Welcome back again to the 3rd part of reasons to book a self-catering gîte holiday, and not just any self-catering holiday, but one here at Lou Messugo on the Côte d’Azur. If you haven’t already read Parts 1 and 2, where I talked about the large amounts of outdoor and indoor space available and the value this provides, I suggest you do by clicking on the links.
Self-Catering, is it Really a Holiday?
Many people I speak to who haven’t taken a self-catering holiday before mention that being on holiday they don’t like the idea of having to cook and clean up. My answer to this is that you are on holiday, there’s no need to slave over complicated meals but make the most of the local markets and speciality shops (as well as supermarkets) which France is so good at.
You’ll all know about France’s wonderful boulangeries but do you know about its “traiteurs”? A traiteur literally translated is a caterer but don’t think big events, think everyday meals, think more along the lines of a deli counter. That in itself is, as far as I’m concerned, one of the best reasons to book a self-catering holiday!
Most butchers are also traiteurs where you can find freshly prepared meals and dishes varying from salads to lasagna, local specialities and favourites like paëlla. The choice changes daily and everything is made on the premises, these are not packaged ready-meals high in evil additives.
In the markets you’ll also find grilled chickens, charcuterie (pork cold cuts), cheese, bread, dips, nibbles etc. Personally I adore going to foreign shops and markets when on holiday, in fact it’s one of the first things I do; it gives you a great insight into what’s important to the local population. Choosing and buying foreign products is never the same chore as doing the weekly shop at home, believe me!
Eating Out or Eating In
So there really is no need to spend much time cooking if you don’t want to and of course there’s nothing stopping you from eating out. In our local town there are about 10 different restaurants, all walking distance, offering fine French dining, pizza, burgers, bistro-style dining, crêpes and even Thai food. (And more choice than you could possibly ever need in the surrounding area).
What you do get with self-catering however, which to my mind is the crunch factor, is the choice to not have to eat out every meal which particularly with kids makes for a cheaper and often less stressful holiday. You know you can feed your children on food they’ll eat without having to battle the minefield of unfamiliar menus and flavours. Surely if you have young kids that is one of the most convincing reasons to book a self-catering holiday!
Remember also that wine bought in the supermarket is massively cheaper than restaurants. This means either that you can drink superior quality or just a whole lot more – quality or quantity, ideal really!
At Lou Messugo we provide a large barbecue which our guests love using, making most of the quiet balmy evenings in the comfort of their own place. The children can run around and play while the adults linger, something not often possible in restaurants.
As for clearing up, well there is a dishwasher, and it’s a small price to pay for the many advantages of eating in.
The Personal Touch of Hosts on Site
Let’s look at another of the positive reasons to book a self-catering holiday, the “personal touch” and the benefits of staying in a gîte with hosts on site. We are able to advise on the best places to visit, eat, shop, walk, ski, sail, cycle…whatever. We are a very active family and have lived in the area since 2007 so we know it well.
When we arrived we had a toddler and a young kid, now we have a teenager and a young adult which means we’ve covered activities and places to go with pretty much all ages of children.
We are bilingual and are happy to help with any language issues whether it’s a simple restaurant, taxi or activity reservation or an emergency situation.
We are immediately on hand for any problems should they arise. But despite being around for help, don’t worry we are very discreet. We are here if you want/need us, but won’t impact on your holiday if you don’t. You get all the benefits of holidaying in a private home without any of the inconveniences.
We have travelled plenty with our kids, staying in all sorts of accommodation but preferring by far to book a self-catering holiday. We can understand your needs and offer personalised and personal advice from a local perspective.
If you have a special occasion to celebrate, just let us know and we’ll make sure it’s memorable (for all the right reasons!) Over the years we’ve had honeymooners, a silver wedding anniversary, 60th, 70th and 80th birthdays and plenty of other important dates. We also know of one baby conceived here!
Do You Need Even More Reasons to Book a Self-Catering Holiday?
For plenty of ideas for what to do in the area now that you know more about the gîte itself do have a good look through the blog, especially the categories Provence-Côte d’Azur, Annual Local Events, and Activities, Walks, Beaches & Day Trips.
You’ll also find information on my Pinterest boards and Facebook page. I hope I’ve convinced you to get in touch for a quote.
We are open all year and have a minimum stay of 3 nights except for July and August when it’s a week, Saturday to Saturday. We sleep up to 4 people but if you want to holiday here in a bigger group of up to 10 we rent out the whole house (our home) every summer for a few weeks mid-July to mid-August. You can find out more about that here.
