Winter, Spring, Autumn

"La Vieille Grange" is truly a gite for all seasons, and not just for the dizzy heights of Summer !

Why visit the Charente Maritime outside Summer ?

To see why have a look at :

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Why choose us ?? Use our "Comparison Chart" to see why !!!

(this picture taken early November !)

From October to May, whether it's for a long weekend (book by the day* !) or a week or longer, you can : (*minimum stay is 3 or 4 nights, depending on season - 5 nights at Christmas, New Year and Easter)

enjoy up to twice as much sunshine as UK and Ireland (and more !)

The Charente Maritime's micro-climate means we get on average up to 130% more sunshine than the UK or Ireland :

with most months 20-30% warmer than UK and Ireland !

take advantage of cheap travel deals, by air or ferry

All fares are cheaper at these times of year. In addition, many companies have special offers to fill up spare space : subscribe to the e-mail newsletters of airlines to get advance notice of their special offers.

Also, of course the ferries and planes are a lot quieter and less crowded !

If you have any flexibility about dates of travel, to find the cheapest flights available in any given month try using one of the websites listed on our Air Travel page (use your browser's back button to return to this page).

Mid-week start/finish days are welcome during the Quieter Seasons (October - April), so you can get the cheapest travel offers !

	revel in the quiet roads, countryside, bars and restaurants no crowds, hardly any tourists, just you and the local people enjoying unhurried and carefree travel on the way to that 2 hour lunch !
	with no need to worry about keeping warm and cosy in the gite, whatever the weather outside - and now with English (BBC, ITV, Film4 etc) & French TV channels if you fancy a bottle of wine in front of the telly !

The gite is well equipped with a Godin log burner in the living room and new wall mounted electric radiators and convector heaters in all other rooms - including modern "chaleur douce"* radiators for gentle and controllable background warmth

(*"Sublime comfort - a warmth très agréable that radiates and gently envelopes you, constant and without drying the air. The well-being is comparable to that of central heating !" And so they should at €550 each !!)

and you're only 20 minutes away from the new (opened August 2002) "Les Antilles de Jonzac" with year round tropical warmth

An upmarket "Center Parcs" type development, offering year round indoor entertainment whatever the weather outside : 2 swimming pools; beaches (complete with beach bar !); tropical gardens; tropical lagoon; water games/sports; spas; aquagym; fitness centre; saunas; restaurant and shops. Entry costs just 7.50€ for the day (plus 1.50€ for 3 hours in the fitness centre), or just 1.50€ for the tropical gardens. And of course it's particularly quiet during school term time and during the "Quieter Seasons" !

See for yourself

you could even treat yourself to a Twin Centre "town and countryside" break in one of our studio apartments in La Rochelle !!

Every month offers something different :

see (& smell !) the wine harvests in September/October

cycle through the vineyards and countryside in the October sunshine

(the view from the gite terrace, October/November 2001)

take a Christmas shopping trip to La Rochelle or Bordeaux in Nov/Dec

as experienced shoppers, we have to say La Rochelle and Bordeaux are the best places we've ever done our Christmas shopping !

Easy, secure and central parking. Many of the shops are along pedestrianised streets). Prices range from designer shops to value for money stores.

And ... plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants for those all important refreshment breaks !

gaze at the Christmas lights in December/January

(La Rochelle, Christmas 2001)

watch spring emerge March—May

(local vineyard, March 2002)

and any month, walk on deserted beaches or through beautiful countryside by day - & cuddle up in front of the log fire at night !

(Meschers Beach October 2001)

Being the open and honest people we are, we should also say that the price we pay for all that sunshine and warmth, and for the lovely green countryside, is a fair amount of rain in November & December ! However, it tends to come in bursts, often at night, and often with good sunny periods in-between.

But with a decent umbrella, who cares - you're on holiday and if you get caught in a shower, it's a good excuse to pop into that restaurant for a leisurely 3 hour lunch break !

Don't just take our word for it : see what previous guests have said :

"We were looking for somewhere comfortable, warm and a bolt-hole - and we found it !! Gite very well equipped and easy to get warm, whatever the weather"

(December/January 2005/6)

"bright flowers at the door, roses on the table - what a welcome ! The organisation & info, the gite itself and the setting ... all superb !"

(February 2007)

"... we actually spent the afternoon sunbathing in March (18 degrees) !"

(Guests, March 2007)

" we particularly loved ... the weather ... all the suggestions of where to go, places to see, where to eat ... we wanted it to be special - it couldn't have been more so" (Sheila & Debbie, April 2002)

" the garden so beautiful, the view much admired ... [we] explored the surroundings - attractions abound ... a lovely week, which we will always treasure ..." (Martin & Cathrien, May 2002)

Why choose us ?? Use our "Comparison Chart" to see why !!!