New Year, New Website, New Blog

 Welcome to our New Eco-Gites of Lenault Website and Blog

We have recently launched a new website for Eco-Gites of Lenault so please do head on over and have a look.  Let me know if you see any typing errors please!

The new website also has it's own blog attached so I will now be blogging both on this blog and the website.  The website blog will specialise in posts about the France/Normandy, the gite (including special offers etc) and local events, exhibitions and suchlike.  

It is a very simple blog in terms of functionality but PromoteMyPlace who provide the website templates are working on adding more things over time and have already taken on board one suggestion I gave.  There is no option to add  BlogLovin' or "follow this blog" at the moment but I hope these will arrive in due course.  Please do therefore pop by on  a regular basis to see what new posts I have added.  

If you want to add a comment on any blog post please do. I am currently experimenting with Disqus or if you prefer you can add a comment in the simple blog comments box provided by PromoteMyPlace.  At the moment that does not allow you to leave a link to your website but that will change soon (that was my suggestion) - feel free to leave a link in your comment though or use Disqus.  I'd love a comment on my latest post, a great little video some guests created for us.

I will continue this blog with all other topics I write about and of course Animal Tales.  I may look at taking this one in some new directions over the coming months and I have lots of ideas trundling round my head!  Watch this space!  Just time therefore to say:

Happy New Year/Bonne Année everyone and 

I hope 2016 is a fabulous year for you.  

20% off ...

Visit Eco-Gites of Lenault in Normandy France 

and you have 2 ways to get 20% off.

We are offering 20% off all our remaining June 2015 dates

AND

We can give you a code if you are travelling with Brittany Ferries to get 20% off your crossing.

Holidays to Eco-Gites of Lenault just got cheaper!!

But hurry - June will soon be upon us and this is a limited offer ... although we will always have the ferry code.

How to contact Eco-Gites of Lenault:

Via our website
By email
By our advert on Brittany Ferries
By phone - 0033 231 09 27 51 (up to 8pmUK/9pm French time please and we can call back to a landline)

Please contact us with any questions you might have and to make that booking.

20% off all June 2015 dates

We have just extended our May Special Offer:

 *** 20% off all June 2015 dates  ***

at

Eco-Gites of Lenault, Normandy, France

One week was £425 - Now £340

Please visit our website and quote MAYJUNE20 when booking.

What to expect in May and June in Normandy:

Quieter beaches and visitor attractions

Fabulous green countryside and wild flowers

D-day Landing commemorations - June 6th

Equestrian demonstrations every Thursday from June at Le Haras du Pin

Garden Open Days - 5th - 7th June

Normandy Sailing Week, Le Havre - 10th - 14th June

And loads more ....

Please visit our website or email us by clicking here

Quick - it's time to bag yourself a bargain.

20% off all remaining May 2015 dates

 

*** SPECIAL OFFER ***

20% off all remaining May 2015 dates 

at 

Eco-Gites of Lenault in Normandy, France.

Please visit out website and quote MAY20 when booking

May in a wonderful time to visit Normandy:

All the visitor attractions are open and quieter than in July/August.

The beaches can be almost deserted.

The countryside is so green and beautiful.

Please visit our website or email us by clicking here

Be quick and bag yourself a bargain. 

Come and join our new Facebook Group

Not so much a blog post today as a call to get you to come and join our new Facebook Group.

Book your Holidays Direct with the Owner is a new group created by a group of like minded holiday home owners in the UK and France who know that many people like to deal direct with the owner when booking their holidays.  All the holidays featured on the group will be excellent quality and run by owners who are passionate about providing you with the great holiday you deserve.

So if you like to book direct with the owner then come and join us - you can search through albums of holidays that suit what you are looking for (location, type) and put call-outs on the wall for the holiday you want. 

We are also looking for more holiday home owners to come and join us.  What have you got to lose?  There's no fee, you won't lose any money in commission and you'll get to deal direct with your guests.  If you have a quality cottage/gite or B&B in the UK or France and want to spread the word, come and join us today.

Book your Holiday Direct with the Owner

As I wrote about in the previous blog to this one, there are changes afoot in the holiday advertising business that may not be to the advantage of small private owners like us here at Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Rather than sit by and watch our bookings fall, a group of holiday home owing friends and myself have got together to organise a new way to book your self catering holiday - a Facebook group called "Book your Holiday Direct with the Owner".

