Our grape harvest is in full swing and heralds the end of summer. My thoughts are focused on our winter offers for guests in our apartments at Villa Roquette. Escape to the South of France for a few weeks or months – better still, enjoy Christmas dinner with us – to be sure of getting all special offers join me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter
…. read more about our Autumn Sale
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In a few weeks the last section of the super highway from Paris to Spain will be completed. We are the perfect distance from the main junction to the south, close for convenience but distant enough for total calm and privacy. If you are travelling to or from any corner of France to the Mediterranean, we are the perfect place to stop for a night (or ten).
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Pezenas, only ten minutes from our home in Montblanc, was the capital city of the state of Languedoc. Princes and courtiers came south from Paris in the summer and ‘amused’ themselves in their private palaces. Many of these Rennaisance buildings remain in town, Pezenas is a treasure trove of history.
Each year Pezenas closes off the streets and hosts two huge antique fairs, bringing hundreds dealers from all over the world and miles of stalls to sell and trade everything under the sun. The next one is on October 10, so if you are interested book to stay with us and I can take you to the market and introduce you personally to some of the dealers -
….read more about Pezenas Antiques
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I am working on some websites to help owners get rental business for their vacation properties in Frace. When we started this business in 1997, the Internet was a blank page – no Google, no Facebook, No Twitter. I made simple websites RentalsFrance.com and 1stVacations.com were a couple I created, we got literally millions of visitors each month and very successfully marketed thousands of rental properties in France. There were only a few websites listing rentals then, pioneering days.
Now there are thousands of rental listing sites and millions of personal websites renting apartments, gites an villas. There are also many more properties on offer and fewer people spending less each year on their vacations, so to succeed you have to be much more visible, attractive and competitive every year.
I am writing a series of articles and tutorials to share my experience and knowledge on Internet marketing for vacation rentals. The first of these covers advertising services and the Internet and explains some important points about the way the Internet is changing from search and email services to mobile applications and community interaction.
In this first introductory article about marketing vacation rentals in France, I stress the importance of niche markets several times. I will be expanding on this in future, but you can begin to see some examples on our site at Local Activities where we offer local activities such as golf, cycling and rock climbing, as well as courses in paiting history and photography.
It is also important to give services which serve the needs of guests, such as; traveling with children, bringing your pets and facilities for people with mobility difficulties.
Skills and studies are niches where owners can offer opportunities; learning photography, painting, cooking or studying local history – these are some of the opportunities we offer to guests from our own accommodation here in Languedoc.
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I live in the South of France, our children are building their own lives and we have made a small business from our property and home at Villa Roquette. A stranger in a strange land, I am happy advise and comment on questions about life and living here.
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Christmas is Coming, why not spend this Christmas this year in the South of France with us, we promise a warm welcome and Oysters with Champagne on the terrace. Book now and take advantage of our Autumn Sale
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