Why Choose a French Chateau
When going to France on holiday you normally have a good choice of accommodation, hotels, B&Bs, Gites, Luxury Villas and even Chateaux. Most of these will be recognised by English holidaymakers though some may not be aware what a gite is.
Theoretically for a property to be called a gite the owner must live close by so they can be on hand to assist and welcome their guests. Generally gites are old farm workers’ cottages or properties converted from outbuildings or barns on land within the owner’s grounds or gardens. They used to be regarded as basic accommodation as originally they only had fundamental facilities and were a cheap way to holiday in France. Nowadays gites can be luxurious and you may get top class accommodation and even swimming pools, it is more likely they are now holiday cottages but can still offer good value family accommodation.
The basis of a gite is that it was the barn or outbuilding at the bottom of a French family’s garden so they can tend to be quite small. These days there are more and more extended families going to France on holiday. So you will see more families going with parents, brothers and sisters in tow. This could mean up to 20 people going abroad together so perhaps a gite isn’t quite the right thing and if you want to stay together in the same property you may need something bigger unless you want to reside in separate properties. But having everyone in one place is the favoured way for most families to holiday, then you have the advantage of having babysitters to hand, you can organise all your trips over dinner but most of all you get to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Budget is always an issue but sharing your holiday with your own family or indeed another family is a great way to cut costs. You can afford some really sumptuous places if the cost is shared and may even be able to holiday in a French chateau or even a castle.
It can be surprising to see that a seemingly luxurious holiday chateau in France can work out far cheaper per head than a modest holiday cottage or gite. For this reason, and for the sheer opulence, French chateau hire is increasingly popular but be warned they do book up early so plan well in advance to get the best French chateaux available.
Chateau holidays are ones which invoke powerful memories for families and can linger in the memory for far longer than most holidays, probably because of the surroundings and because you are sharing the times with your loved ones. Some of the advantages of a chateau holiday are:
• The interiors can be old and authentic and you can experience taking a step back in time whilst still maintaining a modern feel with all the facilities you would expect.
• The exteriors are normally lavish with grounds and magnificent gardens which provide a truly striking backdrop for holiday photographs and a great place for the kids to play and explore.
• Many Chateau also have their own private swimming pool so you can relax with your family and enjoy the pool or just unwind by the side for a truly relaxing time.
• Because most chateaux were owned by the richest families in a region they have the best settings and locations and you benefit from having excellent views and good access to which ever French region you choose.
So get you family together and start planning you next French holiday but this time in an impressive French chateau. Let your fairytale dream come true and combine comfort and homeliness with opulence and luxury. This is your chance to enjoy a holiday in a real French Chateau.