It is a very simple way of finding a holiday that suits you and enables holiday makers to deal direct with owners and not pay any commission or booking fees.

Holiday Makers

Please come and join our group to where you have 2 ways to help you find a holiday:

Photo Albums

Look through the relevant albums based on where you want to go and what type of holiday you want and contact the owner via their Facebook  page or website

Posts to the Group

Place a post on the group timeline asking for the type of holiday you would like.  Owners will respond and other holiday makers can make suggestions.

Holiday Home Owners

Owners of quality holiday homes and B&Bs in the UK and France are welcome to join the group.  Once a member you will have 2 ways of promoting your holidays:

Photo Albums

We have created a series of photo albums based on location and property type ie child friendly, good for walkers etc. Owners can place one photo in each album together with a short description and links to their Facebook page and webpage. 

Posts to the Group

You can post about your holiday property/special offers/latest availability etc ONCE a day on the group's wall.

Who can join

Self catering cottages and gites
B&Bs
Quality lodges
All properties need to be in the UK and France
At this time however we are not accepting static caravans.

So come on, what are you waiting for:

Owners - come and be part of a new way to sell your holidays. 

Holiday makers  - if you don't like paying commission and you like dealing direct with holiday home owners come and join "Book your Holiday Direct with the Owner" right now! 

How people book their holidays.

Posted by Rosie

I recently compiled a small survey to try and find out a bit more about how people book their self catering holidays as obviously this affects how and where we advertise Eco-Gites of Lenault.  It also came on the back of big changes taking place at one of the main booking sites we use, Owners Direct.  Whilst some improvements will benefit owners like us many others will not. We are particularly unhappy with:

Instant Quotes

Owners Direct will soon be giving Instant Quotes to holiday makers based on the information we input onto our site. However this will not be able to take account of variations in price based on so many factors such as different rates for short breaks, special offers and different prices for different numbers of people staying.  We simply cannot understand why Owners Direct want to do this.  The whole ethos of Owners Direct is that holiday makers deal directly with the owner without any middle man.  In the past this has worked very well for holiday makers and owners alike.

Book Now Buttons

Holiday makers will be able to hit a book now button and book their holiday without any contact first with the owner. This may involve a booking fee/commission added on to this price.

Tiered advertising fees

At the moment when a holiday maker puts in their search criteria to Owners Direct a random  list of suitable properties comes up but soon this list will be affected by a number of things. Some make sense i.e. the quality of the advert, whether the availability calendar is regularly updated and properties with good reviews appearing higher up lists (although the latter is unfair if you are just starting out and have no reviews).  Some are less fair and/or it is less clear if they will be used i.e. properties that allow credit card payments may appear higher up the lists.  There is, however, one factor that is completely unfair - owners will be able to pay for 5 levels of advertisement from the current classic listing (just under £300 per year) through bronze, silver, gold and up to platinum.  The more you pay, the higher you appear in the listings. A platinum listing will cost just short of £900 per year.  This amount is completely beyond the reach of most owners like us but is within the budget of the agencies who are now also allowed to advertise on Owners Direct.

With these changes afoot I compiled the survey to try and glean a bit more information about how people like to book their self catering holidays.  Thank you to everyone who kindly filled it in.  Some results really jumped out at me:

Book Now Buttons

We are on one site with a book now button and have just, last night, received our first booking through the site.  I do, however, wonder if people actually don't like this method and do like to talk to the owner before parting with what can be a considerable sum of money.

Would you use a Book Now button?

36.1% - No
32.3% -Maybe
31.9% - Yes 

What attracts holiday makers to a particular holiday rental site?

What do people like about the particular sites they use to book a holiday?

Thinking about the rental site you go to first when looking for a holiday, why do you choose this site?

50.6% - Deal direct with the owner
30.5% - Do not pay commission
22.5% - Other
19.5% - My payment is protected

Finding properties

How do holiday makers like their search results to be listed?

By what method do you like your searches to appear on a holiday rental site after you have clicked on your criteria? (Multiple choice)

72.2% - Random list
69.1% - Those with better reviews at the top
5.6% - Those which accept credit/debit card payments at the top
1.9% - Those properties where owners have paid more to be listed higher at the top

Which of the above points do you most like?

