Bordeaux Vineyards -
Grange in former wine chateau
Frequently asked questions
Scams - There are now scammers who clone websites, sell the holidays,
take your money and disappear. To reassure yourself, go the the French
directory enquiries "pages blanches" search for "Proctor, Gauriaguet"
you'll find our address and phone number and you are welcome to give us a
call.
Where are the
nearest shops?
Peujard:
3 minutes by car or a twenty minute walk in each direction. in the next
village which is there is a grocers / butchers, newsagents, hairdresser, baker
.
La Garosse: 5
minutes by car. Hypermarket, cash point, service station, Leader Price
supermarket and small shopping mall.
St André de Cuzac :
5 minutes by car. Various shops, banks, Thursday & Saturday market,
chemists etc.
Bordeaux: 30
minutes by car.
Can
we bring our dog?
I'm afraid we can't take animals as we have
rare free range chickens, guinea fowl etc.
Are there any restaurant nearby?
There are about a
dozen restaurants within a twenty minute drive with menus ranging from €10 -37 ) for five courses including wine and coffee.
Can we taste wine?
Certainly, there are
literally hundreds of vineyards to choose from. We are on the boundary of the
Bordeaux , Cotes De Blaye & Cotes de Bourg wine region and within a
30 minutes drive from St Emilion, Fronsac and a little further for the
Medoc . We can arrange tastings or you can stop where you see the sign : vent
direct or degustation. There are also Cooperatives which sell very
good quality wine like the Cave cooperative de Lugon
Is it safe to
drink the water?
Absolutely
Car rental - should we reserve a hire car before our arrival?
Yes, it's a good idea. You must pay by credit card as they don't accept cash!
Is there
heating for the winter and is there a charge?
Yes
there is, Heating and hot water are included in the price.
Is it
necessary to take holiday insurance?
Yes,
it is a very good idea to take holiday insurance to rent our house. Why?
Firstly the 25% deposit is not refundable and the balance too if we
can't re-let the property. Secondly, if children accidentally damage the pool
liner a replacement will cost £1500.00 which as in the contract is the tenants
responsibility. Also over the years we have seen many mishaps from illness to
cars having to be repatriated due to breakdown.
Are the
French friendly to foreigners?
Of
course. Don't take any notice of tabloid newspapers or politicians! We've
lived here for 18years and have been made to feel nothing but
welcome.
How far is
the nearest airport?
30
minutes drive. Bordeaux, Merignac airport is on the main road from Bordeaux.
From London the flight time is approximately 1hour fifteen minutes. You can
also travel from Bergerac, La Rochelle or Biarritz.
What is the easiest way to get money?
Cash machines are the easiest way. However,
check with your bank about charges. Normally there is a 1.5% transaction fee.
I can only speak for Barclays, but if you use Global
Alliance cash machines there is no transaction fee. There is a BNP Paribas in
Saint André De Cubzac - 5 minutes by car.
Can we cash travellers
checks?
The banks in
the local area don't change them. The easiest thing to do is get money from a
cash machine.
What are the
medical facilities like in France?
Excellent.
Do I have to pay the doctor or
hospital?
Yes. You will have
to pay the doctor, € 23.00 approximate for a GP, or hospital and then you will
be reimbursed up to about 75% on your return to the UK. The rest you
will have to pay yourself. You will need to register in the UK before
your travel. If you are not from the EU you won't be reimbursed.
How far are the nearest beaches?
There are many
beaches along the Atlantic coast within an hour to and hour and a half's drive.
They range from lively resorts like Arcachon, Biscarosse, Lacanau and Royan to
many wild beaches with kilometres of sand and a backdrop of pine forests.
Is the pool
protected?
There is a wall all
around the pool and lockable gates at both ends.
Can we sunbathe
nude?
Yes but only around
the pool.
How private is
the pool and garden?
No pool is
completely private as someone has to clean and maintain it! This pool is shared
with the owners, no children, who occasionally use the pool for
exercise early morning. Privacy is always respected. Only the
owners use the garden to cut the grass or feed the animals. There is
one hectare in total.
Can our children
feed the animals?
Yes they will be delighted to receive any left
over bread or vegetables. We have an angora goats and some very old sheep, which are fenced off and ornamental free range chickens
who will be waiting on the terrace for their breakfast! Free range eggs
are available depending on how the chickens feel!
Do we need to clean before we leave?
It is a self catering rentals, so yes. The house should
be left as you find it, which includes cleaning the oven , toilets,
bathrooms and taking the glass recycling to the village collection point. If you
don't want to do this there is a 50 Euro cleaning charge which should be
arranged in advance with us.
If you have any questions that
are not answered here do not hesitate to contact us !
