Here are answers to all the questions you might have about staying at Les Bigonnies. If you can’t find the answer, please contact Sam on +447828140496 or +33748113699.

Airports
Les Bigonnies Estate is 1h20 from Bergerac airport, 1h40 from Limoges airport, 1h45 from Bordeaux airport and 1h50 from Brive airport.

ATM

• Villebois-Lavalette, 15 minutes away
• Verteillac, on the main square

Bakeries
There are bakeries in Gout-Rossignol and Cheval, which are both about 8 minutes away.

Bar
For a really local, French experience, go to De De’s bar which is open from Thursday to Saturday. We believe the owner is 96 years old. Once you’ve finished your drink, you’ll be expect to wash up your glasses!

Barbecue

There are two charcoal barbecues on the covered terrace, supplied with a bag of charcoal. Please clean the metal trays after use. Please be vigilant as currently France is experiencing extreme heat and winds. Do not leave your barbecue unattended and please put water on it once you have finished cooking.

Baths
There is a bath in both Champagne and Fontaine

Bed linen
The duvets are poly cotton and the pillows are microfiber. All bedding is cotton and the beds will be made up on your arrival.

Beds and bedrooms
The top floor bedroom in Champagne is a French double. The other 6 bedrooms all have kingsize beds.

Bins, compost and recycling
Walk towards the half barn opposite the car park. Please be careful as the roof is very low at the corner where the bins are situated.

• Composts: is against the wall.
• Glass: Please put into the green bin provided.
• Carboard: Please put into the brown bin provided.
• Recycling: Paper, packaging, Metal tins, packaging and plastic bottles. Please put into the yellow bin provided.
• General waste: Please use the blue card provided and take to the bins as you drive out the driveway to the left. We are charged every time you use the card, so please only use it when your bin is full.

Bonfires and outdoor fires
Please do not light any outdoor fires because of the risk of wild fires. We must apply to the Mairie 3 days in advance to have a bonfire outside between October and February. In other months outdoor fires are strictly forbidden in the Dordogne. If caught in these months or without permission results in a €1,500 fine from the gendarmerie.

Breakages
On checking out, please let us know if there are any breakages so that we can replace them. If you need something replaced during your holiday, please ask!

Cars in France
If you are driving in France with your own car, be aware that you’ll need a Crit’air sticker to drive in low-emission zones. You’ll find all the information on this government website.

Check-in
Check-in is from 4pm, please don’t arrive even a minute before as we want everything to be at its best for you and it takes us until 4pm to clean and arrange everything.
If you are delayed on the day itself, please do let me know via email or what’s app.

Check-out
Please check out by 10 a.m. on the day of your departure, when our cleaning team will need to access the property. Before you check-out, please:

• put everything back where you found it (adapters, outdoor & games, books etc.)
• take your rubbish and empty bottles to the public bins
• run the dishwasher on quick cycle with any last items

Cleaning products
We provide dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, spray cleaners, bin bags, loo paper and other cleaning products for your use. Also kitchen roll, aluminium foil and cling film.

Coffee
Each kitchen has a L’Or coffee machine. Fill it with water, place a coffee cup under the outlet, lift the flap up and place the pod in and then shut.
Turn on and when the light stops flashing, press the button for the largest cup.
Fontaine and the studio are the same apart you go straight to the cup size.

Cooling the houses in the summer
The trick to keeping rooms cool in the heat of the summer is to prevent the sun from entering them. During the day, it is advisable to keep the shutters and blinds shut, and to open them and the windows at dusk to allow the cool air in.

Doctors
If you need a doctor’s appointment, you can normally get a same or next-day appointment.
Your appointment will be made via the website or app Doctolib for a general doctor – médecin généraliste – who will see you online at a pharmacy.
Open Doctolib; create an account and log-in; click on the ‘make an appointment’ button; when it asks what type of doctor you require, search for médecin généraliste or general doctor; when it asks for your location, type in 24320 (our postcode).
A list of doctors and then pharmacies will appear, choose one, the time and confirm the appointment.

When you go to the appointment, arrive 15 minutes early as there is lots of information you’ll be required to give before seeing the online doctor. When you start filling in the questions, you can change the language to English, and that will also enable you to be seen by a doctor who speaks English.