50.6% - Reviews
48.8% - Random
0.6% - Credit/debit card
0% - Tiered  

Commission

In these financially hard times would people prefer to pay commission and in doing so protect their holiday from, for example, scammers or misrepresented  properties?

How do you feel about paying commission on your holiday?

63.9% - I dislike paying commission
36.1% - I don’t mind paying it if it gives my booking security  

Summary

From my (probably not at all statistically significant) survey I can conclude that:

• There are mixed views on using a book now button 
• Over 50% of respondents want to deal direct with the owner
• Having lists of properties appear either randomly or those with good reviews first are preferred and NO-ONE wanted them according to how much the advertiser had paid
• Almost 2/3 of holiday makers do not like paying commission.

All in all then, Owners Direct are not heading in a direction that suits many holiday makers and owners like us.  We have until our subscription runs out at the end of the year to see how they perform for us but in the meantime, myself a group of friends are getting together to offer a new way to book your holiday - via Facebook.

We have created a Group where owners can promote their properties and holiday makers can search through the properties, which are grouped according to location and type. They can also put a call out on the group for a particular type of holiday.  It's called "Book your Holiday Direct with the Owner".  Do head on over and join if you either book self catering/B&B holidays or provide these in the UK or France.  All holidays advertised will be commission free and you'll get to talk directly with the owner before making you final decision.

How do you book your holiday?

Posted by Rosie

With some big changes currently occurring in one of the main sites we advertise the gite on I feel that we need some feedback about how people book a self catering holiday, such as at Eco-Gites of Lenault.  I have therefore designed a survey and hope that the results should help us decide the best way to market ourselves over the coming months and years. 

I would be really grateful if you could fill in the survey below and point any friends or family to this post, if they, too, book self catering holidays.  The survey take no more than a couple of minutes to fill in and is totally anonymous ... although if you want to add any more points or feedback you can do so with a comment here.

Many thanks in advance.

Survey Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who filled it in

 

FAQs at Eco-Gites of Lenault

Posted by Rosie

We get lots of questions by prospective guests to Eco-Gites of Lenault so here are the answers to a few of the most common ones!

How far is the nearest beach, restaurants and supermarket?

Beach - 1hr - the Normandy D-Day Landing beaches which are wonderfully sandy and often have life guards patrolling in summer

Restaurants are in the local towns from 11kms away and we now also have a pizzeria in Lenault open every other weekend.

Supermarket - 11kms with a fabulous bakery just 5 kms away.

Is Eco-Gites of Lenault children friendly?

Absolutely and we provide loads of kit for babies, toddlers and children. Have a look at this page on our website.  We are also great for all adult groups and couples too and hide away the kiddy stuff  for these guests.

What is the nearest airport or train station?

The nearest airports is Caen, Dinard and Deauville and the nearest large train station is Caen.  You can hire cars from all these towns. If hiring a car from Caen (pronounced Con) but be careful if telephoning that they understand you want it at Caen not Cannes. Apparently it is a common problem.

This blog post here gives details of all the different ways you can get to Normandyand details are also on our website.

Do you supply bed linen, towels and loo rolls?

We supply bed linen, a bath mat and tea towels but not towels. If bringing towels is difficult for you please contact us and we can supply you with some towels although I doubt they will be matching!  We also ask that you bring bedding for the travel cot if used.

Loo rolls - of course!

How do we get the keys?

We live next door and are here to greet you.  If for some unforeseen reason we cannot be here we will liaise with you beforehand over what to do.

Is cleaning included in the price?

We offer 2 options on cleaning:
Option 1 - you can clean the gite yourself so that it is in the same state as when you arrived and ready for the next guests (all materials and equipment supplied)
Option 2 - you can pay us to clean the gite in which case we ask that you leave the gite tidy, with everything put away and the washing up done. This cost 40€ payable in cash on arrival.

Does the gite have mobile reception and internet access?

Yes to both and we will give you the WiFi code on arrival.

What is the kitchen like?

The kitchen is fully equipped and should provide all the utensils and plates etc for your stay.  It includes a fridge, microwave, coffee machine, toaster, oven, hob and kettle.  There's also a BBQ in the garden.

Is there a TV and/or DVD player?

We offer this as an optional extra with TV and DVD player for a week costing €25 or €40 for a fortnight's stay.

Is the gite smoking or non-smoking?

