Burgundy Hideaways
Stylish holiday properties in Burgundy since 2011

FAQ
Please read through the following information if you are thinking of making a booking, have already made a booking, or would like to know more about how we operate.
How do I make a reservation?
Using the contact form on this website, send us a message stipulating which property interests you and the dates you are considering.  We will try to respond within a few hours with the information requested. If the property is available and you would like to proceed with the booking the first step is to pay a deposit of 200.00€.  This secures the dates and your reservation is then confirmed.  A booking form will also be sent at this point along with the pricing and payment schedule.
The balance payment will then be due 8 weeks before your arrival.  If your arrival is less than 8 weeks from booking, the entire cost will be due when making the reservation.


What payment methods do you accept?
Most people use bank transfers for their bookings.  This can be done in euros and sterling.  Unfortunately, we are not able to process credit cards.  It is possible to reserve with an online travel agent and pay with a credit card, but there are booking fees and service charges to pay.


Why should I book with you instead of an OTA (online travel agent) ?
Booking directly with us ensures that you have direct contact with us, the owners of the Burgundy Hideaways properties.  We will answer your emails personally, quickly and if needed speak to you on the phone.  We can make personal arrangements for you and your group and advise on local activities, make reservations, etc.  If you book with an online travel agent you will have to pay substantial booking fees or service charges which could add 15-20% to your costs.  There is a delay with the contact threads and often personal, important contact information is censored out of communications.


What's included in the price?
Included in the rental price for all of our properties are the following:
Bedding – Beds will be made up for your arrival. If there is not full occupancy, all the beds will still all be made. You can choose if to use them or not. Each double bed is 160cm x 200cm, each single bed is 90cm x 200cm. All beds have two pillows, soft foam and harder memory foam. All beds have duvets and 100% cotton duvet covers. The baby’s cot is made up with a small quilt at top sheet. If your child is used to sleeping in the body bags, please bring your own.
Towels – The Barn contains towels for 5 people. 5 large towels and 5 hand towels. These are placed in the bathrooms. La Petite Maison and La Guimbarde offers 4 large towels and 4 hand towels, each found in the bathrooms. We offer a change of towels and bedding mid stay of bookings over one week. Please bring your own towels for swimming if you decide to visit the swimming pools or lakes. We request that the red bathroom towels are not taken for this use.
Gas - Gas for the barbecues and cookers is included in the price. If this runs empty during your stay (Very unusual, as we normally change them before they run out) please contact me locally.
Logs for the logs burning stove in The Barn and La Guimbarde can be found outside in boxes ready for your use.
Welcome pack – Upon arrival in the property you will find a welcome hamper contacting local treats! Please let me know in advance if you would like a little extra something in the property for your arrival (Champagne, chocolates, flowers, etc) as I will be happy to arrange this and charge you at cost price.
Toiletries – We invite our guests to use the hand soap and hand/body cream left in each bathroom.  To help with the environment and recycling, these products are refilled so please do not take them with you
Baby equipment – Unlike many holiday properties, we do not charge for the use of baby/children’s equipment. Please request to see the separate list of what I have available for your use. If you let me know in advance, I can make sure this is ready in the house for your arrival. We also have an extensive collection of children’s DVDs ready for borrowing.  
WiFi – The internet connection is free for you to connect your devices to. There is a password for you to use, which you will find at the property when you arrive.
Postcards – There are free postcards left for your use in each of the houses. Please help yourselves to them if you would like to give them to someone who you think might like to visit in the future, or as a reminder of your trip.
UKTV freeSat (free to air channels)  Each property has a decoding box with free to air UK tv channels.


What happens when I arrive at the house?
All the properties have key lock-boxes on the exterior of the houses. The keys in these boxes are accessed by a four digit code that you will be sent before your arrival. The Barn is sometimes left unlocked as we live next door. Please come and make your arrival known to me (If arriving at The Barn)....I might be in the garden or in the house, so give a good knock on the door! We invite you to arrive between 4pm and 9pm. Please let me know if you think your arrival might be different to these hours, as I like to call in to make sure everything is as it should be and take care of orders for bread, etc. If you encounter delays on your outward journey, just send me a text or Whats App to let me know.

