Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

It really is a good idea....but target it towards the French. They will love it. If I was not so lazy I would steal the idea.

It needs a theme and it needs to be near something. What about ?

Bienvenue | Les Hôtels de Beauval

or in the mountains for climbers. Please not the Dordogne.


You could also run a courses on how to build cob houses...

Basics of Cob Building 7 day intensive workshop, Morayshire, Scotland :: earthedworld.co.uk :: sustainable building environments and sculpture

You could target schools for days out.

I like this idea a lot.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

ET Thank you for the links....will look into them now :thumbsup: As for re-cycling...well I plan on using some wine bottles for some of the furniture like a base of the table for instance may even put some in the walls for coloured glass effect :)

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

Don't you dare steal it! :sneaky: lol

The areas we are looking at have national parks, mountains and sea...I was thinking people (tourists and locals) are drawn to water and woods as well as snow for skiing ... these huts can be used all year round....
Why not the Dordogne? it does have most of those requirements?

We are look anywhere south of Paris atm, although the favorite areas are Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne (A huge area I know), and From Bordeaux to Rocheford to Lyon to Toulouse (A vast area, but until we find the property in there somewhere, that we are happy with ;) )...

Also bare in mind this idea is all in my head...not in my husbands head ;)

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

The problem with the Dordogne and that SW corner of France is that tourism ideas have been done to death by Brit expats. There is too much competition and the area is really not all year round. You will go hungry in the winter. Like I said earlier in the thread you need to have customers every week of the year.

There are so many directions you can take this but location is so important. You need to target the French and French families and French schools all year round and you need a theme. Being located near an attraction (like beauval zoo which attracts thousands each week) is essential. Near Chambord in the Sologne is another example or simply the mountains (Vosges, Parc des Ecrvian, Auvergne, Jura....ski de fond, VTT). Being in the middle of nowhere in the Dordogne would not provide you with sufficient income to survive.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

For "classes vertes"? The kids will love it! But the regulations are probably more strict and they'd need daily entertainment. From experience, the teachers don't do anything to keep them occupied, they consider classes vertes as holidays for themselves....
The most difficult part will be choosing the right location out of all the possibilities in La Belle France.;)

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

Kimkerly, I hope you are still there.

I run a small B&B from my home which is actually two houses knocked into one. The B&B is independent of our half, joined only bey a connecting door into our kitchen.

I am registered with the mairie and the Office de Tourism which is very good at publicising it in a wider area. I pay tax in France because I am always here.
I also work through Booking.com which I have found wonderful to work with. They are always there to help with any aspect of this business.

I don't make a living from it...I do it to generate funds to do up our side of the house and because I like having people here and because I like having something to do.

The guests you will have of course depends on where you settle. I am in Aquitaine and was completely full for the months of July and August but not with Brits...I had two British families all season. I had a lot of French families on their way to Portugal and Spanish families going north to the Bordeaux area...Arcachon etc.

I have learned the following:

French and Spanish families do not eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. They eat a very small breakfast and appreciate fresh orange juice, fruit salad, yoghurt and bread rolls and croissants plus some other interesting pastries.

Do not put pottery lamps by the bed. They break. Buy metal ones.

Screw everything down...I even had a cushion which was on the bed stolen. Put big things in the rooms that do not fit in a suitcase.

A huge draw is a pool. I provide pool toys too.

Be prepared for guests to arrive any time they like although you specify a time.

You should be there all the time. There is always something that needs doing including offering information and advice.

Cob houses are OK for holidays...will you be able to sell them when you want to recoup your costs?

Almost all the guests were really nice people except for a set of Parisians who were incredibly rude.

Good luck...I have enjoyed the experience enormously. But it is hard work when going full tilt in the middle of summer.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

I would counsel against using anything breakable. Like glass bottles.


If it is breakable someone will break it.


And avoid targeting a national set of guests. You just don't know who wil turn up.


Don't rely on skiiers for guests unless you are right next to a resort...resorts have apartments that skiiers rent. Walkers move from place to place so you would often be having them for single nights.Always take into consideration what children want to do...and most of them want the beach. Not endless kms of walking.


As fro winter, I live in a town with a well respected reeducation facility and offers the possibility of renting space to the patients who come for weeks of stay.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

Thanks for the insight Bonnet....much appreciated!

An insight into some-ones life at renting rooms etc out is very very helpful.

