Where to Stay in France

France's lodging options go well beyond hotels. There are gites, logis de France and chambres d'hotes. You can stay on a farm, rent an RV or sleep on a houseboat. You can save money by camping or splurge euros on a castle stay.

Most of the organizations below publish books listing their accomodations. Although sometimes they are in French, they can still be useful as they are filled with pictures, rates and easy-to-understand symbols. Here is a description of each type, including details about the accomodation style and a link for more information:

• Gites de France provide an inexpensive option and these stays can actually be better than a traditional hotel.
  Gites can be self-catering stays in a villa or a bed-and-breakfast type of stay. Many times, there are in the more rural areas of France. The gites category encompasses many lodging styles, including chambres d'hotes (bed and breakfast), children's gites which host kids for stays in France, and more. To be considered a gite, an accomodation must be approved, meet criteria and be inspected by the organization. The organization provides a corn-stalk rating from one to four stalks.


• Logis de France is a chain of smaller hotels, mostly akin to an American inn, which almost always is connected to a fine restaurant. Sometimes dinner for two can actually cost as much as the room (but it's almost always worth it). Logis de France's independently-run inns average 19 rooms, so they are on the smaller side without being as tiny as a chambre d'hote. You will usually be asked if you want demi-pension or full-pension, which refers to the meals. If you are fairly certain you will eat dinner there, go ahead and reserve the demi-pension (usually dinner and a breakfast of pastries and coffee). Often times you can wait until you arrive and ask for the pension to be included. The Logis de France chain features a fireplace rating, running from one to three fireplaces.


• Bienvenue a la Ferme, or farm stays, is a program in which participating farms meet a certain criteria. Some farms provide rooms in an inn or b-and-b type setting, while others simply offer guests a plot for pitching a tent. Usually, fresh farm produce or even meals made from the farm's bounty can be had. The program's site is, unfortunately, in French, but you can muddle through a map search to find accomodations. Alternately, you can use a site like Systransoft to translate the Web page.


• Chateaux of France provides listings of 1,100 chateaux, or castles, in France, many of which offer overnight accomodations. What could possibly be more indulgent than spending a French vacation in a bona fide castle? Some are surprisingly affordable, as well, especially if you get outside the major cities. For more tips on castle stays, see my Castles & Chateaux of France page.


• River Barging provides a unique accomodation and a chance to appreciate France's vast supply of rivers and canals. There are many companies that rent out self-driving, no-license-needed barges, and a mix of boat sizes accomodating a couple or a group.


• Camping is a wonderfully inexpensive and surprisingly comfortable alternative. Thanks to the government's rating system, you can find four-star campgrounds that are filled with amenities like pools, nightclubs, grocery stores, restaurants and more. The bad news is these are frequently outside of town. If you plan to use public transportation, check first to be sure there is a bus to take you into town. Better yet, rent a car and have a more secure spot for baggage than a tent or locker.

The meaning of stars in France

• It is a standardized system, meaning all hotels across France are categorized on the same unique basis.
• The rating system was not born out of mercantile purposes. It was framed by the French lawmakers without any concern for profit.
• Last but not least, the French hotel rating system does not measure quality. Instead, it uses 22 measurement criteria to assess the presence or absence of certain features in the hotel

Among the main criteria used:
• Room sizes and numbers
• Room soundproofing
• Heating and air-conditioning
• Design of bathroom facilities
• Phone system
• Electrical equipment
• Elevators

Each requirement varies from one star category to another.