How can I organise Bike hire?
If you would like to rent bikes during you stay to explore at a slower pace, this may be done in the local town of Venarey-les-Laumes (closed on Mondays). I recommend that reservations for this are made during busier periods (summer holidays) but this is not always essential. This would not be necessary during off-peak times. Rentals are for a full day or half day. See www.vcrf.fr for more information. This is also a shop, so if you need supplies for bikes you have bought along with you this is the place to go. The shop is right next to the Canal de Bourgogne and there is plenty of (free) parking for you to leave your car and begin exploring.


Where are the local restaurants?
There are too many in the wider area for me to list on here, so I shall just list the ones within a 15 minute drive from the property that I have experienced. Unfortunately, there are no restaurants in Frolois or Corpoyer les Moins where the houses are located (See Meal delivery service for eating at home choices) but there are some close by. 
Restaurant de l’Abbaye in Flavigny sur Ouzerain Traditional French cuisine with menus and a la carte. See www.restaurant-de-labbaye.fr
La Grange in Flavigny sur Ouzerain.  Canteen style restaurant with food made by local famers wives. Seating outside in summer, warm log fire in winter. An authentic Burgundian experience! See http://www.ferme-auberge-la-grange-flavigny21.fr/
L’Esprit in Venarey les Laumes. . French cuisine with a modern twist with both menus and a la carte. Opposite the railway station. Terrace available. See www.restaurantlesprit.fr/416796406
La Trianon d’Alesia in Venarey les Laumes.  Pizza menu and traditional menus and a la carte. See www.letrianondalesia.fr
Pizz 'Alise in Gissey 5 minutes from Frolois/Corpoyer.  Pizzas and burgers for eat-in and take-away.  They do have indoor and outdoor seating to drink aperitifs while you are waiting, or to eat your food when cooked (Beer garden style).  Take your own beer & wine, or buy from them.
Baigneux les Juifs has a visiting pizza van on Wednesdays
New for 2020 (not open at time of writing) in Darcey just 5 minutes away a new restaurant is due to open with an outside terrace.


How do I order the home made meals?
Before your arrival, you should have been sent a list of the dishes and platters available to order for home delivery. Just let me know before (ideally more than 24 hrs notice, but not always necessary) what you would like and I shall deliver this hot and ready to eat, or if this isn’t suitable, cold and ready for you to warm up. Please do ask if there is a dish you might like to try as we are adventurous enough to have a go! Payment for this is usually in cash at the time of ordering if already at the property or once arrived. If you wish to order several times payment may be made at the end of your stay.
Unfortunately, this full service is not offered in Lucy’s Hideaway. It is possible to organise sharing platters or dishes left in the property for your arrival (in the fridge ready for re-warming) so please contact me directly about this.   

Where is the closest baker?
Boulangeries used to be in every village in France. Now, because of the rise in popularity of the larger shops, they are getting fewer and fewer. Unfortunately, Frolois and Corpoyer no longer have a bakery. However, there is no need to go without your daily croissant. We offer freshly baked croissants, pain au chocolats, pain au raisin, baguettes and demi-baguettes which can be dropped off at you hideaway. Alternatively, there is a shop in the neighbouring village of Darcey which sells daily bread.  
For Lucy’s Hideaway in Baigneux les Juifs Bread & pastries can be bought daily at the mini supermarket.

