Preparing for Your Trip

Dear guests,

You will have already found some information and many tips for excursions on our website which we would like to add to here so you can make your own preparations for your trip. You will find more details when you collect your keys and in the information folder directly in Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis.

Should you have any further questions, we will be happy to provide you with information by e-mail.

Preparing for Your Trip

There is no need to take an intensive French language course right away but a certain amount of advance information about the country and the people in the south of France will increase the pleasant expectations of your holiday.

We recommend that you bring at least one travel guide and either accurate road maps or the latest navigation system.

Arriving

By Car

Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis can be reached easily via­ well-built motorways (in France subject to tolls that can be paid using credit or debit cards).

Cheap overnight accommodation is available at many motorway exits, e.g. Première Classe (First Class), B&B or Ibis Budget Hotels.

On the "Autoroute du Soleil" you will notice how the light and climate gradually become more Mediterranean from Lyon onwards.

Note:

Most navigation systems recommend taking the Montélimar-Sud exit and then Saint-Martin-               d'Ardèche. This route is scenically beautiful but also very curvy and not suitable for travelling to our location!

We recommend:

Use the "Bollène" exit heading towards Nîmes, pass Pont-Saint- Esprit, but go past it on the right (because there is a large market in the historic old town on Saturday mornings). At the roundabout when you enter Bagnols-sur-Cèze, take the first exit onto the D980 heading towards Barjac.

Tip:

Want to do your first shopping excursion in France here? There are outlets such as Bio-Co-op, La Vie Claire, LeaderPrice, Mc Donalds etc. directly at the roundabout.

After about 14 km on the D980, follow the road signs to Saint-André-de Roquepertuis to the right. After the small shops "Le Pays bleu" and the vegetable shop "Grains de Cèze" you will see our idyllic village in front of you to the right – and the view just might make up for the long drive! ­First of all, look for­ a temporary parking space in the village centre near the church (marked parking spaces only). From there, just follow the village road on foot for a few metres. You will then discover our big gate no. 2, Rue du Ranc on the right hand side.

If you have followed your navigation system via Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, you will pass our gate. Look for a parking space near the church and come back a few steps on foot.

By Air

The nearest airports are Nîmes, Montpellier and Marseilles. Several airlines often offer very cheap flights. From there, take a rental car and drive via Bagnols-sur-Cèze to St. André de Roquepertuis, 2 Rue du Ranc. We strongly recommend renting a car during your stay.

By Rail

There are convenient rail connections via Paris by TGV. The nearest TGV station is in Avignon. From there, take a rental car and drive via Bagnols-sur-Cèze to St. André de Roquepertuis, 2 Rue du Ranc. We strongly recommend renting a car during your stay.

On Arriving

Unless otherwise agreed, we will expect you between 17.00h and 20.00h (5.00 pm and 8.00 pm). Enter our property through the gate. If you do not find us, you will find instructions on how to reach someone by telephone to welcome you.

Now that you know where your apartment is, you can unpack your car in peace.

Later on, please park your car in our private car park at the back of the guest house, which you will easily find with the help of the village map (GPS: Chemin de la Raffine).

We will be pleased to show you the possibilities and offers of the Résidence de l’Acacia.

The fridge in the lounge holds cooled drinks for you, including wine from the local region.

We offer simple facilities and the village is also simple. In other words, do not expect a luxurious holiday resort. We are trying to create a kind of soft tourism.

After you have unpacked in the apartment (you might feel the way we do: we often leave half of it in the suitcase and find out once more that most things we brought were unnecessary), you can then park your car in the car park reserved for you.

Should you arrive after 20:00 hours (8.00 pm), please inform us in time. We will wait for you or if this is not possible, we will send you the code for the key safe next to your apartment door by mobile text message. You can then check in the following day.

Beds and Bed Linen

The beds have latex mattresses measuring 0,90m x 2,00m. Each person will have a pillow measuring 40cm x 80cm, a thin quilt measuring 155cm x 200cm (each pillow is suitable for those with allergies), an additional blanket and a bedspread. If you do not bring your own bed linen or towels, you can also hire these from us.

Washing Machine

A washing machine is available for the guests. Each washing cycle costs 3.00 euros, including detergent.

Games - Boules - Billiards - Table Football - Table Tennis

For our younger guests we have building blocks, push-cars (so-called "bobby cars") etc., but mostly the sand or the beautiful pebbles from the Cèze river are much more interesting. For the older guests there are boules in every apartment which you can use to play on the in-house bowling alley.

Books are also available for borrowing. Many guests also like to use our old billiard table (but it's not very professional!) and a children's table football, but the table tennis table on the meadow is much "sportier". Remember to bring bats and balls­.

Pool

On hot days swimming is an irresistible attraction. The swimming pool is­ there for you to "freshen up" in between­ and you can swim longer distances our river, the Cèze.

Sunbeds and garden chairs are available for sunbathing and there are also shady seating areas in the garden.

