|
What better way to relax with your family than on a cheap holiday in the French countryside? Imagine the freedom of waking up to the sound of birds singing outside your gîte then strolling to the village bakery for some fresh croissants to take back and eat on your sunny terrace as the smell of coffee eases you in to the day. Staying in a holiday cottage in France is a cheap way of enjoying the country’s wonderful assets. Exploring the countryside on foot costs nothing and wandering around a market makes you feel like a local – buying food to cook in your self-catering accommodation can work out cheaper than eating in restaurants. The Affordable France website will regularly list special offers selected by the France Tourism Development Agency, from holiday apartments or villas, coastal holiday cottages in the north of the country to gîtes on farms in the sunny south. There are several different kinds of gîte in France, which means plenty of options for cheap holidays. A gîte rural will be in a rural location by the sea, in the mountains or in the heart of the countryside; a gîte d’étape is basic accommodation for short stays, like a youth hostel, for walkers or cyclists and a gîte équestre is for horse riders and has facilities for horses. Whichever you choose, a gîte is usually attached to or in the grounds of the owner’s accommodation; some even offer B&B and table d’hôte. Most people from Britain and Ireland who stay in holiday cottages in France arrive by car – there’s no problem with parking and it’s usually necessary to have four wheels to reach some of the more rural accommodations. Staying in a holiday cottage can be great fun for families with younger children as there are often plenty of animals around. If you’re staying in a farm, some owners even allow children to help them feed the farmyard animals and some offer horse-riding or trekking with donkeys and llamas. You will live a real rural countryside experience! A gîte holiday in the French countryside can be a fun, relaxing, healthy and cheap holiday for all members of the family. Check out the section to find your perfect holiday home in France! |