A Weekend Break for Two in the South of France, Including Flights and Meals, for Under 200 euro

I am back on the computer marketing our accommodation in Villa Roquette for the winter months – we have some long term tenants already booked who will be escaping the grey skies for winter, but we still have two more apartments and a couple of B&Bs we can offer for short or long-term.

With air fares from the UK now low again after the summer high season, (you can get a return from the UK to Montpellier for £14 or less). Take advantage of our lower autumn rates and stay at Villa Roquette (plus as a newsletter reader you will get off-season prices at Villa Roquette at a special deal – ask me). We offer a free airport shuttle service and half price taxi service

Make a little time to chill and recharge –  September and October are great months, the crowds are gone and the wine harvest gives a buzz to the region – come and have a break. In November we celebrate the new wine in every village, luckily the festivals are all on different days, so you can enjoy free drinks for several weeks 🙂

While we still have some blocks of time available in two of our apartments, think of staying with us for a month or more, get a fantastic deal on the accommodation and perhaps be with us for Christmas (Oysters and Champagne on the terrace as usual)

Finding Your New Home in France

Twenty years ago we rented an apartment (in the Beaujolais) and I spent three years exploring every corner of France to find our home. I found the best way to discover France was by rail and stay in local B&B to get the feel of a town or village (and masses of information from the owner) – for us Languedoc was the perfect region with sun, civilization contentment and opportunity, and we have lived here for seventeen years, moving only once, a few kilometers down the road, to a larger home so our parents could come and live with us and our family.

We now run a guest house and many people staying with us do exactly what you suggest, rent a studio or stay as our B&B guest for a few days or up to several months, to understand the region and what it has to offer – many of our guests have now bought homes here and others decided to look in other parts of France.

The only way to discover France (or anywhere I guess) is to live in a community and make it your “home” – as we say on our websites – “stay with us, from one day – to a lifetime” – My advice is to choose one region, go there and stay awhile – every village will have a unique personality so sit in the cafe – talk to the secretary in the Mairie, ask the boulanger about the town and avoid the estate agents – if you don’t fall in love with one place – try another region – if you find your ideal spot, stop looking and your new home will reveal itself

Good Luck

Tony and Carole at Villa Roquette

Arts and Crafts in the Cevennes

My thanks to the department of Herault for an invitation to visit some of the many places of beauty and interest in this department.

A group of writers and journalists visited the region 25 km north of Montpellier last Friday and met some of the craftsmen who keep alive some of the arts and crafts which have been important in this region for many centuries.

I will be writing in detail about the individual visits – here are few quick photos from Friday October 29 2010.