Your appointment will take place in a private room or booth with lots of equipment for taking your temperature, looking in your ear or at your tonsils! You’ll be instructed what to do, and at the end, a prescription will be printed for you. And as you’re in a pharmacy already, you can get your medicine immediately.

Remember to take a credit card to pay for the appointment (about €25) and any medication.

Electricity
In France the power plug sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. This means, if you’re coming from North America, check whether your chargers and appliances are 110 V, as they’ll fry in a 230 V system!

Emergency numbers:
Mobile: GENERAL EMERGENCY NUMBER 112
FIRE BRIGADE 18
AMBULANCE 15
POLICE 17

Fire alarms and extinguishers
There are smoke alarms and fire extinguishers on each floor and a carbon monoxide detector in each house.

Fireplaces
The fireplaces are not for use.

First Aid Kit
There is a basic First Aid Pack in Champagne’s kitchen, in the cupboard under the sink.

Freezer bag

There is a freezer bag for you to use next to the washing machine in Champagne.

Games
There is a chest full of games and cards in the games room, also Pétanque balls, dart board and table tennis which can be used in the games room or taken outside.

Golf

• Golf d’Aubettere
• Golf Club de Périgueux

Hairdryers
There are hairdryers in each bedroom.

Instagram
Please tag us in your Instagram posts: https://www.instagram.com/lesbigonniesestate/

Iron and ironing board
These are in Fontaine next to the fridge in the kitchen.

Markets
The 1st Sunday of the month Verteillac have a Brocante.
Every Tuesday Morning the is a market in Mareuil.
Every Friday morning Riberac have a market in the Square which is very popular

Massages
We have an excellent yoga teacher, Leanne Bladdley, who can come to Les Bigonnies to either give you a massage or a yoga lesson.

Oven outside
To work the oven, you need to use the 3 dials on the left. The furthest left is timer or manual; next to it the temperature; and the third on the left is the function (grill, fan-assisted oven etc.)

Owners
We, Sam and Bradley and our black Bouvier des Flandres dopey Dorus, live about 25 minutes away, Please contact us if you need anything.

Parasols
Please lower the parasols and tie them closed at night or when you are out. We can get very high winds, so please be mindful. Thank you.

Passports
To enter France from outside the EU, you must have a valid passport issued less than 10 years before and valid for at least 3 months after the envisaged departure date.
We have had a guest turned back at a UK airport for having a passport older than 10 years – UK passports are valid for 10 years 6 months; EU passport for 10 years.

Pizza oven
There are two buttons on the side of the pizza oven for the temperatures, when pushed in together they ignite the gas.

Plancha
There is a temperatue dial for high or low, as you turn the dial it will turn the plancha on.

Reviews
If you’re happy to leave us a review on Google we would really appreciate it, reviews are so important in reassuring potential guests about the property.

Security
Please ensure all windows are closed and all doors locked when you go out.

Septic tank & loo
The septic tank and plumbing can only deal with natural waste and the provided loo paper. Please dispose of anything in one of the sanitary bags provided and throw it in the bin.

Smoking
Please refrain from smoking indoors.

Supermarkets
There is an épicere or village shop selling the basics at 96 place du Champ de Foire, 24320 Champagne-et-Fontaine.
For supermarkets, the closest are:

• Super U et Drive, Av. Maison Blanche, 16320 Villebois-Lavalette 
  Monday- Saturday 09.00-19.30hr Sunday 09.00-12.30hr
• Super U et Drive, 58 Av. De L’Angoumois, 16190
  Monday-Saturday 08.30-19.30hr Sunday 09.00-12.30hr

Swimming pool
The cover is for security and to keep the pool warm, so please cover the pool when it’s not in use, especially at night.
To open the pool: just turn the key on the side of the roller and let go.
To close the pool: Just turn the key consistently.

Toiletries
We provide two small bottles of body wash and also shampoo, as well as soap and hand wash in each bathroom.

Water
There is a water softener, so bottled water will be supplied on your arrival. We suggest you buy bottled water.

Wi-Fi – high-speed internet
There is free high-speed WiFi available throughout the property.
Username: Bigonnies
Password: Bigonnies1

Yoga
We have an excellent yoga teacher, Leanne Bladdley, who can come to Les Bigonnies to either give you a massage or give you a yoga lesson.