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not allowed in the gite nor any of the buildings but you can smoke in your garden. Cigarette ends must be disposed of in an outside bin, not house bins.

Is electricity included in the price?

Yes.  The rental price also includes gas and logs for the wood burner.

Will I have to pay a deposit?

Yes, we ask for £100/€150 to secure the booking and full payment 6 weeks before your arrival.  For stays of 3 nights or less or when booked less than 6 weeks before your arrival we ask for full payment at the time of booking.  We also ask for a £150/€200 security deposit to be paid and this will be returned to you in the week following your departure after a positive inspection of the gite.

Is there a washing machine?

Yes

What type of beds are there? Are there cots?

There is one double bed and 3 single beds (one twin room and one bed on the mezzanine).  A travel cot is available free of charge and we may be able to source a second cot if you are travelling with 2 children under two.

Eco-Gites of Lenault website

Click here to send us an email

Or telephone: 0033 231 09 27 51 

(up to 9pm French time/8pm UK time please)

Calvados in France - a brilliant video

Posted by Rosie

I wasn't going to do a blog post today and then this video popped onto my Facebook timeline and I just had to share it.  Quite simply it is 1 minute 23 seconds summing up all that is wonderful about Calvados, the department of Normandy in France where Eco-Gites of Lenault is.

Sit back, watch, enjoy and then start planning your trip over here.



We currently have availability in the gite from Sept 4th 2016 if you fancy coming over and seeing Calvados for real!
 
Our website

Dogs Welcome in our Normandy Gite

Posted by Rosie

... but conditions do apply.

I have recently joined a Facebook page for cottage owners to promote their dog friendly accommodation and for holiday makers to put out requests for suitable holidays.  So far so good.  It is however, a big group and as with any big group sometimes some less than pleasant individuals join in, throwing their weight around and bullying other members.  A while back just such a person (or two, in fact) reared their ugly heads.  Apparently, as I missed the main thread before it was removed, certain group members were complaining that cottage owners discriminated against holidaymakers who wanted to bring 4 or more dogs.

It then all got very mouthy.  Funny how that can happen with the anonymity that the computer gives you.  I came in to the conversation pretty much as the site admins were telling people that we are all grown ups, there should be no bullying and owners have the right to accept as many dogs as they want and charge as they see fit. 

Which brings me to our dog conditions. Yes, we do allow dogs at Eco-Gites of Lenault but because not all our guests like dogs and because we have other animals here, we do set some conditions.  These conditions are what work for us and it is our view that if they do not suit you then you would not be happy on holiday here and you'd need to holiday somewhere else that does suit you and your dog(s).  We take a maximum of 2 dogs and do add a charge for dogs staying because, however well the owners clean on departure, we will always do an extra through clean before the next guests arrive, just to be sure there is no evidence of dogs in the gite ... and that takes extra time. We also do an thorough search of the play area etc. in case pooch has left us a little leaving present that even the most vigilant of owners has missed.

If therefore, you are a dog owner and would like to come on holiday to Normandy, please do consider Eco-Gites of Lenault.   There are more details here on the dog page of our website and feel free to ask any questions as we may be flexible with your needs.  If you are travelling by Brittany Ferries they have details here on bringing dogs over on their boats.  Other cross Channel operators will also have their own pages giving relevant information.  And once you are here remember that we have footpaths that start right from our back gate.  Great walking for you and for your four legged friends!

Saari on a spring walk with canine friends

5 reasons to visit Normandy in February and March

Posted by Rosie

February and March may not be your first choice as a time to visit Normandy for a holiday but let me take just as little time to explain why it might actually be a very good idea.

1.  Prices are reduced

Our low season prices mean you can stay in the gite for just £350 for a week including electricity, gas and firewood.  We are happy to take short breaks at this time and a 3 night break is only £225.  Furthermore if just two of you stay we will reduce this price by 15%  and you can bring a cot sleeping infant without losing this offer.  This includes the week commencing February 14th which is Valentine's Day.  For those with school aged children this week is our only remaining week in English school holidays until Christmas. 

2.  The weather

How often do people complain how miserable the weather is. OK, so we can't guarantee it won't be any better here but there are advantages to that - there will be a different view to look at even when it is raining (does yours currently include a goat or some ducks?) and when there is a break in the clouds you can head straight out on a walk with an extensive footpath network starting right at our back gate.  And if you are stuck indoors you can snuggle up in front of the fire with your favourite beverage whilst you read or play games with no chance at all feeling guilty that you are totally relaxing!

