Safety of Accommodation

SalB

It may seem odd but in France (and the rest of Europe that we've seen) people are expected to supervise themselves and their children. You will not find guardrails or even pavement on hiking trails even with precipitous drops. There are no railings on many stairways in old ruins even in very windy places. There are not fences around pools and ponds. This is the norm. They assume you have enough sense to take care of yourself. Odd concept for an American . . .

When you rent, be sure to check about things like that. If there are not adequate photos of the property on the web site, ask them to e-mail you more photos and ask about pools, ponds, cliffs, staircases, outbuildings, highways and roads if that is a concern. Stairways often do not have enclosures or railings and if this is a concern, rent somewhere else. We've gotten used to it and you will too.

If you explain your concerns to a potential host, he will often suggest another property that may be more appealing to you. I hurt my knee one year and couldn't climb stairs comfortably and when we inquired in an ideal location, the owner recommended a nearby (equally well located) property that had accomodation on the ground floor. You will have to ask though as this is not something they normally think about.

I don't know who you rented from, but you may want to consider the Gites de France since they are inspected and well vetted. This won't necessarily give you stair railings but it will guarantee a certain quality standard. We use them all the time and have been very happy with the places. Rent from someone with children and it will usually be safe for them. Here's their web site: http://www.gites-de-visitfrance.travel/gites/uk/rural_gites

Have a great holiday.