Self catering gites in the Ardeche, France

COUNTRY:
France
LOCATION:
Ardeche, South of France
PRICE:
From 345 - €1625 per accommodation per week
MORE INFO:
Price depends on size of property and time of vacation
LATE AVAIL:
We have late availability from now until the end of June. Please inquire.
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Self catering gites in the Ardeche, France

Self catering gites in the Ardeche, France

How this vacation makes a difference

We are aware of the impact that tourism can have on the social and physical environments that we work in. We strive to make this impact positive wherever possible and to do our part in minimising damage or waste. We act by ensuring that guests are given up to date information on local events and directives and that they take part in the village recycling scheme and community events. We work hard to train and educate our staff so that they in turn can advise our clients on how to enjoy the region without having negative impact on the environment.

In addition to the physical concerns, we believe that it is vital that we work in partnership with the communities that we live in and to embrace the cultural and linguistic differences. All of our English speaking staff are given lessons and advice on French speaking and are obliged to converse and interact at every opportunity. Wherever practical, we work with local companies and suppliers to provide services for our clients. We believe that this not only improves our local relationships but it adds to our clients experience and improves understanding of the local environment for all involved.

We always try to:

- Remove all of our litter (and a little extra!) when we are in the outdoors.
- Encourage our guests to use green transport or offset emissions where possible for international travel.
- Reuse or recycle wherever possible.
- Respect wildlife and habitats by using established trails and not altering the natural environment in any way.
- Minimise consumption of artificially stored water and electricity by close monitoring and using devices such as timers to prevent waste.
- Manage our properties in order to limit energy consumed to heat or cool them.
- Make recommendations to our guests regarding how to care for the local environment.
- We try to raise awareness of local, sensitive environmental issues.
- Offer opportunities to visit local heritage sites, local historical buildings and national parks.
- Work with local businesses to provide activities, accommodation, shopping and meals.
- Visit and, where possible take part in local shows and events.
- Buy locally produced foods (we’d be crazy not to – its great!).
- Behave responsibly and with respect for the community by encouraging considerate interaction and conduct.
- We like to take a moment to consider how our presence may be perceived by those around us and to behave accordingly.

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Self catering gites in the Ardeche, France

Reviewed 06 Jul 2011 by Gabrielle Heyse-Moore4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


The views and the food and drink in the area.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


The village is very secluded and the nearby shops (a 5 min car or cycle ride away) only open between 9.30am & 12.30am and 3.30pm & 6pm, so if you arrive to the gite out of these hours (and are not planning on a car journey then. I recommend you bring food with you for the first night, or there is a restaurant at the end of hill (to the back of the village) next to the river which is a 10 min walk away.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, perhaps through more business as the villages seem that they would be very quiet in the winter. However, the gite and facilities are very discreet within the quiet village.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


9 out of 10. A very beautiful, relaxing experience.

Reviewed 28 Aug 2011 by Michel Rener3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


Activities around the area.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Make sure gite is cleaned before coming. Need more knives and forks.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


Great.

Reviewed 03 Jun 2010 by Penny Johnstone4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


It is almost impossible to highlight any one part of this wonderful vacation. It was the sheer attention to detail, excellent itineraries and food, thoughtfulness towards clients and generosity of all involved in the organisation, to pass on their considerable knowledge about the area that made it all so perfect. We enjoyed some wonderful walking and learned a great deal about the environment. Rosie, Alex and their colleagues were always flexible in their planning so that they could meet people's individual needs rather than their own. The area itself was stunning and we saw the very best of it, including golden eagles.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Go with no preconceived ideas and make the very most of a fantastic week. Rosie and Alex invite you to treat the lodge as your home and they really mean it.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, everything was sourced as locally as possible (including foraging) and Rosie and Alex are passionate about minimizing the impact on the environment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


Excellent

Reviewed 24 Aug 2010 by Stephen Williams2 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


Day trips.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


If you want to organise the activities do so before you go.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Possibly.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


Ok.

Reviewed 18 Sep 2009 by Danielle Toutoungi4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


Kayaking on the Ardeche river!

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Beautiful gites, very cosy and well-equipped, and a lovely pool. Village is very peaceful, but has no shops or restaurants (one bar, open at random times!), so a car is really essential. Goudargues, about 10 mins away (by car), is a larger village with plenty of restaurants, 2 bakers, a butcher, a greengrocer and a good supermarket. The area is very unspoilt, mainly vinyards, hills and gorges, and the locals were very friendly.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Certainly the local shops, restaurants and bars benefit from visitors to the area. The gites blend in perfectly to the local village and visitors are encouraged to recycle and not to waste water. Easy to travel there by train (Eurostar then TGV to Avignon) - the only downside is the need to drive to get food etc.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


Extremely relaxing! Fantastic weather, lovely accommodation, very uncrowded and unspoilt countryside and villages and plenty of good food.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!

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