3. Something to look forward to very soon

January can be a miserable month.  The summer holidays seem such a long way off, Christmas is just a memory and you really could do with something to cheer you up.  Wouldn't a trip to France be just the thing to banish some of those January Blues?

4.  Piglets and lambs

We have piglets.   Need I say more?  And the lambs are starting to appear already around the countryside.  Who doesn't love a field full of lambs?

5. What to do

Most of the main tourist attractions will be open and everywhere will be quieter.  You'll have Falaise Castle almost to yourself, I bet you won't have to queue to see the Bayeux Tapestry whilst the cobbled and narrow streets of Le Mont St Michel will be less crowded.  If the weather does stay wet during your stay and you have come with toddlers who need to run off some energy you can visit one of the soft play areas where they can run around until they wear themselves out.  There are also plenty of events and exhibitions happening and here are some links with details of things going on in February and March.

Tempted?
For further details visit our website here
Or email us by clicking here.

Easter at Eco-Gites of Lenault, Normandy, France

Posted by Rosie

Bookings have come in thick and fast since Christmas and now we only have a handful of school holiday dates left for 2015.  One of those is Easter week.  Could we therefore tempt you to come and spend Easter in Normandy this year?

Sat 4th -Sat 11th April 2015 is currently available and whilst we cannot be flexible at the end of the week, due to an existing booking, we can at the beginning.  So if you wanted to come a bit earlier that would not be a problem.

Do you need a bit more convincing?  Here is just some of what this region of Normandy has to offer at Easter time:

Chocolate

French chocolate is delicious and their Easter creations are wonderful.  Eggs feature but also you'll see plenty of chocolate chickens, fish and rabbits, all beautifully wrapped.

Spring

By Easter spring will be on it's way.  The road verges and paths will be full of wild flowers and the swallows will be on their way back for the summer.  We may have ducklings by then and if the weather has been dry our piglets will be out in the fields.

Warmer weather

In fairness I cannot guarantee this but on many Aprils in the past it has been warm enough to eat out in the garden, and the gite garden is nicely sheltered. 

Tourist attractions

All the main tourist attractions will be open but considerably quieter then in summer.  You'll have more time to marvel at the Bayeux Tapestry and less crowds to deal with at Mont St Michel.  You never know, our local zoo at Jurques may well have new arrivals.

Chocolate

Did I mention chocolate?

Wine, cider and calvados

You can come and stock up on plenty of white and rosé for the summer ahead at delightfully low French prices.  And seeing as we are in Calvados with all it's apple orchards you could also take home some cider and calvados, the spirit our department takes it's name from.

Events, Exhibitions and Activities in April

If you are wondering what to do on your break here this page gives a list of what's on  in Normandy in April 2015.  Or you could just chill in the garden whilst the kids wear themselves out in the play area! 
 

Chocolate

Don't forget the chocolate!

Talking about chocolate, if you visit with children, we will be happy to arrange an Easter Egg Hunt for them.  For adults we'll add some Easter goodies into your welcome box.

Eco-Gites of Lenault sleeps 5 plus a baby and the week at Easter is just £425 which if my maths serves me right works out at less than £61 per day and a mere £12 per person per day if 5 people stay.  We also have a code to give you 10% off with Brittany Ferries and we are just an hour south of Caen ferry port.  Further details on all the ways to get us can be found on this blog post.

For further details please visit our website or email us by clicking here. You can also ring us on 0033 231 09 27 51 (Up to 8pm Uk/9pm French time please).

Will it be you who we wish Joyeux Pâques to this Easter?  

New (ish) books and toys for the gite

Posted by Rosie

The boys have been having a grand sort out in their bedrooms.  Ben has pretty much outgrown the bunk bed he has had for 4 about years (he regularly now bumps his head on the ceiling when he sits up!) so he needs to be brought back down to earth as it were.  Tom needs to get back into his room now the wasp nest has been removed but before either of these take place we thought it would be the perfect time for them to have a sort out.  