It's hard to explain about the glass table....it is not a single glass bottle, but several all stuck together
A bit like this in style,
Attachment 122541
but with clay in between with a wood top... In the cob houses most og the furniture is made out of clay and attached to the building ;)

The sofa is part of the Rocket Mass Heater...
Attachment 122540

But I understand what you are saying.....if its not nailed or cemented down, don't put it in!!

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

Interesting!
But I can't help thinking that you're going to have to invest an awful lot of money in this venture, and you'll have no income between buying the land and receiving your first clients (at least 2 years?)
You said the idea was in your head, not in your OH's - what does he think? Will he have work, bringing in a regular income and giving you healthcare coverage?
Sorry to be so practical, your idea is good, but you have to be realistic!;)

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

That's what men are for, isn't it ? :lol:
The better half's role is to think up ideas on what to spend the money on ;)
OP is right on track :thumbup:.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

I think it's a great idea too!

One of the popular attractions down near Toulouse was the Village Gaulois which was pretty basic when we first moved there but over the years has turned into a great day out. The local schools visit there just about every year.. a classe verte is a good idea too although you might be struggling to find things to do with the kids for a week?

If you could team it up with something like horse-riding or canoeing maybe a "stage" during the summer months is feasible? Parents pay a fairly hefty sum to have the kids taken care of in the summer holidays. We sent our daughter to a horse-riding stage where they slept in teepees, that went down well.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

All good ideas, but wherever minors are concerned, without their teachers or parents to be responsible for them, the regulations are even stricter. The OP would have to set up a "serious" business structure and employ qualified, vetted staff.
I'm playing at Devil's Advocate here, not to put the OP off, but simply to make her aware of all the various regulations involved. Fore-warned is fore-armed!:)

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

I see it as more of a day event that could be adapted for children. With or without school. Learning how to make such houses or a mystery tour which would be separate to the accommodation side of the business. Again, if there was theme to it 'Lord of the Rings/Hobbits' or whatever.

The big thing in France is catering for birthday parties. !!!!!!!!!!!!! Big money business.

There is a kind of 'hobbit world' play area type thing in a commercial centre in Nantes for kids. There are always kids playing it it. It is really well done.

Still think it is a killer idea.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

It took me 9 months (part time worker and about 5000 euros to renovate two bedrooms and a bathroom plus lounge.
The heating and air conditioning were about 7000 euros to buy and install. That should be paid off in 20 years. Sheets and towels cost about 750 euros for five beds...you need at least two sets of everything. If you are going to create gites you will have to buy kitchen equipment, tables and chairs, etc etc.
We already had most of the furniture and the pool and garden was ours anyway, ready established.

I didn't do this to get my money back...I know I won't. I did it because the place needed renovating anyway. But unless you have a lot of money and time to spend that you don't need, you will spend on a venture that may or may not work because it is unique.

Who is going to change, wash and iron sheets every two or three days? Clean the rooms? Water and keep the garden looking tidy over the seasons? I have room for only 5 people max and it takes a huge amount of time to do it properly.

My advice would be to either get affiliated with Air B&B and offer your space long term or contact art schools, music schools etc to offer your place as a working holiday. I would seriously try not to have children around...if anything god forbid should happen you could be in serious trouble.

Finally do consider the températures where you choose to be...mud houses can crack and dry out in prolonged high températures.

Re: Camping/gites/B&B
 

Wow! it really has stirred an interest!! lol

It wouldn't cost a huge amount compared to building another house say....The huts would be build from the soil/clay around....recycled windows, frames, and door (or even use the sources around to make one)....volunteers to help create these huts....Gives them experience in using natural materials etc.....they get free food and board for a night.
Furniture can be made from the same clay, the Rocket Mass heater can also be the cooker, and sofa as well as the heating source!
Yes I know all these are still costs, and that there are some things we wouldn't be able to make as well...but there's so much scope that can be done....you can make this venture as big or as small as you want...I don't want to be a millionaire...But I would like to make enough to cover bills as and when they come in.

We grow our own veg, collect eggs from our chooks, honey from our bees. although we have eaten the lambs and pigs now and we sold the goats when we moved for OH's work.... so although there is no such thing as self sufficiently and you do need some income.... we can reduce the cost hugely.

I don't want a huge amount of kids around, too many problems and are kids are not disciplined like they used to be...(yeah I know, I need a walking stick and to say "back in my day"). I also don't want to make this a huge business venture, although with money and time I know it could be.

What I do want though, is around 5 huts for sleeping, one large hut as a workshop to teach willow work or felting for weekend sessions of three days at a time....the customers can then buy items locally for food but have something in their huts to eat when they first arrive... Its more like a retreat than a park ;)