Any Gites owners in Brittany here?

Any Gites owners in Brittany here?

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Roo

Original Poster:

11,503 posts

214 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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The wife and I are off to Brittany for eight days at the end of June with a view to scouting around looking to buy a gites business and were wondering if anyone on here has done the same.
We would be doing this as a complete relocation with the business being our only source of income. Initial investment would be approximately £200,000 equity from the sale of our place here and a business mortgage of +/- 150,000 Euros.
So, anyone done it? Made a success of it? General advice or are we completely bonkers? hehe

Balmoral Green

41,761 posts

255 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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No advice to give, but good luck with it, it sounds idyllic cloud9

Of course, it very likely won't be hehe

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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Why Brittany? similar weather to UK.Most French head south for their holidays so you will be aiming at a Brit market in the summer.What will you do differentley than all the other gites to make money,also bear in mind the social charges.My wife and I draw no salary but are still expected to find 10k a year for RSI payments,then there is medical top up,insurance for the kids at school,school meals,school equipment,the list goes on.Do your sums and be realistic.
Bon courage

Roo

Original Poster:

11,503 posts

214 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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Hi smiffy.
Proximity to the UK is one of the reasons for looking at Brittany as it's less than an a days drive from here so, hopefully, will appeal to brits who don't want to have to make an overnight stop on their way through France to a destination further away.
MrsRoo is also going through the paperwork required to establish a UK style boarding cattery which will, hopefully, appeal to Ex-pats when they go on holiday. I appreciate what you're saying though.
Couple of questions about your business if you don't mind.
Why did you choose where you are?
Any specific reasons why you bought a campsite?
Generally, how are you finding things at the moment?

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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Blimey where do I start?
Campsite because the guest essentially look after themselves,no laundry etc,thought we could do a better job than most campsites we have stayed at.
Ariege because it is very under developed tourism wise and is on the up,it's the forgotten department of France with very little industry apart from tourism.Then there is the little things,last weekend I was skiing,yesterday I was skiing with my daughters school,today I skied with my wife,tomorrow is the weekend and guess what I'm doing.Today my daughter has gone on another school trip,snow shoe walking and dog sled driving,she's 9 years old and it all gets paid for by the commune or conseil general.
In the UK I used to pay 20k/year school fees now I don't and my kids are much happier and more settled with much more genuine friends.
If you need to make lots of money,Ariege is not for you.If money is second to a brilliant quality of life Ariege certainley fits the bill(just my opinion)

Anymore questions Roo don't hesitate to post/e-mail

Edited by smifffymoto on Friday 5th February 15:13