Junk and broken things were thrown away whilst books and toys, now outgrown, were piled up on the landing.  Some of the books we will try and sell on the local expat site but if that fails we may see if the local library wants them to boost their rather meagre English section.  Within the piles of books and bags of soft toys were some though, that I just could not bring myself to get rid of.  Books I absolutely loved reading to the boys, toys that that hold special memories or just books with wonderful illustrations.  That is where having a gite is a great advantage and today I took 2 piles of books and a large bag of soft toys into the gite. Hopefully these will bring many happy hours of play and reading to our younger guests.

New (ish) books and toys for the gite

The pile to the left are all books in French and with more French guests now staying it's nice to know there will be books for them too!  And we do know that our younger visitors enjoy our books and toys: this was the comment left in our Visitor's Book by guests who stayed here this weekend:

"A lovely cosy gite is a beautiful setting and great toys and books (including Thomas The Tank Engine - all we need!). Thank you very much Rosie, Simon, Tom and Ben for such a warm welcome and delicious food ... and piglets!"

Whilst we cannot always guarantee newborn piglets there will always be a good selection of toys and books for children of all ages.

Do you find it difficult to part with certain toys and books?  Have you some favourites you just cannot let go?

Owners Direct and Watchdog

Posted by Rosie

Back in late summer several British national newspapers ran stories saying how holiday makers were being scammed out of their money when booking holiday.  Fraudsters were hacking into the email accounts of holiday home owners via advertising agencies, then pretending to be the owner and accepting holiday payments for a holiday that of course was not going to happen.  I blogged about this here and wrote about how members of the public could ensure they were not getting scammed.

As with many press stories they do not lie down forever and this week this same story resurfaced on the BBC programme Watchdog.  I have not seen the episode but have spoken to people who have and apparently the advertising agency in question, Owners Direct, did not some across particularly well.  Afterwards there was a flurry of activity on the Owners Direct Facebook page.  Many people said they would never book through Owners Direct again, whilst some were very supportive, saying they had booked holidays without any problems.  There were also a lot of owners who advertise on the site, ourselves included, who wanted to bring to the attention of everyone that this type of story hits us the hardest of all.  We have seen a fall in the number of people looking at our advert on Owners Direct and have had fewer booking enquiries than a year ago.  Owners Direct is part of the large American Company, HomeAway, and as such is probably able financially to weather a storm such as this.  Small individual home owners like us here at Eco-Gites of Lenault do not have such a safety net.

We have spoken to Owners Direct at length about this issue.  They assure us that they are working hard to address the hacking issue.  At some point soon they will be introducing the ability for guests to pay for their holiday by credit card via the company for greater protection.  However that will only be possible for those owners who already accept credit cards and we don't as it is just too expensive for us.  They have also placed information on their website about how guests can protect themselves including a large notice on each advert advising that potential guests ring the owner to confirm the booking.

We would like to inform everyone that as owners we also work hard to ensure that our advert is not compromised.  Sadly, as hackers become more slick we are all too aware that we could fall victim. If you are reading this and want to book a holiday with us then please do give us a ring if you have any doubts.  (Tel 00 33 231 09 27 51).  We are happy to ring you back to a landline to save you the cost of the call.  You will also find our phone number on our website, on our Facebook page and on some of the adverts we have with advertising agencies.  We do respectfully ask though that you ring between 9am and 8pm French time (GMT +1).

7 Reasons to take a Low Season Holiday in France

Posted by Rosie

"Where are you going on your SUMMER holidays?" is a question many of us both ask and get asked.  However holidays do not need to be limited to the summer months and there are some very good reason to take a holiday out of peak season ... which is great if you are some-one with pre-school children or a couple/group of adults without any children in tow!

Normandy countryside in winter

7 Reasons to Take A Low Season Holiday in France

Discounted Prices

Despite what some people say about how holidays cost more in the peak summer months, it is far more likely that owners discount their holidays out of high season in an attempt to fill these more difficult weeks.  Therefore, if you can holiday in low or medium season the price for your holiday should be much lower than in the summer.  The same is true for ferry companies with considerably lower ferry ticket prices in low season.  Oh and we have a code that will give you 20% off with Brittany Ferries crossings.

Flexible Dates

Most holiday home owners will be happy to take a short booking in low season if you cannot make a whole week.  Alternatively they are generally more flexible with dates and will allow a whole week but with midweek change-over if that suits you better (and midweek ferry travel is cheaper).

