Leaving everything behind to open a guest house in the south, France's leading tourist destination, is a project that many people dream about. But this project requires an important personal and financial commitment.
Guest house or bed and breakfast? It is the same thing !
A guest house is a house that contains guest rooms, furnished rooms that are rented to visitors who will also enjoy a breakfast.
An establishment that offers a table d'hôte, in addition to the overnight stay, offers meals but does not fall under the regulations of restaurants.
It is a commercial or agricultural activity (if it is attached to a farm). To benefit from the status of bed and breakfast, it is necessary to limit the number of rooms to 5 and the number of residents to 15. The realization of this activity requires to respect certain rules and in particular a registration in the town hall, a registration and an affiliation to the social security.
Beyond this capacity, the activity of bed and breakfast or hotel will require respecting the regulations of the Establishments Receiving Public.
But which South are we talking about?
According to us, the South-East of France, which includes the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region, part of Occitania (formerly Languedoc-Roussillon) and the south of the Rhône-Alpes region (Ardèche and Drome) benefits from the proximity of the Mediterranean and numerous tourist destinations popular with both French and foreigners. We can mention the cities of Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Montpellier, Perpignan, Avignon, Aix en Provence, ...
The South-West will include the south of the New Aquitaine region and part of the Occitanie region. It is mainly the former regions of Aquitaine and Midi Pyrénées. These regions benefit from both the Atlantic coast and the presence of the Pyrenees and also from tourist destinations and prestigious properties (Toulouse, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Bayonne, Pau, ...)
The South of France has a very favorable weather for tourism with for example long summers with a lot of sun. Even in winter, it is usually warm enough to practice outdoor activities like hiking or biking. This makes it an ideal place to run a year-round tourist accommodation.
France is famous for its cuisine, and the south is no exception. From fresh seafood to succulent fruits and vegetables, you'll find many delicious ingredients to work with. And, of course, let's not forget the wine! With so many great wineries in the area, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect bottle to serve your guests.
In general, people in the south of France live at a more leisurely pace than those in other parts of the country. This laid-back attitude extends to business as well - so don't be surprised if things are a little slower than you're used to! However, it can be a refreshing change of pace from the hustle and bustle of city life. And it's a change your guests will certainly appreciate during their stay in your guesthouse.
Opening a bed and breakfast in the South, as in the rest of France, requires a real estate investment that is generally very expensive, even if the differences are important between departments and according to the proximity of tourist attractions.
In addition to the financial investment in the house, the creation of the rooms can require important renovation and decoration works. Not to mention the spaces dedicated to bathrooms, sanitary facilities, reception and breakfast rooms.
Finally, the creation of outdoor spaces such as gardens, swimming pools, playgrounds, ... are real pluses that will incite vacationers to extend their stay but require an initial investment.
The bed and breakfast activity also requires an important personal investment for the yearly management, the reception of the tourists, the cleaning and the maintenance. And this work will have to be done during the vacation periods which must be taken into account. You must also take into account the necessary communication work to reach your clientele and build loyalty. It is therefore an activity that requires personal time and whose fruits will not always be immediate.
Finally, it is necessary to take into account the competition with other tourist accommodations in the vicinity: campsites, hotels, cottages and other guest houses.
Although the south of France is a popular tourist destination, not all visitors speak French as their first language. This can be a communication challenge, so it's important to know some basic phrases in English (or the language most common among your guests).
Of course, owning and operating a guest house does present some challenges. But if you are willing to take on the challenge and put in the work, it is well worth the effort. Just remember to do your research and prepare for all the potential challenges before you take the plunge!
It is important to take into account the opinions of your future customers to succeed in your guest house project. In addition to the setting, the services and the decoration of your spaces, the first criterion which comes back from the mouth of the customers is the quality of the reception.
Indeed, holidaymakers who are guests of guest houses are generally looking for a different relationship than the one they can have in a hotel for example.
If you are considering opening a guesthouse, keep these elements in mind. Your guests will appreciate your hospitality and attention to detail!
You will find on ma-propriete.fr a very large offer of tourist accommodations for sale in the South of France and in particular guest houses for sale in the South West or in the South East.
Here is a selection of these properties: tourist and fuest house for sale in the South, South East, South West of France.
Departments in the South-East of France : Alpes-De-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Ardèche (07), Aude (11), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Drome (26), Gard (30), Hérault (34), Lozère (48), Pyrénées-Orientales (66), Var (83), Vaucluse (84)
The departments of the South-West of France: Ariège (09), Aveyron (12), Dordogne (24), Haute-Garonne (31), Gers (32), Gironde (33), Landes (40), Lot (46), Lot-Et-Garonne (47), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), Hautes-Pyrénées (65), Tarn (81), Tarn et Garonne (82).
This distinction between the departments of the South-East and the South-West of France is inevitably contestable because it is only our appreciation (seen from Brittany!).
