This is the life (frenchlife.co.uk)

Member Name: Fiver29

Product:	frenchlife.co.uk
Date:	28/05/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick and easy booking

Disadvantages: Some properties don't have a lot of information

Frenchlife.co.uk is a site for booking gîtes and apartments in France. The front page allows you to get straight into the action and do a quick search, where you add your party size and the area you want to search. If you're not familiar with the French regions (as I wasn't) you will probably want to research the different regions before searching.

This is easily done as French Life has a full section detailing each region, which gives information about what type of area it is; i.e. mountainous, beach, etc. It also gives average temperatures for each region on a monthly basis, the different regional foods, places to visit.

So once you've narrowed down the areas, you can go back to the search, there's the quick search as mentioned above, or an advanced search. The advanced search allows you to select property type (cottage or apartment), dates, length of stay, party size, region, number of bedrooms required, price range, accommodation only price or ferry inclusive price and preferred features (pool, garden, close to sea, etc).

After clicking the search button, you'll be given a list of properties that are available according to your specifications. They are displayed in a table, on the left side you get details of the holiday start date, the cottage capacity, whether pets are allowed, the property reference and the price. In the centre is the start of the description of the property and a small photograph, then finally a button to click for more details. This way of displaying the properties makes it very easy to skim down the page to look for any that immediately jump out at you (which for me was looking at prices first). Prices are per cottage not per person, and the ferry inclusive price includes the cottage and one car, if you're taking a second car you'll have to pay extra.

Clicking on more details will bring up more details!! These include a pictorial guide for the property, which tells you things like whether there's BBQ, cots available, dishwasher, TV, etc. You'll also be able to read the full property description, which varies from one property to the next, but generally includes the bedroom descriptions, amount of bathrooms, how close the property is to certain landmarks. There's also a map of the area which pinpoints the location of the property. For most properties there are a range of photos showing the interior and exterior of the property.

Once you have chosen your property you can book it online. When you book you'll need the names of all the party members and credit or debit card details. The company is Atol and Abta protected, but I still used my credit card as a double back up, there's a 2% charge, but for peace of mind I think it's a small price to pay. Booking is simple, the first page will ask for details of how the party is split (how many adults and/or children), then on the next page you are warned that there will be a security deposit to pay at the property, and you must confirm that you will pay this on arrival. Then you are asked for the details of your party, with the name of the party leader and other members, your address, telephone number and email address.

If you've chosen the ferry inclusive price, you will now be asked for details of the ferry crossing (do you want a long or short crossing, if you select long crossing you will be asked for your preferred route. This will affect the price, because the ferry inclusive price is for the short Dover to Calais crossing. If you're booking the short crossing it can be booked immediately by entering your car registration, the make and model and the dates and times you want to sail. Next is the option to take out their insurance, I have never taken travel agent insurances for years, I tend to fins better deals online.

Then finally the worst bit, the payment page! Of course the site is secured for credit/debit card payments, and at this time you'll only need to pay the deposit (unless it's last minute), then the final payment can be made at a later date.

You'll receive email confirmation of the booking, with more details about the property owner, telephone numbers, etc. Plus you'll receive something in the email that allows you to add a reminder to Outlook so you don't forget your final payment. I'm not sure how this bit works because I don't use Outlook, but my brother in law added it to his calendar with no problems.

Once your holiday gets close (two weeks before), you'll receive a back from French Life through the post. This pack includes details of your booking, directions to the property, a GB sticker for the car, and a booklet which gives you information on documentation that's needed for the car and yourselves. Hints on making sure your car is in tip top condition before you set off, a few of the different road signs you'll encounter and information of the best types of shops and services to use. It also has a letter that perhaps needs updating, stating that France now uses Euros!!

I can't fault the booking process at all. The transactions went through smoothly, when we initially booked the holiday and when we logged back in to pay the balance. I have had to call French Life twice, the first time because I didn't have my travel insurance details to hand at the time of booking, so I rang to give them the details, and the second time I rang to confirm that the swimming pool at the property we booked would be open (because they're only open late May to Early Sept). Both times I got through straight away, no long waits in queues listening to dreadful tinny music, and both times the telephone operators were efficient and courteous and had a bit of a laugh whilst waiting for the computer to update.

The only thing I think I'd improve on was the regional details, I would have preferred to see a full map of France and select the regions from the map, rather than just use a drop down list and chance pot luck as to which side of the country the region was. You can solve this by ordering a brochure, which has a full map, but if you're anything like me you want to do things straight away, not wait for the post.

Summary: Take a look, it might save you a few bob.