Hi All, we know this as probably been asked and answered a million times before but we plan to buy a gite complex with three gites in Charante and run it for a living. We know it will be hard work and we will just make a living but that is all we want so we can get out of our mega stress jobs in the uk. Some might say we could be jumping into the pan from the fire (Is that the right saying????) but a change is just as good sometimes. We know how we will be furnishing the gites and what prices to charge (we have done endless hours of research) and how and where to advertise etc. Our question is simply do people think we could get 10 weeks per gite sold so we can make our break even margin?
We hope we dont offend people by asking this question for the million and first time and we thank anyone in advance for and good/bad news/advice.
Its a start up project. The gites are readyish to go though. Our thinking is that it will be the third year before it really takes off. are we correct?
I know we are newbies etc but we have done lots of research etc and the gites will be of a high standard, look nice and have all mod cons.
You can in general guarantee the six weeks school holidays, After that its a lottery. You may book more you may not.
Because its a start up complex you may well find that it takes a while to get up and running and get in some repeat bookings etc.
You are cetainly going for a good area because of the extra sunshine etc.
I wish you good luck. We did the same to get out of the rat race etc but for some reason are stuggling for bookings at the moment where other years we have not.!
Thebiga wrote
"You can in general guarantee the six weeks school holidays, After that its a lottery".
I agree, the number of bookings per year certainly can be a bit of a lottery.
You could look at various Gite websites and see how many others are doing the same thing in your area.
I think the Charente (16) & Charente Maritime (17) are already well served and there is a lot of competition out there.
Whatever you decide,
Bonne chance et bon courage
Sounds optimistic to me for a start-up, you are talking about 30 weeks in all. You don't say how many people the gites are for, ours are 2 person gites and we get a very different booking profile than places with a pool catering for the family market. The other thing is the amount of gites in your area offering the same facilities as you. Why would someone go to your gites and not the one down the road? You have to think about your unique selling points.
In your calcs don't forget that you will have to register as a business if this is your main income, so there are those dreaded cotisations to pay as well.
BTW you jump from the frying pan into the fire. Anyway good luck with your venture!
Suzy
The other consideration should be is that people tend to prefer private gites and the trend is towards privacy. People also do not like sharing the swimming pool. Are you gites all connected or sharing the same viciniy, it is something you should consider. Also contact the owners of other gite complexes within the region and they will be able to tell you exactly how it is.
Deby
Many thanks for all your answers. Yes it does scare us if we fail etc and yes we know that the stress of our current jobs will be almost the same on change over days but all in all we will do what we can to achieve what we need to make our life in France a decent one.
I hope when we move to France, that maybe we can meet some of you nice people for drinks. . . . .
See you soon.........
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