The keys to the gîte, sharing above all
What is their concept ?
It is a platform dedicated to gites and B&Bs. It is both a mine of information and a place to create links.
Les clés du gîte provides you with tools specially designed for you by a network of professionals and enthusiasts:
- A resource and expertise centre
- A discussion forum
- A new catalogue of partners
- A directory of training organisations
- A mapped directory of members
Their vision
Accompanying you is the main objective of “Les clés du gîte”!
They help you, B&Bs and gîtes, to better manage your establishment, to break the isolation, to share an experience, to collect precious advice…
Yes, you have all the keys in hand to become expert and, above all, fulfilled hosts ! 😁
It is with benevolence and good humour that the keys to the gîte make your life easier so that your tenants feel at home !
You can be sure that with the keys to the gîte, you will be able to exchange freely, inform yourself, find inspiration, and even pass on your good practices in turn ! 🙂
A platform and not only !
Do you dream of opening a gîte or a guest house ?
Then les clés du gîte is the platform you’re looking for, it will help you with your project and help you climb the ladder to success !
But les clés du gîte is also THE podcast not to be missed 😉
Every first Thursday of the month, a gîte or guest house manager can be interviewed for a short hour. The aim is to study the manager’s career path, his difficulties, his objectives, the obstacles he has encountered, and of course the successes he has had in making a living from his passion!
And every 3rd Thursday of the month, an expert shares his knowledge and practical advice, so that you have all the keys in hand 😉
Experts at your service
The team is here to save you time.
By offering you sorted, verified and validated information.
No more hours of research, the keys to the gîte are THE reference to help you develop your business ! 😉
Gîtes or bed and breakfast, what's the difference?
To go on vacation, you have an infinite choice of possibilities. But often, in France, the terms “gîtes” and “chambres d’hôtes” come up. They are often confused, yet each has its own characteristics. Discover them here.
1. The cottages
A gite is a house (or an apartment) of which you will have full disposal. It is also called furnished tourism or seasonal rental.
It must be :
- Furnished
- Equipped
- Rented for a week or a weekend but never for a night
You can find several types of lodgings: the rural lodgings, or the ecogites. The latter appeared with the advent of sustainable development and enjoy a very high demand.
Among the best known in France, we find the Gîtes de France, with more than 56,000 lodgings classified from 1 to 5 “épis” (equivalent to stars).
2. The guest rooms
A bed and breakfast, on the other hand, is an accommodation in the home of the host. Also known as a B&B, the guest room is a private room with bathroom, in the home of your hosts. You do not have full use of the place.
Here are the characteristics:
- Rental per night
- Breakfast always included
- Maximum of 5 rooms per house and 15 people in total (we talk about a guest house)
- Hotel service: bed and cleaning done
- The living rooms are shared
It is an excellent way to discover the local culture, the homemade food and to meet new people!
Be careful though, one of the main rules is the respect of the owners. If in a gite, you can arrive and come back whenever you want, it is better to warn the owners if you come back late and be careful not to make noise in a guest house.
That’s it! You now know all about the difference between gites and bed and breakfasts. And if you are interested in the subject, you can also learn more about the Gîtes de France label.
The interest of labels for gites and guest houses
When you manage a guest house or a gite, being part of a label is not mandatory but it can nevertheless present some advantages. For example, being part of a label can increase the visibility and therefore the notoriety of your establishment, simplify the rental management (via a global reservation platform for example), or benefit from subsidies and financial aid.
So how do you go about obtaining labels? What are the specific advantages of each label?
We explain you all!
Certification
a necessary step
In order to obtain a label, it is necessary for the lodgings to register with the classification of the furnished tourism. This step is compulsory to be listed in the Tourist Offices (of the department and the region) and to obtain the ANVC vacation voucher approval.This star rating is referenced on Atout France which is none other than France’s tourism development agency and the sole state operator in this sector.
Bed and breakfasts are not subject to a national prefectural classification. They are therefore not obliged to register with the classification of furnished tourist accommodation, as they are not classified. On the other hand, some labels such as Gîtes de France et Clévacances propose a classification, according to their labels, with ears of corn or keys.
Complementary
National
There are 4 main labels recognized by the Ministry of Tourism:
- Gîtes de France
This label is the first network of home stay accommodation in France. As a member, you benefit from personalized services with the support of specialists (decoration, profitability, layout, etc.) as well as the possibility of being marketed on a central reservation system. The application for membership is made on file in the departmental relay of the federation. The annual cost of this label is approximately 130€.
- Clévacances
It is the second major French label. You will benefit from a help to your activity (training, legal assistance, technical support…) and from the promotion of your rental in France and abroad. This label, however, does not offer a central reservation system. Membership is available at the headquarters of your department and will also cost you 130€ per year.
- Fleurs de Soleil
This label is an association of bed and breakfast owners. It can help you in your administrative steps and refer you on its site against a participation. Its annual membership is 250€.
- Accueil Paysan
It is a label gathering people passionate about animals, gardening or professionals with an agricultural status. Its ethical and human charter aims to help travelers discover the work of the land. It is a label of solidarity tourism established in France and internationally. Its annual membership costs 150€.
Complementary
labels
In addition to the national labels, you can also obtain “complementary” labels. We have selected some of them:
- Bienvenue à la ferme
It is a label with an ecological and educational approach that allows farmers to discover their jobs and their products. Indeed, it does not focus only on a service related to accommodation. To register, you just have to go to your chamber of agriculture.
- Tourisme et handicap
This label aims to offer accommodation adapted for people with disabilities. In order to receive the label, the site must meet a set of specifications and guarantee quality services and a warm welcome. To obtain it, you can ask your regional tourism advisor.
- Rando-Plume
This label certifies that the accommodation and its guest are a house of character, with a warm setting, proposals for activities and many additional services. To obtain this label, you must contact a Rando-Accueil representative.
- Bienvenue au château
It is an association whose aim is to create a label safeguarding the French heritage. It is a prestigious label! To join, you must first contact the association.
Thus, to have labels is not obligatory but it is all the same a real asset to attest the quality of your accommodation and to distinguish you from the competition. The label can also allow you to specialize and to be referenced in order to gain notoriety. Travelers will then be more likely to book your labeled rental, a guarantee of quality. Be careful, however, because to obtain a label you must meet the requirements and respect the charter of the label or you risk losing your membership.