Most under 18’s won’t be vaccinated by the start of summer so that would exclude the majority of families from taking holidays.
All of our guests come by car.
I think we will be refunding too.
Obviously we are not experts in spotting forgeries, but the majority of our guests are older, so more likely to have been vaccinated.
The vaccine stops the person getting covid it does not stop them passing it on.
I read in only one place that Macron wants the state of emergency kept until June 1
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As renters we certainly should have rules in order to protect ourselves and our property
What are your rules or your new rules
@barbara_deane1 I found this thread invaluable last summer. I’ll be doing exactly the same as I did last year. So far as I’m concerned nothing has changed, even with vaccination
Yes but do you leave lots of toys for the kids or ask them to bring their own
Check out time has to be regimented as does check in
One week open and the next closed would not work for me or my agents
We have huge rooms and lots of big windows plus a parc with outside cooking>
@barbara_deane1
We each do what we feel is necessary / appropriate in our individual circumstances. And what I thought through over weeks last year and in the end chose to do may not be right for you. You need to think through for yourself what feels safe. My suggestion is if at any point it feels risky or cutting corners, then don’t do it. So, for example you may need a larger team of cleaners than you would normally expect to pay for.
As I’ve mentioned several times elsewhere, I am fortunate. I run what professional gite owners call a “hobby gite”. It supplements my pension and the money is very welcome, but it means I can easily make decisions that protect me (I do all the cleaning) and my guests.
I have never booked back to back and I would be VERY concerned about doing so in the current climate. But if you really have no option, then at the very least I would ask guests to leave earlier and arrive later than they might have done in the past, to give maximum time for airing and cleaning.
Set a VERY strict protocol for your cleaners - the French paperwork is excellent and I translated it into English for people here. It’s no good your cleaners saying “if it looks clean it is clean”. EVERYTHING must be cleaned thoroughly.
Certainly I found stripping the cottage of any extras made my life (and that of my guests) much easier. So for last year and this all games / books / DVDs / extra ornaments and knickknacks have been removed. I also took away extra plates/cutlery/glasses/etc We have always been very generous with what we provide.
I also provided a “stuff box” for each set of guests which had things in to help them keep the cottage clean - unopened soap / hand cleanser / spare masks / new kitchen washing up brushes etc etc and one or two little gifts (pretty note pads / lip gloss - again in unopened packs)
I also have a 40 page info book (where to eat / places to visit / instructions for equipment in the cottage) and I now print off a fresh copy for each set of guests and put it in a cardboard cover, just for them. They are asked to take it away with them or put in the rubbish when they go.
I ask guests to bring anything they want in the way of games etc but also emphasise that EVERYTHING that comes into the cottage with them MUST leave with them - fridge etc to be completely empty…
I asked them NOT to strip beds - some guests think they are helping. i have a protocol for dealing with bed linen involving rolling it away from from me.
All of this and more is conveyed to them before they come and is shown on my website.
Those who came last year loved it. They found it very reassuring, kept the cottage very clean and entered into the spirit of what I was aiming to do, to keep all our guests and us safe.
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I agree with all you say and we have always spent a lot on keeping the property tip to toe clean
No parties or celebrations just holiday enjoyment.
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Yes our guests seemed happy with the precautions we’d taken. We also split some things in half, so had half the kids toys in the gîte and swapped with then other half at the end of each stay. Same with cushions, as looked a bit stark with nothing!
We left a list of maps and guide books that we would provide if they wanted, and a basket to put thing like that in at the end so could be disinfected/rested. The most popular walks we laminated, so could be easily disinfected.
We continued with back to back bookings as our profit margins are tight, and since we were unsure how many bookings we would get we needed to make sure our costs were at least covered (which is 5 weeks high season rental). So also complete change of all bedding between guests, putting everything through the dishwasher etc etc. It was hard work on changeover day! Especially as left a couple of hours airing time…
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We are very much like you Sue. We will leave a week between bookings, so that the house can be thoroughly aired and we will not go in until three days after the guests have left.
We do all our own cleaning too.
We have guests desperate to come in May, but I really cannot see that happening.
Our main hope is that the family will be able to come for their two week holiday at the end of August, but that depends on restrictions within Schengen.
Also, we really hope that we will have been vaccinated by then.
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I assume you won’t allow them to stay if they haven’t had a vaccine? 
How does that help? As I said earlier the vaccine stops the person suffering the affects of the virus it does not stop transmission so until most of the population have been vaccinated it wont change anything.
Note the wink at the end John. Tim is agreeing with you. 
It was Jane saying she needed them vaccinated.
Macron has promised that we will have been vaccinated by then.
ah it is not just about vaccaination it is about everyone being sensible
I mean everyone
Just had a couple who were coming from the UK for a month in June cancel for the second time. Jet2 has cancelled their flights. Bless them, they are hoping to come out next year. Third time lucky hopefully.
Shame, I would rather have UK visitors than from anywhere on the continent at the moment as I know anyone from the UK will have been vaccinated.
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We’re the opposite! Don’t really want British people, all too complicated.
and confirmation by sending
Just asking… what is “ complicated” Re British holidaymakers?
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