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NEWS

 

A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR FRENCH HOTELIERS * YOUR PRINCIPAL BETES NOIRES * NO FRILLS BARGAINS

A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR FRENCH HOTELIERS

Complex new critieria for star ratings have been introduced - comply or downgrade.

Complex new regulations for limited mobility access will also become mandatory.   Hoteliers with historic buildings will have to invest significantly - or shut up shop.

There is also a proposal that restaurateurs must indicate on their menus which dishes are not prepared exclusively from fresh produce, ie not from frozen, tinned or sous-vide (vacuum packed) ingredients.

YOUR PRINCIPAL BETES NOIRES

From recent reviews, here are the three things that irritate guests most about French hotel/restaurants:

Exaggerated wine mark-ups (particularly on local wines with little-known appelations.       

Over-fussy restaurant presentation, often resulting in unacceptably slow service.

Over-priced breakfasts with too little attention to content. 

NO FRILLS BARGAINS

Travelling by air opens up the whole of provincial France for a short break and airlines offer some very attractive deals for late bookings.   Fares can be as low as £15 per person per single journey including all taxes and even that irritating card payment charge. Keep the extra costs down by leaving your suitcases at home (let's face it, you don't need many clothes for a romantic weekend) and remember the French these days dress up only for weddings.   If you need to take lots of stuff with you, visit www.rufusroo.com to see how easy it is to avoid paying the baggage charges.

Then click on     <20 miles from TGV/airport     in the category search on memorablehotels.co.uk to find a hotel that's within easy reach of your arrival airport.  For example, La Rochelle makes a great short break destination with direct flights from several UK airports.