Questions
Any questions about bookings, availability or the like can be sent to: douluch@gmail.com. We will reply as soon as we can. We are happy to help with information about things to do in the area; what shops and services are available etcetera.
Local Managers
We have a local manager, who lives close to Le Douluch and who can assist with any questions or issues that may arise during your stay. She is a native English speaker but also has reasonable French. The manager’s details will be provided after a booking is confirmed (and they are also in our ‘house book’ at the property for easy reference during a stay).
Pets
Pets are not permitted except by prior agreement. If pets are at the property without agreement an additional cleaning fee may be charged.
Smoking
Our property is ‘no-smoking’ indoors. Please only smoke (including e-cigarettes/vaping) in the garden areas and not inside the property.
Arrival, Departure and Cleaning
We have a contactless entry system: keys to the property are left for you in a lock box. The access code (and directions and our manager’s contact details) is sent to you approximately 3 days prior to the start of each booking (if for some reason you do not receive it, please email douluch@gmail.com). The property is carefully cleaned and sanitized between guests – both so that the property is welcoming when you arrive and for everyone’s peace of mind in these post Covid times. To deal with the additional work required because of the virus, until further notice we have slightly pushed back check-in time until 17:00 and it is also important that all our visitors vacate strictly not later than 10:00am on their departure date, so we have sufficient time to make the property thoroughly ready for the next guests. We regret any inconvenience from the slightly later arrival time and the ‘hard’ departure time; but are confident that in the current health situation our guests prefer a proper clean ahead of slightly earlier access.
More details about our facilities:
Kitchen: refrigerator/freezer, gas cooker with oven and cook-top, dishwasher, microwave, coffee machines (both capsule and filter/cafetiere), kettle, generous amounts of crockery, glassware, cutlery and kitchen utensils, pots, pans, saucepans, baking trays and bakeware, BBQ utensils etc. etc. There are usually supplies of kitchen ‘basics’ like salt, pepper, oils and spices at the property. Tea towels are supplied and there is usually a supply of washing detergents and other cleaning products at the property.
Laundry and utility: washing machine & clothes dryer, vacuum cleaner, mop, broom and dustpan; a panier for market shopping.
Living areas: 2 leather sofas, a comfy armchair, woodburning heater, TV (including free to air and satellite french; and GB satellite), CD/DVD player (and selection of both), bluetooth speaker bar, wireless internet, books and games.
Dining area: extendable dining table seating 6 – 8 in comfort.
Exterior: weatherproof dining setting and market umbrella, BBQ, pool (fenced as required by local law) and sun loungers, off road parking for 2 cars.
Sleeping: 3 bedroom (1 large double and 2 twins) all bed-linen and bath towels supplied.
Bathrooms: Upper level shower room and WC; lower level full bathroom (bath with shower over) and separate WC.
Bedding and Towels
We provide all bed linen (sheets, blankets, duvets, pillows and pillow covers) and towels (both bath towels and for the pool) as part of our price – you don’t need to bring your own.
Getting around
You will need your own car to fully appreciate le Douluch and the surrounding region. The nearest SNCF train station is at Rodez (the line connects to Toulouse), approximately 40 km away and the nearest TGV stop is Montpellier, about 2.5 hours by car. There are limited air services to Rodez airport but the closest major airports are Toulouse (approx 3 hours by car) and Lyon (approx 5 hours).
Car rental is available at all these locations but opening hours can vary, especially in Rodez, so it is advisable to plan and book well in advance.
Local Services and Facilities
The nearest townships are Espalion and Estaing. Between them you will find most services you need on a holiday. Estaing has several cafes and restaurants, a small general store, a boulanger, and a post office. Espalion is a bigger centre and has banks, petrol stations, a large supermarket (located between Espalion and Estaing), a hardware store, and medical and dental services. It also has numerous speciality shops such as butchers, bakers, homewares, opticians, jewellers, and camping/hiking stores.
Markets
At time of publication, there were weekly food markets in Espalion and Entrayguyes on Friday mornings. During summer there are often Wednesday evening markets in Entraygues as well. More information is available on the web sites for the local tourist offices.
Bookings
Can be made either via Vrbo (or its affiliates such as Abritel) or by direct contact with us. We discount our rates, as published on Vrbo, by 5% for bookings made directly with us through our own web site, but please be aware that direct bookings are not confirmed until any required deposit is received by us.
Cancellations
As we only book on a weekly basis, our guests tend to plan well ahead and it is often difficult for us to get replacement bookings at short notice. So, if you cancel 30 days or more before the first day of your booking, we offer a full refund*; but after that, cancellation fees apply. For a booking cancelled 15 days or more before the first day of your booking, we provide a 50% refund*. Cancellations 14 days or less from commencement are not eligible for any refund. (That said, we will still provide a refund* if we in fact obtain a replacement booking at the same rate).
Security Deposit and damage
Bookings made via Vrbo and affiliates are governed by its terms including in relation to security deposits and damage to the property. If you book direct with us, we do require a security deposit in case of damage beyond fair ‘wear and tear’. It will be refunded promptly after your rental, provided our local manager confirms there is no damage to be rectified. The security deposit is A$500.00 (or local equivalent).
Privacy Policy
We collect and keep contact details (primarily email and phone numbers) of people who book our property and those who make enquiries about it. We don’t sell or otherwise release that information – it is solely for our own use; for example we have previously offered discounted rates to those who have stayed with us before.
Our old web site
In the course of your on line searching, you may have come across the site: ledouluch.com. It is an old site that also relates to our property; but many of the property photos and much of the information in it is now out of date. The only reason it is still visible is that the operating software for the old site no longer exists so it can’t be readily updated or taken down, so the site has been superseded by this one. That said, it does still contain some general information about the region and things to do, that you may find interesting – but please come back here if you want to ask questions or make a booking!
* subject to any currency conversion fluctuations and bank transfer charges