Searchable List

(For a quick guide to using the table, click on the "Instructions" button on the right side of the screen below the "Version Francaise" button.)

The table is fully interactive. This means you have tremendous flexibility in working with the various Châteaux, Gîtes, Bed & Breakfasts and Hotels listed in the table.

Sort. The simplest way to work in the table is to sort the columns. When you click on the heading of a column (i.e. name of accommodation, type, town, etc.) the entire table is sorted in either ascending or descending order according to the contents of that column. The table first appears on your screen with the "name of accommodation" column sorted in ascending order. If you click on the "town" heading, the list will re-sort itself according to the "towns" listed in the Hôtels & Gîtes table.

Search. Sorting is a tremendous tool but it works with every accommodation within the table. A better way to refine your search is to ask the table to show only those accommodations that meet your requirements. To do this, use the red boxes under each column. Type your requirement in the box and press return/enter on your keyboard. The list will show only those accommodations that meet your requirement. You can do this under multiple columns to refine your search further. Example: If you are looking for Bed & Breakfasts in France you would type "A" in the red box at the bottom of the "type" column. The cursor in the table will highlight the first Bed & Breakfast in the table. When you hit return/enter on your keyboard, the table will show only Bed & Breakfasts while hiding all other records. Now, to refine the search even further, type an "X" under the "E" column and press return. This will show you all Bed & Breakfast accommodations that speak English. To clear a search term, right click in the red search box containing the term you wish to eliminate and that search term will be turned off.

A bar explaining the various codes in the table is available when you click on the "Instructions" button on the right side of the screen.

The table runs in something called a Java Applet which is a special computer program that allows your computer to interact with web pages in special ways. Most web browsers are Java enabled so you should have no problem with the table. However, there are some browsers that have their Java disabled. In such a case the table and most menus on this web site will fail to work. You must have Java enabled in the user preferences of your internet browser.

If your Java is enabled but the table still fails to function, check to see if Java is working properly. Roll your cursor over the menu buttons at the top of the page. If they do not change color slightly, your Java may need updating. To update your Java for free, click here:

If the menu buttons change color slightly when you roll your cursor over them, then Java is functioning properly on your computer. In this case you may have a problem with your browser. Some browsers are sensitive to Java Applets. Internet Explorer, especially IE7, has many layers of security that weigh heavily on the browser and will sometimes "hang" the applet, depending on how your browser is configured. We recommend using the Firefox browser. You can download it for free here:

France is divided into administrative departments (99) and each department is divided into sub departments. With the proper map, you can come very close to pinpointing the location of an accommodation with this code. Most citizens of France can locate the department with just the first two numbers.

A Gîte is a vacation rental. Usually it is a house, a part of a house, or an apartment, complete with kitchen, dishes, utensils, appliances, bed linens, etc. In short, it is a self contained vacation home. All you need to supply is the food. Gîtes are rented by the weekend or the week and are a cost-effective alternative to hotels. Rates are usually quoted by the weekend or week. In the Hôtels & Gîtes directory, the maximum price is an average per-day price.

In the French language a Château is a castle. France has an abundance of Châteaux dating from the medieval to the present. Many are quite famous: Versailles, Chambord, Fontainebleau, etc. built by royalty and the rich. Today, most of the large châteaux are owned by the government and open to the public, while the smaller châteaux have been turned into private residences, exclusive hotels or unique bed and breakfasts The Châteaux (plural) listed in the Hôtels & Gîtes directory offer a unique and often historic stay for the traveller.

When you click on the name of a Château, Gîte, Bed & Breakfast or Hotel listed in the directory an information window will display to the right of the table. Within the information window you will find basic information on the accommodation including contact information: telephone, e-mail and web address. utilize one of these methods to contact the establishment. Tell them we sent you!

No, we don't provide that service. Our goal is to provide you with access to the various accommodations available throughout France. By dealing directly with the establishment, you avoid paying a booking premium.

English is a world language and you will find that most accommodations will have some English skills. In the directory and in the information window for each establishment, you can identify which languages are spoken by that establishment. If English is not an option, send them an e-mail and see what kind of response you get. You may be surprised.

Certainly. If you have stayed at a place you think others should know about, please send us an e-mail and tell us about it. We will contact the establishment and ask them if they would like to be listed. It costs them nothing and we will only list them with their approval.

No. The basic listing is free. Your establishment, photo and information, will appear in both the Flash Zoom Maps and the Searchable Table.

Owners/managers of guest accommodation need more than a web site, they need a web presence. There are several avenues you can pursue, most of which are quite expensive, limited in scale, and tend to take control the lines of communication between you and your customer.

We noticed these limitations and to counter them we developed the free Hôtels & Gîtes Directory. It is expensive to maintain but some of the costs are offset by site sponsors and premium listings. Our primary business is web development for the French tourism industry. The directory is a natural offshoot of that business and allows us to interact, even if briefly, with a great number of people like you. We won't try to sell you anything, but you now know we're here when you need our services.

Certainly, but a web site is indispensable in today's travel market. In France, over 50% of all travel is booked online. The percentage is even greater in other countries. If you simply don't want a web site, then send us a good photo. A really good picture can say a thousand words so choose the best photo you can to place in the directory.

Yes, with several methods:

Visit the "advertise with us" page for more information. (It is available at the bottom of this page.)

Site sponsors help us offset the cost of operating the Hôtels & Gîtes Directory. The rate to sponsor the directory varies by month, length of rotation, and if you wish to share the rotation with others. On average the rate to sponsor the site is 300 Euros/month. For more details, visit the "advertise with us" page. (It is available at the bottom of this page.)

Simply send us an e-mail with the name of your establishment and the mistake you found. A common problem people find is that the e-mail address listed on their information page is not their actual e-mail address. This is intentional to keep spam bots from using your e-mail address to send you spam. Your e-mail address is encrypted to prevent theft.

If you wish to remove your listing, send us an e-mail and tell us that you wish to be removed from the site. Also, if you can, tell us why you wish to be removed. We are always looking to improve the service. If you change your mind and wish to re-list, you must again send your information through the form.

We are Lorem Ipsum Design, a French company based in Tours, France. Our Siret # is: 49398009800013.

Hôtels & Gîtes is actually part of a larger company called Lorem Ipsum Design. Our primary business is web development for the French tourism industry. Other business concerns are translation services and business logistics in France for English speaking companies.

To discover more about Lorem Ipsum Design, visit our web site.