frequently asked questions

We hope the details provided below are useful and give you further help in deciding whether a holiday at Le Pourtaou is for you.

What's included in the price?
How many people can sleep in the house?
Are children welcome?
What type of bedding do you have?
What kind of facilities are available at the house?
Where is Le Pourtaou?
What's available in nearby?
Do I need to be able to speak French?
Do I need a car ?
How can I get there?
How do I get to the house?
Is on-site parking available at the house?
Is a deposit required?
Do I need to bring electrical adapters with me?
Can I make telephone calls from the house?
Does your swimming pool comply with French security laws?

What's included in the price?

We supply bed linen, bath towels (you need to bring your own pool towels) and tea towels (with a change once a week on Saturdays) and a small supply of cleaning equipment, washing up liquid, dishwasher powder/tablets, toilet rolls etc. We also have a supply of reusable plastic picnic cutlery, plates, bowls and cups which previous guests have found very useful for small children to use. We will arrange for a supply of basics to be ready for you upon arrival, for example - fresh milk, fresh coffee, tea bags, sugar, tomato ketchup, olive oil, vinegar, sea salt, pepper corns, bread, margarine or butter, cheese, ham etc. If you have any special requests we will do our best to accommodate them (subject to cost and local availability). We can always help out if we have things in our store cupboard that you need but do not have with you.

How many people can sleep in the house?

There are two bedrooms in the house. One has a standard sized double bed and the other three single beds. Therefore, the house can accommodate up to 5 people.

Are children welcome?

Children aged 5 or over are welcome at the property. We do not have facilities for very young children or babies. We have dogs who live with us and are an important part of our family. If you or your family are afraid of dogs, or have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. One is a family pet (Labrador/Goldie cross), one used to compete in agility competitions (chocolate Labrador) and two are show dogs (black Labradors).

What type of bedding do you have?

The pillows are all hollow fibre with a cotton cover. The double duvet is a hollow fibre, all-seasons duvet. The single winter duvets are all hollow fibre. The single summer duvets are hollow fibre and duck down (1 hollow fibre and 2 duck down). The bed linen is of either a cotton/poly mix or pure cotton. The towels are all pure cotton. There are additional cotton bedspreads in the bedside drawers.

What kind of facilities are available at the house?

The house is equipped with a full-sized kitchen including an electric hob, electric oven (with child lock), dishwasher, microwave, large fridge freezer, coffee maker, kettle and toaster. There is also a television which receives both French terrestrial television and UK free to air satellite channels, a DVD player, a VCR and a mini hifi system . The house has oil fired central heating. There is access to a washing machine, for a small additional charge. There is also a steam iron and ironing board. In the garden there is a range of garden furniture, sun loungers, parasols and barbeque equipment. A fire extinguisher and fire blanket can be found in the kitchen. There is a battery operated fire alarm in the stair well.

Where is Le Pourtaou?

Le Pourtaou is in the small village of Larcan (pop. 168). The nearest major town is St Gaudens, a ten minute drive away. St Gaudens is in the department of the Haute Garonne whose southernmost tip meets the Pyrénées and the Spanish border.

What's available in nearby?

The amenities available in St Gaudens, our closest town, include several large supermarkets, the nearest being LeClerc, half a dozen bakeries, several pharmacies, and a hospital with accident and emergency department, as well as a museum, a cinema, and many restaurants. There are two bakeries near Larcan, one at Lalouret a 2 minute drive away and one at St Marcet less than a 5 minute drive away. Please note that most local shops are closed on Sundays, Monday mornings and major holidays.

Do I need to be able to speak French ?

Although it is useful to know at least some French words and phrases, it's not necessary for you to be fluent. Many of the locals speak some words of English. In our experience the people of the area have always been extremely friendly and willing to help whether you speak French or not. If you make an effort to speak some French they will undoubtedly appreciate it.

Do I need a car ?

Yes, you do need a car while staying at Le Pourtaou. If you arrive by train or air it is possible to hire a car at the airport or locally.

How can I get there?

Le Pourtaou is easily accessible by road, just off the main A64 auto route which runs between Toulouse and Tarbes, by Eurostar from London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford in Kent, via Lille or Paris onwards by TGV to Toulouse, then local rail to Saint Gaudens or by air to Toulouse, Tarbes, Pau or even Carcassonne.

How do I get to the house?

By air: Le Pourtaou is about a 75 minutes drive from Toulouse airport, but we are also easy driving distance from Tarbes or Pau or even Carcassonne which are served by numerous national, international and low cost airlines.

By Car: From any of the above airports, you can rent a car (it is advisable to reserve a rental car before you leave for your vacation - we can help you with car hire if you wish) and drive straight to Le Pourtaou. Driving time varies depending on your arrival airport as well as whether you opt to drive via auto routes or via more scenic minor routes. Alternatively, drive the entire way from your port of entry into France or even Spain. It's about an 11 hour drive from Calais but there are plenty of places you can stop en route.

By train: There are train stations in each airport city, and it is possible to take either a regular or high-speed train to your destination. For example, an airport navette shuttles passengers arriving on any airline from Toulouse airport to Toulouse Matabiau station where you can take a local train to St Gaudens and then rent a car there. The train ride to St Gaudens is approximately 1 hour .

Is on-site parking available at the house?

Absolutely. We have lots of space for cars.

Is a deposit required?

We do require a 25% deposit at the time of your reservation. For more details, see our terms and conditions page.

Do I need to bring electrical adapters with me?

If you are coming from the UK you do not need to bring an electrical adapter with you. We supply at least one adapter and have others available should you need them.

Can I make telephone calls from the house?

There is not telephone in the house but there is excellent mobile phone reception. However, in emergencies we are pleased to help. Telephone cards can be bought at local newsagents or tobacconists, "tabacs". This usually works out cheaper than using a "foreign" mobile in France. There is a telephone box in Larcan village centre a 10 minute walk away.

Does your swimming pool comply with French security laws?

Yes our pool complies 100% with the current French security regulations regarding swimming pool safety. We have a professionally installed, AFNOR approved (Compliant: NF P90-308), reinforced, automatic pool cover.

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	French Secrets
	Holidays in the Haute Garonne