Where to stay in France
So, you’ve decided to visit France!
That’s great!
Now, you have to decide where to stay. There can be some confusion when it comes to different types of accommodations in France, and what they have to offer.
Here’s a breakdown of the different choices, and my experience with them.
Hopefully, this will help you make your decision!
Gîte
This is our accommodation of choice when we travel to France.
A gîte is a type of accommodation that is fully furnished, and self catering. These are the places that you will find on VRBO, or Airbnb, for example. They can be anything from a farm house, or villa, to a village townhouse. Typically, they are vacation homes that are rented out by the week, and they have all of the essentials that a typical house or apartment would have…kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living space. Most also have a washer and dryer.
These are a great choice for families. You have a lot more space, and have access to a kitchen, which can be great for flexibility with meals, and freedom to come and go, or stay home and relax, if desired. This can also be cost effective, in a sense that you don’t have to eat out for every meal.
Typically, we find a region that we want to visit, and then we find a gîte in a central location. That way, we don’t have to change lodging, but we are centrally located, so it makes taking day trips easy.
We have always rented a car when staying in a gîte. Depending on the location, this is not completely necessary. But, we like the freedom of exploring the area on our own terms, which goes along with the reasons we pick this type of accommodation. You can read about what we do about carseats for kids here.
This probably wouldn’t be a good choice for someone who enjoys having their bed made everyday, as the cleaning is your responsibility when renting a gîte. Because there is usually a ‘minimum number of nights’ stay, this also isn’t the best choice for the traveler who wants to hop from city to city.
Some gîtes do not have linens included in the price. Make sure that you check for this ahead of time. You can usually find this information listed on the rental page.
Chambre d’hôte
These are equivalent to bed and breakfasts. Typically, you have a room in a larger building or home, and breakfast is provided. From my experience, breakfast is usually served at a certain time in the morning, and all of the guests sit at a large table for the meal.
This is great if you like to visit with other travelers. Also, the owners can be a great resource for things to do in the area. This wouldn’t be a good choice for someone who doesn’t want to be on a time schedule, or for someone who is introverted.
Staying in this type of accommodation can also be an great opportunity to stay in an interesting setting. Many estates and chateaux have been converted into chambre d’hôtes.
Hotel
This is the likely the first lodging option that comes to mind. Hotels are abundant, and are a good choice if you enjoy services. It is easy to find reviews from other travelers, so you know what to expect when staying there.
They are star rated, which can help with your decision making. The rating is ranges from one to five stars. The star rating is based on quality, location, furnishings, and services offered. Three or Four star hotels are pretty nice, with Five stars being exceptional. I have stayed in plenty of three and four star hotels, with no complaints.
Most French hotels will offer a French breakfast (often, but not always, complimentary) which usually includes bread (baguette, croissants, pain au chocolat), coffee, jams, butter, and perhaps a few other choices.
This choice is ideal for people who want a place to sleep, with plans to explore, and eat meals on the go. If you are planning to visit multiple cities, that are not in close proximity, this is the best choice, as they do not require a minimum number of nights stay.
Hotels are also good for people who enjoy extra services like housekeeping, or for people traveling in large groups. They are often located in town, so, depending on your other travel plans, you could use public transportation without having to rent a car.
Hostel
Hostels are usually one room rentals. They are kind of like a stripped down hotel room. You won’t be getting the same quality accommodations, or services, but you also won’t be paying for those things, either.
They are an inexpensive way to see France. Hostels are usually located to near public transportation, which makes a car rental unnecessary.
This would be a good choice for the single, frugal traveler. I wouldn’t recommend this option for families.
Auberge
These are basically inns. Some Auberges also have restaurants attached to them. This goes back to the old times, when inns and restaurants were connected. Just be aware, that not all places labeled “Auberge,” include inn accommodations. Some are just restaurants.
Inns are typically smaller than hotels, and have less number of rooms.
This might be a good choice for someone who is hesitant to explore new eateries, or just likes the convenience of a restaurant as part of their accommodation. Also, they tend to be more quaint, since they have a limited number of rooms for rent.
A few more things…
One other thing that I should mention, is that most accommodations have heat, but not every accommodation will have air conditioning. So, if you are traveling to France in the summer (May-August), and can’t live without air conditioning, then you’ll want to investigate this ahead of time.
If you are staying in a very old building, with stone walls, then, air conditioning is not necessary. Just be sure to close your shutters in the daytime, to keep out the heat, and open them at night, to let the cool air in.
There are a lot of options when it comes to lodging in France. When we aren’t staying with family, our accommodation of choice is a gîte. This works best for our family, especially since we have small kids. But, the choice really depends on the traveler, and what works best for them.
I hope this will help with your decision on where to stay in France. Please contact me with any questions!
Bon voyage!