Is there private parking?
Yes. At The Barn, there is a piece of grass just under the hanging sign for your use. There is room (just) for two cars, but as the road is very quiet, there is always somewhere to slot in your car. At La Petite Maison, there is a gravel drive just by the garage doors with space for two cars. Lucy’s Hideaway is located through a stone archway which some drivers may find challenging. It is possible (and easiest) to reverse your car through this space, but it is quite narrow. (We have reversed a Peugeot Boxer van through) but if you have doubts about this it is possible to park on the road. For loading and unloading your car, just pull up in front of the arch.
La Guimbarde has parking directly outside the property for 1 car.  A second car can be parked roadside close to the house.

Do I have to deal with the dustbins?
No. I shall make sure they are where they need to be on collection days. Please use the yellow bin for recycling plastic paper and cardboard and the brown bin for food refuse and everything else. Bottles must be taken to the bottle bank at the bottom of Frolois village.
We may ask for your help to put the dustbin out at Lucy's Hideaway.  The village has a bottle bank by the tennis courts and fire station.

What do I do if I break something?
Accidents do happen, and I usually we have replacements for glasses, mugs, plates, etc. Just let me know if anything is required. There is no need to panic about a broken glass or two. However, please look after the property with as much care as if it were your own home. Please tell me if something happens with a larger, more valuable item as soon as you can so I can make arrangement to replace any damaged articles. There will probably be people coming into the property the same day as you leave so as much notice possible please to ensure the following guests holiday property has everything in working order.  

We do ask that children be supervised with colouring pens and pencils. Felt tip pens leaked onto a duvet cover is a challenging stain to remove and a scribble on the wallpaper even more so. If you do not supervise your children/animals in the property unfortunately, the necessary cleaning charge may be deducted from you damage deposit.

Can I bring my dog?
Usually, the answer to this question is yes. Please let me know in advance, (usually at the time of booking) if you would like your four legged friend to join you. I do ask that they remain off the soft furnishings and beds as they are all light in colour, and dog hair is time consuming to remove. We also ask that you bring a bed and feeding/water bowls for your pet and that you clean up after your pet in the garden before your departure. We also ask that you do not leave your pet alone in the house while you are out. Unfortunately, failure to follow these guidelines will result in the loss, or partial loss of your damage deposit should any damage occur or extra cleaning required.

What do I do when I leave the house?
On your morning of departure, we ask that the house be left in a tidy way. We shall come in and clean the house, but in order to make this easier we ask the following: Please ensure that rubbish from all the bins is taken out to the dustbins and that the fridge and cupboards are empty from food and drinks. Surfaces in the kitchen should be wiped and clear and the dishwasher emptied. We also request that the bed linens be taken off the beds and left in one of the bedrooms or at the top of the stairs along with the towels in a second pile, ready for us to launder. Please leave the pillow and mattress protectors on the beds.

We have a celebration during our stay; can I order a little ‘something’ for her?
Yes, most definitely. I can help you arrange a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or a bottle of her favourite Champagne. Perhaps a soothing massage or manicure in the luxury of your Burgundy home? An indulgent cake? A Restaurant reservation? Please contact me to discuss.

How do I contact the owner if there is something I need to discuss during my stay?
I can usually be found next door (to The Barn). I may also be contacted by text message, email or telephoning.
Sharon Mobile: For texting and WhatsnApp 06.73.74.90.98
Sharon Home: 03.80.96.29.36
Sharon email: sharonmegret21@orange.fr
Gregoire Mobile : 06.71.01.15.83

What is there to see and do in Burgundy?
So much! Is the short answer. Please have a look at the 'discovering the region' page
Too much for me to list here, suiting all ages and tastes. In each house there is an extensive supply of tourism leaflets and information on all the local sites and attractions along with some located further afield too. There is a Tourist office in Venarey-Les-Laumes with staff waiting to answer all of your questions about the area, if needed. In each of the properties there is a visitors book where our previous guests have left their favourite places and restaurants listed for you to read through. We hope you will leave your own comments and ideas for our future guests to profit from as well.

I hope reading this has been helpful in your preparing for your visit. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you need to discuss about your stay in one of the houses or the area, before your arrival.  
We look forward to meeting you!


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