Recreation Room

We have­ set up a lounge­ for all guests in the large natural stone vault, the "Grande salle", where the television set is also located.

Terrace, Barbecue and the Grounds

A popular meeting place is the large terrace and the pavilion, where different guests can easily get acquainted if they wish. Our guests often spontaneously organize barbecue evenings here­.

If you prefer solitude, you will easily find­ a quiet place somewhere on the large grounds or in the extensive­ forest right next to the guest house. (No barbecues here, please. Due to the danger of forest fires, open fires are prohibited in throughout the entire region!)

For children and teenagers there are many adventures waiting to be­ had. Trees need to­ be­ climbed­ and many a "camp" has to be built. You can let your children play without any danger from traffic. Kids from the big city have often become adventurers here, learning to work­ with stones and sticks for hours. Usually, the children ask their parents to come back next year­ because they have found new friends.

"Four-Legged Friends"

Since we have had repeatedly bad experiences, we ask you to bring your pets only if you­ have registered them with us­ in advance and accept responsibility for any damage or contamination yourself.

Courses

From time to time, courses are held on our property such as choir-practice weeks, language courses, painting courses or nature exploration courses. If you would like to offer or attend a course, we will be happy to provide you with information or help you plan it.

The Cèze River

The clear water of the river with its­ beautiful, clean pebble beach is about 10 minutes' walk from the guest house and is also suitable for small children (closed bathing shoes are useful). Two beach cafés on the river bank await numerous bathers in summer. Also worth seeing are the "Cascades du Sautadet" waterfalls about 6 km downstream where the river has carved a bizarre crater landscape­ into the white limestone and formed many pools which flow into each other and create countless whirlpools.

Adventure and Sports in the Immediate Vicinity

For many activities, sturdy footwear, flashlights and bathing shoes are strongly recommended.

The Village of St.André de Roquepertuis

Apart from its friendly­ people with their Mediterranean­ ways and seemingly forgotten alleys with beautiful flowers between ancient stones in the midst of the most charming landscape of France,  the village of St André de Roquepertuis (population: approx. 500), offers endless opportunities for long walks­ past fields of lavender­, vineyards and sunflower fields. ­Olive trees, fig trees, Mediterranean light and the scent of the "herbs of­ Provence", asparagus, fruit, vegetables make every season a personal experience­ of nature.

There is a small, well-kept playground in the centre of the village.

In summer, you can dine in the open air on the beach of the Cèze in the restaurant "La Frigoulette" in a relaxed atmosphere.

Goudargues

Here you will find one of the most important contacts: you can obtain all kinds of information about events, opening hours and other interesting things from very nice staff members (they also speak English) at the Office de Tourisme.

A stop at one of the cafés or­ restaurants is also a good idea­, a pastis to quench your thirst, or a small, pitch-black coffee, as is a visit to cultural­ events in this small but lively tourist town.

Goudargues has doctors and a pharmacy and there are­ hospitals in Bagnols-sur-Cèze.

Shopping

Unfortunately there are no longer any shopping facilities in the village. You will find shops on the D980 regional highway:

- Intermarché supermarket, also open on Sunday mornings in summer

- petrol station (gas station)

- wine shops

- Pizza Hut

- organic vegetable vendors

Goudargues also has a baker, butcher, tobacco shop, boutiques, souvenirs, supermarket, etc.

Your First Day at the "Résidence de l'Acacia"

A useful tip: remember that you will­ probably be tired after your long drive and you might have to cope with a change of climate. So do like the southern French connoisseurs of the art of living:­ let things come to you very slowly­. Give the guest house and its surroundings the chance to take on a gradual, very gentle appearance - even if you­ have to adjust to­ the simplicity first­ and give up some luxury. Please do not judge using British or American standards­. Take the time to read the travel guide and information folder on site­. Some guests­ have told us that it took them three days to "let go", to feel at ease and experience some of the French "savoir vivre". Our guest house several­ centuries old, so what are three days?

"Tell a Friend" Advertising and Regular Guests

If you ­like the "Résidence de l'Acacia" and our simple style of soft tourism, we would be pleased if you recommend us. It will then be our pleasure to deduct 5% of the rental price resulting directly from your­ recommendation. We will then deduct­ this­ amount from your future bill in­ addition to the 5% discount from your second rental.

We are also happy to receive a positive rating on the internet.

To date, this has brought us­ satisfied guests who fit in­ with the guesthouse. We would like to­ remain a favourite address for connoisseurs which you can pass on to your friends.

With this in mind, we would like to welcome you to the circle of friends of the "Résidence de l'Acacia".

Some of our guests have made friendships going back many years and meet again and again at our guest house. However, you can also take some personal "time-out" and simply relax and take it easy.

We wish you a trouble-free journey here, a pleasant stay, lots of sunshine and in case of rain, an interesting book.

Regards,

the Beck family