Hotels in France

Regular holidaymakers in France know that hotel accommodation is better value than in the UK. You pay for the space you occupy rather than per person. A classic example at the lower end of the market is the Formule 1 motel chain where all rooms can be occupied by up to three people (a double bed and an overhead single bunk bed are provided). Formule 1 have in fact 'exported' their low-cost bed-and-breakfast hotels to the UK, but UK prices are still approximately 20 per cent higher than those in France.

There are several guides published annually in the UK on gîtes and chambres d'hôte in France. The international website www.gaf.tm.fr provides locations and basic details in English, French and four other languages on over 28,000 camping sites, hotels, gîtes, chambres d'hôte, youth hostels, etc in France.

Cooked breakfasts are found in de luxe hotels offering international cuisine. Continental breakfasts à volont é (as much as you can manage, within reason) can be found in other establishments. Many three star and upwards hotel and motel chains have delicious salad bowl counters where you can lunch and dine à volonté for around 12€, making up for missed cooked breakfasts.

Hotels are graded as follows, and just under 50 per cent are franchised or groupowned so standards in those hotels are uniform:

• No star. Five rooms or fewer. This category includes many chambres d'hôte businesses, some of which have restaurants. No bath/shower or WC in room.
• One star. Twenty per cent of rooms have private bath/shower and WC. Each bedroom has a chair for each occupant.
• Two star. Forty per cent of rooms have private bath/shower. Room telephone and lift for more than four floors. Someone at reception speaks another language, probably English.
• Three star. At least ten rooms, slightly larger than one and two star hotel rooms. Most rooms have own WC. Room telephone and lift for more than two floors. Breakfast provided. English spoken at reception.
• Four star. Larger bedrooms. All have bath/shower and nearly all a WC. Restaurant, and lift for more than two floors.
• Four star de luxe. All four star amenities with larger bedrooms and larger reception hall. WC in all rooms and lift to all floors.