gites de France. See www.gites-de-france.com

Note: if you don't have the time or are unsure of what would be a good choice, Discover France will help you find and book a gite for a modest service fee.

Looking for a villa or luxury apartments? This is probably not the best source for these kind of rentals. There are many companies out there, but one that will go to any extreme for its clients is Homes Away. www.homesaway.com