What’s included in the price of my holiday? Are there any “optional extras”?

What is the £150 security deposit? Are there any other charges or costs?

Is there anything we should do before we book? How do we book?

How do we pay? Is there anything else we need to do?

What about smoking? Are Pets allowed?

My question isn’t here! Website Design?

If, on the other hand, you are naturally tidy (no kids) and spend most of your time away from the gîte – or simply think “How much?!” – then the option is not for you. The choice is yours.

Alternatively, ‘phone us on 00 33 2 97 38 14 18. Evenings are probably best as we are in and out like fiddler’s elbows during the day. If you get the answer machine, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as we can.

Once you have made your provisional booking, please print out a copy of the booking form –click on the “Booking” button on the menu – complete it and post it with your deposit to:-

If your booking form and deposit haven’t arrived within a week, we will contact you to verify your reservation. We are unable to confirm your booking until we receive them.

How do we pay?

Sterling: Because of exorbitant bank charges, we are no longer able to accept credit cards. Which leaves cheques or bank transfers. Please ask us for details if transfers to our English bank account are your preferred method.

Euros: The whole concept of the Euro being an International currency enabling commerce to flourish within it's member countries has still not been allowed to be realised. Instead of having the Franc, Deutchmark, Lira etc, we now have the French Euro, the German Euro, the Italian Euro etc. The name may have changed but the transfer charges from one country to another, at our level, haven't.

If you would like to pay in Euros and are in France, then we can accept a French cheque or a bank transfer. Elsewhere in the Eurozone, payment by bank transfer is probably the easiest method. Please ask for our IBAN and BIC codes for our French bank account.

Other Currencies: The International Money Order system through your local post office, if it exists in your country (it does in most), is probably the least expensive way for you to pay. Please check costs with your post office. Unfortunately, this system does have its drawbacks. The major drawback is that you have to go to the post office in person and hand over the amount, in cash, that has to be transferred. And, unfortunately, it does involve lengthy form filling.

Bank transfers are, of course, possible. If you would like to pay by bank transfer, please ask for details of our English bank account.

Payment with your credit card through Paypal is a possibility. But please remember that our Paypal invoice to you will increase by approximately 3% to cover Paypal's charges.

Over the years we have had many guests from around the world. And we have always found a way to avoid the majority of the banker's rip-offs. Please contact us to discuss.

Is there anything else we need to do?

Something beyond your control could happen which mean you miss your ferry or flight. Most tickets are non-transferable, so you will have to pay again. Or you may leave something valuable somewhere – mobile ‘phones are favourite. Something may get stolen. Unattended cars at ferry ports on both sides of the Channel are a prime target for thieves. Any one of a countless number of things could happen that mean you would have to cancel your holiday. If you do, we may or may not be able to make a refund – please see our booking conditions. So we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance with a cancellation clause.

Secondly, health insurance.

Occasionally people on holiday need to visit a doctor or hospital. Although you will have to pay the doctor or hospital for your consultation and any prescriptions at the time, you can claim some, or all, of the cost back when you get home providing you have an English EHIC or European equivalent. We believe this cover is free, but check with your doctor to make sure. Guests from outside the EU will need to check the cover offered by their own health service and insure accordingly.

Lastly, personal accident insurance.

Public liability insurance in France is a lot less comprehensive than it is in England. This is because the French have personal accident insurance. For instance, if someone falls down a flight of stairs in a shop, breaks their leg and cannot work for a couple of months, they cannot sue the shop (unless the shop has been negligent – a torn stair carpet, say - but negligence is difficult to prove). Instead, the person claims off his or her own personal insurance. So, if you or one of your family is accident-prone, you might like to think about taking out cover.

What about smoking?

We have been asked a couple of times if our gîtes are non-smoking. As far as we are aware, they are, but we cannot guarantee that one or more of them hasn't nipped behind the big barn for a crafty drag.

As the aim of Kermavio is to provide our guests with a relaxing and peaceful environment, we try to have as few "rules" as possible. Therefore, our guests are free to smoke, or not, as they choose.

Over the years, our guests who don't smoke have far outnumbered those who do. During that time, not even recent non-smokers - including one of us who is also mildly asthmatic - has detected, let alone complained about, the after-effects of cigarette smoke.

Are Pets allowed?