I ran B&B here at t' Mill the first few years we were here, and since 2009 we've had holiday chalets/gites in Corsica.
From experience, the most critical thing to determine is how much competition there is in your target area, and the going rates, and where your target clientele is coming from & how you're going to reel them in, and what the average take-up rate is.
Here, for example, any and every expat, pretty much, with a spare room is offering B&B, and anyone with a barn/stable/dairy/outbuilding to convert has done so & is offering gites, so competition has gone thro' the roof.
The French tax system is fairly kind re gites letting income (at least it has been to us), less kind re B&B, but to achieve any realistic profit, once you take ALL associated costs into account, is hard. Yeah, it's nice to do if it's a hobby/pocket money, and if you want something to keep you busy and you like meeting people. But you probably know that, and you'll also know that the highest demand will come just at the time when YOU want to have free time to spend with your family, ie school hols.
As you won't depending on that income, I'd say to just choose a place you like, and jump in, and maybe put the letting on hold (unless there's a captive clientele already) until you get yourselves sorted out. Maybe, as you get comfy here, you'll find some USP which will make you want to open up the gites for themed weeks/weekends, etc. depending upon what your hobbies are, and who your contacts become.
Good luck,
h
From experience, the most critical thing to determine is how much competition there is in your target area, and the going rates, and where your target clientele is coming from & how you're going to reel them in, and what the average take-up rate is.
Here, for example, any and every expat, pretty much, with a spare room is offering B&B, and anyone with a barn/stable/dairy/outbuilding to convert has done so & is offering gites, so competition has gone thro' the roof.
The French tax system is fairly kind re gites letting income (at least it has been to us), less kind re B&B, but to achieve any realistic profit, once you take ALL associated costs into account, is hard. Yeah, it's nice to do if it's a hobby/pocket money, and if you want something to keep you busy and you like meeting people. But you probably know that, and you'll also know that the highest demand will come just at the time when YOU want to have free time to spend with your family, ie school hols.
As you won't depending on that income, I'd say to just choose a place you like, and jump in, and maybe put the letting on hold (unless there's a captive clientele already) until you get yourselves sorted out. Maybe, as you get comfy here, you'll find some USP which will make you want to open up the gites for themed weeks/weekends, etc. depending upon what your hobbies are, and who your contacts become.
Good luck,
h
