Top tips for welcoming guests to your French Holiday Home

Recently we asked our holiday home owners what they felt were their top tips for welcoming guests, we thought it might be nice to share them. Here are the top seven tips; the last one is a cracker:

1. A clean home is a happy home. There is nothing more important than making sure your holiday home is spotlessly clean. It is terribly off putting when bathrooms or bed linen seem unclean or a little tired and shabby. Having stayed in a beautiful house that was let down by the cleaning standard, I know what a disappointment this can be.

2. Welcome packs. Most holiday homes offer a basic welcome pack of milk and butter etc but why not go that extra mile? Some suggestions were a nice bottle of wine, a little bunch of flowers, some lovely local produce, or a disposal camera for the kids to enjoy. Free is nice or build it in to the cost of the rental, or alternatively offer the option to buy in additional items if required to be paid for on arrival.

3. Loo rolls in the bathrooms. More important than you think, they are the most basic of items and they might be part of the welcome pack but it's worth making sure each of the bathrooms have them. There is nothing worse than a car load of kids and adults arriving desperate to use the bathroom after a long drive to be thwarted at the last minute by the lack of this essential item! Also include all the basic cleaning materials such as washing up liquids, dishwasher tablets etc this helps encourage visitors to look after your home.

4. Information pack. Supplying details of shops, beaches, attractions, places to go and reviews of the local restaurants. People don't always like to have to spend the holiday trying pot luck with the restaurants so some personal reviews and recommendations are a nice touch.

5. Guest Book. It's a great way for you to receive feedback and improve your facilities but can also be a really useful goldmine of information about the local area for your new arrivals.

6. Provide two sets of keys for your visitors. If you own a larger holiday home and there is like to be more than one family sharing or a large extended family then an extra set of keys is essential. People often like to do their own thing, this way you are giving them the freedom to come and go as they please.

7. Postcards. Why not get some postcards printed up with a picture of your property on the front and some details in small print on the back. A lovely little perk for your visitors, maybe even in the welcome pack. And whilst your guests write back to friends, family and the office you get rave reviews about your house and area whilst advertising your property at the same time!

This is meant as a general guide and is not intended to cover everything. If you have found it useful, have any of your own tips you'd like us to share, or you would like to give us feedback, then please do contact us at info@ourhouseabroadfrance.com