Special Offers

Many holiday home owners have special offers in low season.  Here at Eco-Gites of Lenault we offer a 15% discount from September to June if just two people stay in gite.  Certain dates are excluded but couples can still bring a cot sleeping infant without losing this reduction.  We are also offering 2016 holidays at 2015 prices if you book before Dec 31st 2105.   More details of all our offers are detailed here.

Quieter Tourist Attractions and Restaurants

Here in Normandy many of the main tourist attractions are still open and much quieter.  For example you will not have to queue to get into The Bayeux Tapestry and with so few other visitors you will have plenty of time and space to admire this fabulous piece of needlework.  Some attractions are also cheaper to get into in Winter.  If you want to eat out you will also find restaurants less packed and no chance of missing out at your favourite place to eat.

Part of the Bayeux Tapestry.  Image from http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk

 

Plenty of Events, Exhibitions and Festivals

Certainly in Normandy there are things going on all year round.  For example in November there are festivals celebrating seafood and cider, in December there are Christmas markets and in January there is a huge antiques fair in Rouen.  The weekly town markets continue all year round and without so many tourists they are less crowded and you will have more time to chat to the stall owners (who love it if you try out your French).  Click here for more details of events throughout low season.

Sale Time (Les Soldes)

In France all shops have to have their sales at given times and the next major sale period is in January. Why not use some of the money you saved on your booking and splash out in the sales?  There are often huge reductions to be had and currently the Euro is weak against the pound so your money will go even further!

Log Burners and Mulled Wine/Cider

You may not have the long evenings of Summer to sit outside but what could be nicer than heading out for a bracing walk around the local footpaths or up at the coast and then enjoy the evening in.  Make yourself a mulled wine/cider or steaming hot chocolate and snuggle up in front of the wood burner.  At Eco-Gites of Lenault there are plenty of books for you to read and games to play so you won't be bored of an evening.  The wood for the wood burner is included in the price of your holiday, as are lessons on lighting the fire if you are struggling!  It's very easy once you know how though.

The wood burner at Eco-Gites of Lenault

Christmas

Finally we could not really end this post without a mention of the festive season.  Our Christmas week is priced at mid season levels (not high) and the weeks up to Christmas are low season.  So even if commitments tie you to family and home for the Big Day itself you could still fit in a sneaky French break beforehand. Come and enjoy the Christmas markets, stock up on wine and presents and enjoy a country where commercialisation of Christmas is much less but town Christmas lights and decorations are fabulous.  Have a look at our Christmas in Normandy Pinterest Board to see what I mean.

I hope by now we tempted you to think about taking a low season holiday.  If so please do get in contact with us for more details and to book your stay at Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Click here to email us or visit our website here.

Christmas Holidays in Normandy

Posted by Rosie

Why don't you and your loved ones do something a bit different this year and spend Christmas in France?   We have availability over the festive period (although New Year is already let) so come and enjoy all that France has to offer at Noël.

The gite will have decorations and a tree and we will add some festive goodies to your welcome box.  The wood-burner will keep you lovely and cosy and the large well equipped kitchen will make your Christmas dinner easy to prepare.

Out and about you can enjoy the wonderful Christmas lights that the towns and villages out up as well as carol concerts, walks round the beautiful countryside and Christmas markets.  

However you may not want to be quite as mad as our boys who had a Boxing Day dip in the sea last year!!

One week at Eco-Gites of Lenault will cost just £400 sleeping up to 5 people and a baby.  

For further details and to make a booking please visit our website here or email us by clicking here.

Our New Magazine Advert and Website

Posted by Rosie

We have had several families who live in Paris come and stay at the gite after a recommendeation by previous guests on a Paris forum.  "Message" is a website, forum and magazine for English speaking families with young children who live in Paris. We have therefore decided that rather than relying on word of mouth through the forum (however good that can be) that we would place an advert in their magazine.

I had never made an banner advert before but a random tweet led me to a site called Canva and after not very long at all I had come up with this.

 
Reducing it down to the right size was a bit of a challenge and I am not sure I did it the most logical way but hopefully I got it right and we will soon have our first ever advert in a paper (and online) magazine.

