"Naivety is an important quality to have when you start out, dreaming big and aiming high. But there are some important realities you should know before you begin."
""Your first year is the launch year," says Rupert, "without repeat guests and reviews, nor with a proven track record with Airbnb and other platforms, so it will be a bit bumpy""
"Every gîte in France should be booked up in the summer; the challenge for all of us is to get bookings in April, May, September and October."
Running a gîte requires realistic planning around a naturally limited season and awareness of common startup pitfalls. In the Dordogne the season typically runs from May to September, averaging around 16 weeks, with exceptional properties achieving up to 32 weeks. The first year operates as a launch year without repeat guests, reviews, or an established platform track record, so bookings will likely be uneven. Securing bookings in shoulder months—April, May, September, and October—is a major challenge. Prospective owners should avoid basing income forecasts on long-season assumptions in year one. Exceptional accommodation quality combined with proactive marketing can increase occupancy in subsequent years.
Read at The Good Life France
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