Resist Economic Doom – Totally Agreeable Holidays with Readily Affordable Prices

May 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Readily affordable and totally agreeable holidays are an attractive proposition in an economic crisis. These holidays are based at le Moulin du Chemin, a small private 'auberge' in a leafy valley in Deepest Rural France where exceptional hospitality is based on superb cuisine, plenty of good wine and a convivial atmosphere.

Le Moulin is situated in the remote, but accessible, Pays de Gâtine, in the French region of Poitou-Charentes. It is a marvellous rural paradise with hundreds of miles of little-used paths, tracks and country lanes in an unspoiled and changing landscape. The gently rolling countryside, known as ‘le bocage’, is characterised by timeless pastures, majestic forests, cool woods, attractive ponds and pleasant orchards criss-crossed by ancient hedgerows and crystal streams.  In the locality there is hardly a soul to be seen, while the glorious countryside abounds with wild flowers, birds, butterflies and (harmless) wild creatures.

Le Moulin specializes in idyllic walking, cycling and simply relaxing holidays. Walkers and cyclists are provided with personalised dossiers including professional route-notes and high-lighted maps together with friendly advice, information and support. The walking routes are moderate with plenty of longer options and there are introductory and moderate cycling routes as well as longer 'road-bike' routes. The itineraries are varied covering different sectors each day. Cyclists are also supplied with well-maintained, fully-equipped touring cycles.

In any one year, up to one third of guests have been before – this fact in itself is clearly a worthy recommendation. Idyllic surroundings, exceptional hospitality and the genial atmosphere are undoubtedly an attraction. So is the fact that the maximum number of guests is limited to ten – each guest is just that, a guest and not ‘just another client’. Each evening guests and hosts meet for aperitifs-at-seven when distinctive local wines are sampled. This is followed by a leisurely four course evening meal where generous quantities of delightful wines accompany the superb cuisine. Each evening a different wine is provided to accord with the menu. The hosts unobtrusively ensure that everybody feels included and guests find it easy to relax. A note for vegetarian folk – some people think that the words vegetarian and France are a contradiction in terms. This is not so. For many years delightful vegetarian cuisine has been a feature of Moulin holidays and other special diets are also available.  

Guests claim the ‘auberge’ has marvellous restorative properties. The claim has everything to do with tranquillity and idyllic surroundings, with birdsong, a clear stream and tumbling water, with butterflies and wild flowers, with freedom from pollution and lack of unwanted noise and with banishment of stress. Holiday vigour due to extra fresh air and exercise sharpens guests’ appetites for le Moulin’s wholesome cuisine, based mainly on fresh, whole and organic ingredients. The food preservatives, artificial flavourings, texture and appearance enhancers that are an almost inevitable part of many daily diets are rare or nonexistent in le Moulin’s cuisine.

The site of the ‘auberge’ is said to be ‘very auspicious’, promoting a harmonious and healthy environment for advancement of the wellbeing of residents and guests, according to the classical principles of Feng Shui. The pure soft drinking water comes from a natural source and, except by nature, has not been recycled – it is therefore free of the chemical residues present in most city water supplies. The wines served at le Moulin feature interesting personalities and agreeable natures and dedicated testing by le Moulin’s residents have proved that personal wellbeing is unaffected by occasional lapses into excess.

Reading between the lines of websites and brochures, comparable, seemingly similarly priced holidays can actually cost significantly more than Moulin holidays, because of extras that are not immediately evident from the blurb. Le Moulin’s all-inclusive price is truly all-inclusive. After the holiday is booked, there is nothing more to pay – and the superb cuisine is certainly ample, the wine is free flowing and excellent quality, coffee, teas and tisanes are included and even the postcards are free. Tea and coffee are also provided in the rooms and a well stocked drinks fridge (beer, wine, cider, soft drinks and fruit juices) is available 24/7, all without extra charge. Moulin holidays cost less because it is less expensive to operate small family-run ‘auberge’ compared with hotels which are burdened with regulations and because le Moulin’s margins have been reduced to ensure that Moulin holidays are readily affordable in an economic crisis.

Apart from the skiing places – the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Massif Central – France is mainly a vast cereal plateau with some other less well known exceptions. One of these is the hills of the Pays de Gâtine. The wild irregular coastlines of Kerry and Cork in Ireland, Dorset in England and of Brittany in France are part of the same geological formation – the Armorican Massif – that gives the Pays de Gâtine its particular character. After dipping below the Celtic Sea, the English Channel and the Loire Valley, the southernmost extremity of the Armorican Massif emerges to form the Gâtine Hills. Eons of weathering, deposition of topsoil and erosion have produced a splendid gently undulating landscape. And being south of the Loire means that the Gâtine Hills have clement weather in contrast to northern France, Britain and Ireland, with an annual average of 2250 hours of sunshine.

In spite of the reasonable price Moulin holidays are environmentally friendly. Le Moulin's rural idyll has no need for a significant carbon emitting infrastructure. Food and beverage miles are tolerable, to minimise pollution from transportation. The generous quantities of wines served at le Moulin (and included in the price) are local, from Anjou, Val de Loire, Fiefs Vendéen and other wine producing areas within France. Fresh vegetables are supplied from the neighbouring garden of Pierrot (he is aware of this). Other ingredients are local as far as possible. Non-local produce comes from other parts of France and unavoidably imported food is generally from not too distant Spain and Morocco.

The normal season is mid-March to October. March is agreeable with the sheen of new buds on the trees and blackthorn and wild cherry in eye-catching blossom. April, May and June have glorious spring weather when the verges are full of wild flowers and the countryside abounds with new life. In summer, July, August and September are ideal and the weather generally is not too hot. October is very pretty with mostly balmy weather and brilliant autumn colours.

Costly hidden-extras do not exist on Moulin holidays. Moulin holidays blend equitable price, idyllic surroundings, superb cuisine, plenty of good wine and a congenial atmosphere to create a complete and totally agreeable holiday experience. Such good value is a rarity.

Moulin walking holidays can also be booked though Headwater Holidays http://www.headwater.com
All categories of Moulin holidays can be booked direct http://www.moulinholidays.com  
Moulin holidays have been accredited by Responsible Travel http://responsibletravel.com
Images can be supplied on request.

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Walking, cycling and relaxing holidays in Poitou-Charentes, France. Idyllic surroundings, superb cuisine, plenty of good wine, a convivial atmosphere and a fair price together create a complete and totally satisfactory holiday experience.