Our help desk receives enquires on a regular basis. Often these questions are about the same things. These frequently asked questions (FAQs) and the answers to them are given below. This page is constantly being updated as questions are added and others removed once design changes to the website make them redundant.

All questions are listed at the top of this page. If you click the question you'll scroll automatically to the answer.

Answer:

Availability of a house is supplied by the house owner and is shown on each individual page in the availability calendar. You can search for available houses by indicating a certain period in the selection menu on the left-hand side of the website.

I contacted a house owner in Provence through the form on the advert. I get no answer. Can you tell me whether this is house is available?

Answer:

The house owner might be unavailable for a few days or maybe on holiday. Did you try the telephone number? Please allow for a bit of time. 'Gites' has no information other than that shown on the website.

Does 'Gites' check whether the properties really exist? You hear terrible stories now and then. 

Answer:

Gites is a marketing platform, not an intermediary. We cannot give guarantees but we are the first ones to know when something is wrong and we take action immediately. Most house owners have advertised for years on our website. If you are in any doubt don't hesitate to call us.

Our advice: always ask for a rental contract and check the information you receive.

I'm not sure here when the season starts and ends. I am trying to book a week in the end of August. Can I assume that is mid-season?

Answer
The question of when each season begins and ends and which prices apply can only be answered by the owner. It depends on a number of variables: for example in the Alps January is high season, as is the end of August in the Mediterranean, whereas in the Limousin mid-season starts in the middle of August.

'Gites' gives these guidelines to owners:

All weeks with school holidays = High season
All weeks on either side of this = Mid season
All other weeks = Low season

We ask all advertisers to indicate on their advert the exact dates for each season and the corresponding rental prices.

I'm looking for a house to rent in the Auvergne in August, which sleeps 6 and has a pool. Could you please give me a listing of available houses? Can I book through you?

Answer:

In the menu on the left-hand side of the website you can select a very specific choice of search criteria to find the house you want: you can search by region, departement, capacity, availability, with or without pool and even whether there is Internet or not.
You cannot book through us, all enquiries and reservations are dealt with directly by the owner, thereby saving you agency fees.