General Info
Multi-centre holidays
Any accommodation can be used for a multi-centre holiday, with time spent in one location, and more elsewhere.
Special needs
We are happy to advise and assist the elderly, those with any special needs or disabilities choose a suitable holiday. Clients with mobility problems are strongly advised to inquire about self-catering accommodation and hotels before booking, as many have steps, steep stairs, narrow doors and awkward corners.
Special requests
Please advise us at time of booking of any special requests, which will be communicated to our French partners. All special requests will be noted, but cannot be guaranteed. Cots, TV, telephone lines, bath towels hire, cleaning kit, end of stay cleaning, meal plans are some of the options which can be arranged at some accommodation (when not included in the basic package), sometimes pre-travel, sometimes only on arrival. Please inquire about the availability of these for your chosen accommodation.
The Euro
All prices to pay locally (deposit, local tax, linen or TV hire...) are quoted in Euros.
Useful source of information
Atout France, Lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, WC1V 7JH London, info.uk@atout-france.fr
French Public Holidays
On public holidays (01/05, 08/05, 17/05, 14/07, 15/08) you will find shops, museums and banks are often closed, so make sure you have enough local currency to tide you over.
Tourist tax
The local tourist tax will be collected upon arrival. It is a holiday tax levied at the discretion of the local authority. This varies from place to place and can be up to €1.50/pers per day. It is sometimes included in the price of accommodation.
Alcove/Cabin
A separate sleeping area that is normally off of the living room or in the entrance hall, but has generally no door or window. Usually with bunk beds.
Duplex
A duplex apartment is split-level (arranged over two floors).
Bed linen and towels
Normally available but there may be a supplement. This is specified in each apartment description. When bed linen is supplied, beds are not normally made on arrival, unless otherwise specified (at certain residences this is available at an additional supplement). When not included in the price and payable locally, bed linen and towels must be requested at the time of booking or no later than 3 weeks prior to departure.
Sleeping arrangements
In all apartments and even those in our 4-star luxury selection, the living areas are generally designed to be used as additional sleeping areas. As a result, there is likely to be a maximum of one or two sofas in even the largest apartments and these will be convertible sofa beds rather than the types of sofas you would usually have at home. Often apartments on the higher floors have rooms in the eaves with low-ceiling height in part of the room and therefore restricted headroom. Please note that a French regulation states that children under 6 years of age should not sleep on the top bunk beds.
Your own car
For many of our accommodation locations, a car will allow you to drive to the slopes or the shops without being dependent on public transport. If you don't fancy driving all the way there why not consider fly/drive or rail/drive?
Mezzanine
An open plan (sometimes closed off) bedroom above the lounge, usually accessed by means of a loft ladder or steep staircase. These bedrooms are not recommended for young children or the elderly.
Sloping ceilings
In most residences, the apartments located on the higher floors will have rooms under the eaves and have sloping ceilings, therefore, restricted headroom.
Beds
Sofa beds and pull-out beds in lounges are common.
TV
When provided has French channels only; ‘Satellite’ TV means in most cases one or two English language news channels.
Kitchen areas
These are not independent kitchens but will allow you to prepare meals for the whole party during your stay. They include at least two hot plates, sufficient utensils, crockery and cutlery up to the apartment capacity, a fridge, sink and storage space. Please note that mugs, teapots, toasters and electric kettles are not common in French apartments unless otherwise specified. Our individually privately owned apartments and chalets generally have more extensive facilities and equipment.
Electricity and water
Electricity, gas and heating are included in all our accommodation.
Parking
Arrangements vary for each individual property: chalets sometimes have an indoor garage and always outdoor parking. Hotels and residences generally offer either underground parking or outdoor spaces.
Reception
All residences and hotels have a reception where keys are normally collected and where most queries regarding your accommodation can be answered during your stay. The staff there will also be happy to help with any information or advice on making the most of the resort. Key collection for chalet residents is normally arranged through the owner.
Welcome meetings/Kids’ Clubs
When available (hotels or residences), please be aware that these will be in French. Further information about the resort and its activities will be available from the Tourist Office.
Swimming pools
The French Government’s Agence Regionale de Santé stipulates that for health & safety reasons pool temperatures should be between 25-27c for indoor pools and 24c for outdoor pools. This could mean that the water seems a little colder than what you may be used to in the UK. Please note that in France, public swimming pool’s health & safety policy states that swimming trunks are compulsory in the swimming pool, swimming shorts or similar are prohibited. Many residences and hotels with pools have a similar policy but that said sometimes the rules are not enforced as strictly in this type of pools so you could take both! Residence and hotel pools are not always open all day or every day, please check opening hours on arrival. Please note, that as it is not a legal requirement in France some of the swimming pools do not have depth markers and equally there will be no lifeguards on duty at accommodation pools.
Deposit
A refundable deposit is payable on arrival. It covers breakages or extra cleaning and will be returned at the end of your stay providing that there are no damages and the accommodation is left clean and tidy. For the apartments where cleaning is not included in the price, we recommend that you take cleaning materials with you.