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Accommodation

Five families in Ardèche: check the distribution of lodgings

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To bring together five families in Ardèche with independent accommodation per household, first count the people in each family. An estate with 25 beds does not necessarily offer five four-person accommodations. At Mas d'Eylieux, in Saint-Montan, the six independent gîtes have capacities of 7, 6, 3, 4, 3 and 2 beds, or exactly 25 in total.

The answer therefore depends on the composition of the group and the beds accepted. This guide provides a distribution test and a numerical example for 20 people; it does not recount vacations already experienced. The group accommodation page presents the formulas and details of the bedding.

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Prepare your beds and your days with families

Compare the size of each household to the six dwellings

Housing Exact beds Things to look out for in bedding
La Châteaunette 7 Double beds, single beds for living room and mezzanine
Côté Source 6 Two double beds and BZ in the living room
Les Citronniers 3 Double and single bed in the living room
Les Figuiers 4 Double bed and two singles in the living room
The Hazelnut Trees 3 Two articulated singles and bench seat in the living room
La Maisonnette 2 140 cm double bed

Each cottage has its own kitchen, toilet and shower. To maintain accommodation per household, each family must be able to enter a separate accommodation, then its members must accept the distribution of beds in this accommodation.

Start with the largest families. If two households request the same accommodation, you must modify the distribution or reconsider the need for independence. The gîte sheets allow you to examine the beds and spaces before sending a proposal to Pascale.

No map of the lodgings is currently available. Prepare the distribution with these sheets and the bedding table, then specify the accesses or beds which require verification.

The case of five families of four

In this configuration, each family needs at least four beds in their own gîte. Alone La Châteaunette, Côté Source and the Fig Trees meet this first criterion. The Citronniers and the Hazelnut trees have three places each, the Maisonnette two.

Five families of four, each in a separate gîte, cannot therefore be distributed in this way at the Mas, even if their total of 20 people remains lower than 25 beds. The problem comes from the size of the accommodation, not the number of places on the estate.

If families want to each stay in one accommodation, look for a configuration with five accommodations with at least four places. If they agree to split up differently, discuss this possibility explicitly with all participants and have the beds checked. No change in wording makes a three-person gîte suitable for four people.

An example for five households of different sizes

Here is another composition also totaling 20 people. It shows why two groups of the same size do not have the same possibilities.

Focus of this example People Cottage to study Beds in the lodge
A 6 La Châteaunette 7
B 5 Côté Source 6
C 4 Les Figuiers 4
D 3 Les Citronniers 3
E 2 La Maisonnette 2
Total 20 Five occupied dwellings in this example 22

This assignment remains an arithmetic hypothesis. It requires in particular to accept the double beds, the BZ and the living room beds concerned. Place people on each bed, check mobility needs and have the result confirmed. The Hazel Trees are not occupied in this example; their three beds bring the total of the domain to 25.

The table does not guarantee a rental of five gîtes. In full privatization, the six accommodations are reserved for your group even if one remains unoccupied. A partial rental has its own availability, conditions and quotes.

Organize meals without imposing the same rhythm

Choose the meals you want to share, then leave breakfasts or some lunches free. Independent kitchens allow preparations to be organized according to the household. For a large communal table, discuss space, furniture and storage with Pascale.

In case of rain, Côté Jardin allows a meal for up to 30 people according to the confirmed conditions. This capacity does not change the possible nights and does not guarantee any other use of the space.

Rental is made in self-catering: caterer, activities and possible transport are chosen, reserved and paid for separately. The domain of 40 hectares constitutes the framework of the stay; your days remain to be organized according to the desires and needs of the group.

Prepare for a week in October

The outdoor swimming pool 10 × 5 meters is announced from mid-May to September depending on the weather. For October, build the days without counting on swimming. In season, the pool is shared in partial rental and exclusive in full privatization.

All the lodges and accommodation areas on the estate are open in October and on All Saints’ Day. Heating, electricity and furniture in the estate are included in the prices including tax. The opening does not constitute availability for each date: prepare a common form for the five households, then have the available accommodations and the formula chosen confirmed. The pricing season and duration of the chosen format remain specified in the quote.

