| If you're planning a holiday or break in France, | | | | not forgetting the occasional chateau or |
| you'll find an almost bewildering choice of | | | | converted water mill. |
| accommodation. At the top end are luxury hotels, | | | | When planning your holiday, there's a big |
| usually found in big cities and smart coastal | | | | advantage in being able to browse every detail of |
| resorts or in converted chateaux in the | | | | properties on a specialist website like French |
| countryside. Also in rural areas are auberges, | | | | Connections, whose listings cover most of France, |
| country inns that offer basic comforts and often | | | | and then have direct contact wit the owners, |
| have a restaurant attached. | | | | many of whom are British. Once you've arrived, |
| France has several big hotel chains - many of | | | | enjoy a great sense of freedom to do whatever |
| them excellent value - but they tend to be close | | | | you want whenever you like. Sleep until noon or |
| to motorways and ring roads. This is convenient | | | | get up early and take a trip to the local market |
| for an overnight whilst travelling but not so inviting | | | | to buy delicious locally grown produce or warm |
| for a holiday, when you want to relax in pleasant | | | | croissants from the baker. Relax around the pool |
| surroundings. At the economy end, camping is | | | | all day and spend the evening sampling the local |
| popular and camp sites are usually clean, | | | | food and wine. Self-catering accommodation is not |
| well-equipped and efficiently run. | | | | only for summer holidays. |
| But by far the favourite choice of Francophiles in | | | | There are great choices for skiing and other |
| the know is self-catering accommodation. If you | | | | activities such as fishing, painting, cycling and riding. |
| think this sounds basic or hard work, think again. | | | | And why not take an out of season break or a |
| Modern gites and holiday houses are just as likely | | | | long weekend? Many property owners are happy |
| to have designer-look interiors, to provide a maid | | | | to be flexible on holiday start days outside the |
| service and to boast facilities like DVD player, | | | | peak months and to negotiate lets of a month or |
| central heating, English satellite TV and dishwasher. | | | | more. Whenever you decide to hop across the |
| The properties themselves range from bijou town | | | | channel, renting your own home from home will |
| apartments for a romantic weekend through | | | | allow you not only to stay in a beautiful location |
| charming country cottages to huge family | | | | but also to sample a slice of real French life. |
| farmhouses with swimming pool and grounds - | | | | |