Oh and have you seen that our new website has now gone live too? ...

http://eco-gites.eu/ 

25% off Brittany Ferries crossings

Posted by Rosie

Updated for 2016

Eco-Gites of Lenault are now advertising with Brittany Ferries through their site Holiday France Direct.  We have joined on their Quick Book commission scheme where we don't pay to place our advert on the site, but Brittany Ferries charges us £29 for each booking made.  We then charge the remainder of the amount to the guest so they don't pay any more than if they booked direct with us.

25% off Ferry Crossings!

The great advantage for guests is that which each booking they will receive a money off voucher for their crossing with Brittany Ferries.  Normally this is 20% but for all bookings made before Oct 7th 2106 the voucher will be for 25%.  That's a BIG chunk of a saving especially if you are looking to travel in peak season next year.

Brittany Ferries Routes

Brittany Ferries sail from Cork, Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth and arrive in France at Roscoff (4 hrs +), St Malo (1½hrs), Cherbourg (2 hrs), Caen (1hr) and Le Havre (1½hrs).  The figures in brackets show how far we are from each port with Caen being the closest and Roscoff the furthest.  Crossings into Le Havre are with the Brittany Ferries Economie sailings where the boats are a little more basic but the cost is lower.

To make a booking and claim your voucher you need to book via our listing here.  Chose your dates, book them with Brittany Ferries and pay them £29.  They will put you in contact with us to sort out the remainder of the payment and further details. We will then charge as normal i.e. a deposit to secure the booking and the balance 6 weeks before arrival.  Terms and Conditions apply as normal as do any additional charges such as dogs (€20/dog per week), TV and DVD rental (€25 per week/€40 per fortnight), first night supper, on arrival shopping etc.

The Betagne leaving Portsmouth

Travelling by ferry is a great way to start your holiday.  The boats are spacious with on-board entertainment, plenty of restaurants and shops and time to start your tan up on deck!

To take advantage of this offer, book your holiday with us before Oct 7th 2016 and reduce your ferry crossing by 25%.  We are already getting enquiries for 2017 and have a week in August booked.  Don't delay and risk missing out.  Book now for great savings!

PS - if you are not planning to use Brittany Ferries then please do book direct via our website - it costs you the same but saves us £29.  Also if you book direct before Dec 31st 2016 you'll get this special welcome hamper of Normandy goodies worth €25.

October half term availability at Eco-Gites of Lenault

Posted by Rosie

Here at Eco-Gites of Lenualt in the beautiful Calvados region of Normandy in France, we have some October half term availability from Oct 23rd to October 29th (as well as dates up to October 12th).  Why not head over to Normandy and enjoy this beautiful corner of France in Autumn (Fall).

Welcome to Eco-Gites of Lenault in Normandy, France

• Stays of 1 nights to a week or more are possible with flexible change-over days out of peak season.
• Prices start from £350 per week.
• Gite sleeps 5 + a baby.
• 10% discount if travelling with Brittany Ferries (ask for details when booking).
• Wood burner with wood supplied keeps the gite super cosy.
• Bed linen, electricity, gas all included in the price (Towels are not supplied but if this is a problem please say so and we can supply some non-matching towels for you).
• Masses of children friendly kit supplied with the gite - high chair, cot (you will need to bring cot bedding), booster seat, stair gates, fire guard, changing mat, potty, kiddy cutlery and crockery, toys and games.
• Large play area and play barn should it turn wet.
• First night supper available on request - lasagne, salad and pavlova or crumble.
• Buy our own eggs (if the hens will start laying again soon!).
• On arrival shopping possible.
• So much to see and do locally - Bayeux, Mont St Mont, Caen, D-Day Landing Beaches, Cemeteries and Museums, Swiss Normandy, walking, markets, art museums, shopping ..... the list goes on.

Play Area at Eco-Gites of Lenault in Normandy, France

Play Barn at Eco-Gites of Lenault in Normandy, France

And if you don't have children then come and visit us at any time!  We will hide away all the children's stuff leaving you to enjoy a very grown up gite.  Why not head out for a walk and enjoy the Autumn colours before heading back to the gite where you can snuggle up with your favourite book and a hot chocolate or glass of wine in front of the wood burner?  You could even order one of our cakes such as this popular chocolate cake:

Chocolate cake at Eco-Gites of Lenault

 Click here are more details on why Eco-Gites of Lenault is so good for couples.

For further details on making a booking please visit the website here.

Alternatively email us here or phone 0033 231 09 27 51 
(up to 8pm UK/9pm French time please)