Decision for October stay Information to give Response to be obtained before booking
Housing the five families Size of each household, children, nights and beds accepted Housing available together and distribution validated
Organize times indoors Spaces used and comfort needs of the group Layout adapted to the group; heating and electricity included
Eat together in case of rain Number of guests and shared meals desired Côté Jardin terms, installation and furniture agreed
Choose exits Exact destination, ages and mobility Openings, slots and conditions at each site
Compare quotes Same number of nights and same need for exclusivity Total price including tax, duration, season and options for exact dates

The 30 meal places announced in Côté Jardin do not define a work room configuration or an entertainment service. Have the intended use confirmed with Pascale. For distribution, also keep the counter-example of five families of four: each in its own gîte, they do not correspond to the capacities of the Mas.

Prepare for trips with arrival to 16:00 and departure to 15:00. These schedules help plan shopping, setup and put away; possible external interventions are coordinated separately.

You can alternate time at the estate, discovery of Saint-Montan and outings to the Gorges. The Mas is located approximately 35 to 40 minutes by car from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc ; this does not give the exact time to the Pont d'Arc, a parking lot or a canoe departure. Check the destination and route of each outing, then the openings and conditions directly with the location concerned.

Choose one or two common meetings during the week and leave the other days free. The family activities guide helps to compare outings according to group. The page Saint-Montan and Vallon allows you to prepare the location of your stay.

You can save a Saint-Montan walk for a day when the group wants less travel, and a covered visit for another day after checking the timetable. The differences between caves and the Saint-Montan guide allow you to prepare the choice according to the mobility and age of the children. Plan an alternative if the weather or a closure requires changing the program; no outside activities are included in the rental.

Compare the quote per household and per night

The privatization grid concerns the entire domain: it is identical for twelve or twenty-five people, on identical dates and duration. A partial rental has a separate rate. The month of October is not enough to automatically deduce the season level or a rate per gîte: Pascale confirms your dates and the total amount including tax. Electricity, heating and furniture of the estate are included.

To compare two proposals, keep the same number of nights, the same family composition and the same need for exclusivity. Note the cost of the venue, inclusions, options and out-of-pocket expenses. Then divide the confirmed amount according to the rule agreed between households, without assuming an identical share if the numbers or nights differ.

Linen is optional, 15 € per person per stay. If 20 people choose the option, this makes 300 €, counted once. Meals, outings and possible travel are added according to your program; the deposit is processed according to the contract.

Convey the five family sizes, dates, bed requirements and your exclusivity preference from the group accommodation page. The first decision is the compatibility of the distribution; the quote and the program then specify the stay.

Practical questions

Can five families each have a gîte at the Mas?

It depends on the size of each household and the beds accepted. The exact capacities are 7, 6, 3, 4, 3 and 2 sleeping areas. A distribution can be studied for households of different sizes; the total number of people is not enough to guarantee accommodation per family.

Can five families of four be divided into five gîtes?

No. La Châteaunette, Côté Source and les Figuiers are the only three gîtes offering at least four beds. The other three have three, three and two places. Five families of four, each requiring their own accommodation, therefore do not correspond to this configuration.

Can we plan the swimming pool during a stay in October?

The announced period is from mid-May to September depending on the weather. A stay in October must be prepared without counting on the swimming pool. Accommodation, meals and outings are checked independently of swimming.

Is renting five gîtes equivalent to privatizing the estate?

No. Complete privatization reserves the six gîtes. A partial rental depends on the accommodation offered and availability; the estimate specifies the spaces retained. The example of five households presented in the guide is a distribution of people, not a guaranteed offer to rent five gîtes.

What should I confirm before booking a week in October?

All the lodges and accommodation areas on the estate are open in October and on All Saints’ Day. Prices are inclusive of VAT, with electricity, heating and domain furniture included. Confirm availability on your dates, distribution of families, duration, pricing season and quote. Prepare the days without counting on the swimming pool, whose announced season remains from mid-May to September depending on the weather.

To check the information and prepare for your visit

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