Swimming pool use at gite

[Prometheus]

I'm thinking of booking a gite in the Loire and have read through the terms and conditions of the place we think we'll go for. In the small print it says that the swimming pool in the grounds of the gite can be used between the hours of 10-13 and 15-22h. I'm trying to think of a reason why they don't want the pool being used for part of the afternoon - siesta time? In the Loire? Keen to find out if they expect us to be quiet during that time as this may impact on our choice of gite. Has anyone come across this before?

Ask the owners! Maybe maintenance, or they want to use it themselves?

Agree, ask. 2 hours isn't too bad a restriction if all else is ok. They probably just want to use it themselves without impinging too much.

Will do

I think that is very restrictive. Is it advertised as a private pool or a shared pool? To me if you rent a place with a pool you get a pool. I accept that it may need to be closed for cleaning occasionally but not 4 hours (8-10am and 13-15) per day.

If the owners also live on site they probably want to use it themselves. Or have a quiet lunch without kids screaming in the pool!

Guessing siesta without shrieking kids.

Yes, I suspect it's a noise issue, meaning their are other people near enough to have a siesta disturbed.

(Routine pool cleaning when we went to a villa ran overnight and actual maintenance person turned up in the morning of changeover day - bit embarrassing when you're having a last-minute skinny-dip)

So - what shape day do you want on holiday?

I'm sorry but if the owners live on site and don't want the noise of children spoiling their quiet lunch then they are in the wrong job.

TBH a rule like this instantly makes me think that the owner is not putting the desires of the holidaymaker first and that would be a red flag for me.

I emailed the owner in French asking in a very British roundabout way but he didn't give any further info. Just confirmed the opening hours. It is a pool for the sole use of the gite. Restricting use of the pool will in no way guarantee peace and quiet as there is a big garden with football goalposts etc which made me wonder if there was another issue rather than noise.

Could you google the place, see if there is a website or reviews on TA giving any more info? (apologies if you've thought of this already) I do agree with frenchfancy - if it's a noise problem they're in the wrong job and there's likely to be other issues too...

There is a website but no reviews posted yet. Nor on TripAdvisor. Not sure if that is a bad omen?

We hired somewhere last year that the owners popped by and used the pool as they wished which was v strange. I would look elsewhere if I was you.

I'd be a bit wary. No reviews?

I'd just ask directly. I'm really weird about shared pools on holiday - it's my nightmare to turn up somewhere with a shared pool. Especially with just one other family. But, if just the owners, might not be so bad for 2 hours a day.

I live in that region and at our place in the countryside you aren't allowed to mow your grass, have a bonefire etc between 12-14h. The French are very precious about their lunch, particularly noticeable in the countryside so could be something to do with that? However, those hours are odd and suggest you are going to be constantly shushing your DC. That, along with no reviews and unforthcoming host, really, I'd look elsewhere.