What do you think about self-catering gîtes? Come and give us a go!
Read Part 1 of my reasons to book a self-catering holiday here
Read more reasons in Part 2 here
PIN it for later!
Flexibility is a great word for self-catering, you’re absolutely right Emma.
Ooooh, looks amazing. France is a great country to self cater isn’t it?
Yes it sure is, with all the markets, and high quality food available it’s ideal.
Too true Nichola.
Thanks Cass!
Ah it looks beautiful! We are big fans of self catering too, perfect for family holidays.
I hope you enjoy the Dordogne…and then make the Côte d’Azur your next destination Jen!
That’s great to hear Steph 🙂
Very valid point Helen, you do get to try local cuisine without the restaurant prices, well said!
You hit the nail on the head Nadine!
We’d love to do this at some point – your gite looks beautiful x x
Oh no that’s a shame Kara. Perhaps a romantic couple getaway one day?
We quite often go self catering when abroad, the heat makes me lose my appetite and we can be more flexible with when we have meals. It looks lovely here! x
We LOVE self-catering in France. The husbeast would quite happily live on bread, cheese, meats and wine! We are off to the Dordogne (new area for us) at the half term
We much prefer self-catering, and it’s lovely to get a personal insight and touch when on holiday. When we have some more money available I’ll definitely look into this!
I love the look of your gite as had a nose when we were staying with Rosie but sadly its too small for us :0(
We love self-catering – it’s the only time I let my husband cook, so he enjoys the change too! I’ve only just discovered traiteurs – what a wonderful thing, and a great way to discover the local food without restaurant prices.
I love going to foreign supermarkets too. Buying food abroad is always such an adventure whereas it is just another ‘to do’ when you’re at home!
Thanks Linda, this really means a lot to me knowing you also run a holiday cottage. I hope you do come back one day we loved having you and your parents here.
As a past guest I can certainly recommend this wonderful gite. It’s proximity to both the coast and the mountains is one of its many attractions if you want to explore. Comfort is a given. Standards are very high. The welcome basket was thoughtfully chosen. We went in February and still were able to eat on the patio occasionally even though we found snow when we ventured into the higher countryside. We would love to go back and enjoy the pool facility which we could see would be a real bonus. Phoebe and her family were completely charming and on hand when needed to offer local insight. As a provider of self catering accommodation myself in the UK I really appreciated the thoughtful touches.
I’ve sent you a message… :):):)
Thank you Ruth, it’s great to get such resoundingly positive feedback and thanks for pointing out those little details like the toys. You’re absolutely right of course, we provide high quality clean fun toys and check regularly for broken lost parts and replace when necessary. Ditto the crockery.
As a former guest, both with and without children, I think you’re almost too apologetic about the “self-promotion”! It’s a wonderful place and what you write encapsulates it perfectly! – absolutely NOT marketing cover-up in any way! The garden really IS that huge, you really ARE completely unaware of the house above and I can confirm that the selection of rose wine in the local Intermarche really IS that large! Works for us….! I can also confirm that the quality of everything you offer is absolutely top-notch, so the toys and games, for example, are not just shabby, half-complete junk (like in doctors’ waiting rooms) but clean and complete, and none of the crockery is chipped or cracked. We loved it there!
So good to hear Richard. Very pleased you’re coming back again 🙂
There are so many options, it is one of the joys of self-catering!
You’re right Sally, the Côte d’Azur can be a very expensive place if you don’t have insider knowledge like ours and a great value place to stay. And it’s true we really do have a lovely climate!
Before I stayed at Lou Messugo, booked through friends, I hadn’t heard of a ‘gite’ before. It is definitely an easy and cost effective option. I’ve frequently been back and enjoyed exploring the south of France, which I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise thinking it would be too expensive. Also easy for weekend getaways because bad weather is so rare. Shhhhhh. Don’t tell everyone ;).
I am hungry just thinking about the delicious options, both self catering and eating out!
You’re dead right about the special “advisory service” that you and J-F offer. We’ll be using it for the fourth or fifth time again in May. Looking forward…..!
Oh how lovely Lydia, I really hope to hear from you again soon. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions contact@loumessugo.com
Just found you through Twitter and LOVE what I’m seeing. I’ve read the other 2 blogs and will be showing my OH later and feel sure I’ll be back in touch soon!