Can anyone recommend a rental/hidden/cheap gem in France please?

[changer22]

I desperately need to go to France to practice my French before an oral exam in the autumn. I don't know France terribly well and looking through the self catering/gite sites is a minefield. So... can anyone recommend their fab find from previous years please?

There are 6 of us including a crawler so it needs to be child friendly. And we haven't camped (yet) so that really doesn't appeal as a last minute option (we have nothing).

I'd recommend Gite Gorvello - the owner is a regular mumsnetter and it was lovely and very reasonably priced when we went. So much so that she's probably all booked up but worth a google.

Thanks it looks lovely but yes, all booked up!

Would you consider a mobile home on a Keycamp-type site?

My parents have a villa that is ultra child friendly. They normally have an ad on the small ads, but it's run out and I realised they haven't renewed it

They have 1 week available in late Aug/early Sept so google Villa Karli and get in touch if you are interested. Make sure you quote Mumsnet as they'll offer you a good deal

Try www.vendee-vacances.co.uk Good value off season.

Ahhhh, thank you webdeb (what you are kind enough not to mention is I was in hospital having DS2 when your family were here & things were probably slightly chaotic!!) what dates did you need changer22?? We've got a week in September still?

The usual sadly - last week in August... Children back on the 2nd Sept.

Loads on Gites de France especially at end of Aug. Go for a 3 "ears of corn" (3 star) or above and you'll be fine. We've used them loads and all have been fine.