Your Dordogne Escape: Why Booking Early Gets You the Best Dates

There's something wonderfully optimistic about January. While others are making vague promises about gym memberships and early nights, savvy travellers are doing something far more rewarding - they're securing their dream holiday for the year ahead. At Beaux Souvenirs, we've noticed a clear pattern: guests who book early in the year get the exact dates they want. Those who wait until spring or summer often find themselves working around what's available rather than choosing what's ideal. If you're thinking about a Dordogne getaway, here's why booking in advance makes all the difference.

Why Book Early?

You Get the First Choice of Dates

This isn't a sales pitch - it's a simple reality. As an intimate two-bedroom gîte, we have limited availability year-round. Popular periods like July and August fill quickly, often with returning guests who book their favourite weeks year after year. If you have specific dates in mind - a significant anniversary, a milestone birthday, school holiday weeks, or simply your favourite time of year - booking early means you get them. Wait until the dates are approaching, and you're choosing from what's available rather than what's ideal.

Something to Look Forward To

Let's be honest - UK winters can be grim- dark mornings, cold evenings, and the endless grey. But when you've got a week at Beaux Souvenirs secured in your calendar, suddenly the months ahead feel manageable. You have something extraordinary on the horizon. Our guests tell us that having their French holiday booked gives them a focus for the year. They start planning day trips, researching restaurants, learning a few French phrases, and genuinely looking forward to their escape. That anticipation is half the pleasure of travel.

Time to Plan Properly

Book early, and you have months to:

• Research the best brocantes and markets for your dates

• Check what festivals or events are happening locally

• Book any special restaurant experiences (Michelin-starred dining requires planning!)

• Spread the cost - 25% deposit secures your dates, with the remaining 75% due 10 weeks before arrival

• Arrange time off work without the stress of last-minute requests

• Read up on the area and create your personal wish list

Spontaneous holidays have their place, but for a truly special escape, proper planning makes all the difference.

The Saturday Flight Advantage

One of the greatest assets of our location is Limoges Airport - just 45 minutes north on quiet, easy roads. And here's the game-changer: Ryanair operates direct Saturday flights from three UK airports, perfectly timed for a Saturday-to-Saturday holiday.

Your Flight Options (All Saturdays)

Leeds Bradford to Limoges

• Departs: 09:00

• Arrives: 12:15 (local time)

• Perfect timing to collect your hire car, have lunch on the way, and arrive at Beaux Souvenirs for our 5 pm check-in

East Midlands to Limoges

• Departs: 13:15

• Arrives: 15:30 (local time)

• Afternoon arrival, settled in by early evening

Stansted to Limoges

• Departs: 10:20

• Arrives: 13:25 (local time)

• Ideal mid-morning departure, lunch in France, relaxed arrival

Return flights are equally convenient, giving you a proper whole week without losing days to awkward travel times.

The flight time?

Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. You'll spend longer getting to some UK destinations than you will flying to France.

Alternative airport: Bergerac Airport, approximately 1 hour south of us, also offers flights from various UK airports if Limoges doesn't suit your location.

Car Hire Made Easy

At Limoges Airport, we highly recommend Buggs Car Hire - a great British company that understands UK travellers. They wait for delayed flights (no stress about missed connections), their cars are well-maintained, and the service is reliably excellent. Many of our guests use them repeatedly and wouldn't consider anyone else.

From the airport to Beaux Souvenirs is a straightforward 45-minute drive on quiet roads - no motorway tolls, no complicated routes, just peaceful countryside. We provide detailed directions, and the mobile signal is good throughout if you're using GPS

When to Visit: Finding Your Perfect Dates

High Season: June - September (Saturday to Saturday)

From the beginning of June through the end of September, we operate Saturday-to-Saturday changeovers to align with those perfect Ryanair flights. This is our busiest period, and for good reason:

June - Warm but not hot, wildflowers everywhere, local festivals beginning, perfect for active exploration

July - Peak summer warmth, long evenings, markets in full swing, the height of French summer life

August - Classic holiday month, guaranteed sunshine, everything is open and buzzing;

September - Our personal favourite, and many guests agree. Still beautifully warm (often hotter than August!), fewer tourists, stunning autumn light, and the vendange (grape harvest) beginning

The Hidden Gems: April, May & Early October

Here's where the savvy travellers win. These shoulder season months offer incredible value with maximum flexibility:

Flexible arrival days - Not restricted to Saturdays

Minimum 4-night stays - Perfect for a long weekend or short break

Lower rates - Better value than peak season

Quieter attractions - No queues, more authentic experiences

Beautiful weather - Often stunning, with spring flowers or autumn colours

Why April & Early May Are Spectacular

Spring in the Périgord Vert is magical. The countryside explodes with wildflowers - bluebells carpeting the woods, wild orchids appearing along paths, cherry blossoms creating clouds of pink and white. The temperature is perfect for walking, cycling, and exploring without the summer heat.

The Barrage de Mialet (our local reservoir walk, just 15 minutes on foot from the gîte) is at its finest in spring. Birdwatchers flock here during migration periods. We've spotted Common Buzzards soaring overhead, the rare Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and various duck species, along with countless other birds. The 9km circular walk is simply glorious in April and May

Local markets are less crowded, restaurant terraces are available without booking weeks ahead, and château visits are peaceful rather than packed. You experience the "real" France without the tourist crowds.

Flight alternative: While the Saturday Ryanair flights operate mainly in peak season, Limoges and Manchester have year-round connections, and driving from Calais or other channel ports takes just 7- 8 hours on excellent French motorways - a pleasant journey through the changing French landscape.

Why Early October Is Underrated

October sits in an interesting, sweet spot. The first week or two of the month still feels like late summer - often beautifully warm and sunny. The autumn colours are beginning their show, creating that golden light photographers dream about.

This is also prime time for mushroom hunting - the famous cepe mushrooms adored by the French appear in the forests, and you'll see locals out foraging. Walk through the woods, and you'll spot an incredible variety of toadstools and fungi creating a fairytale atmosphere. This is the start of the truffle season! The famous Périgord black truffles start appearing at markets, and truffle-hunting experiences become available. Local restaurants showcase autumn menus - game, mushrooms, chestnuts, and of course, truffles.

We close mid-October for the winter, so early October represents your last chance until the following spring. Many of our regular guests specifically target this period - they love the peaceful atmosphere and that sense of capturing the last of the year's sunshine.

What Makes Beaux Souvenirs Different?

You're not just booking a gîte - you're booking an experience that doesn't exist anywhere else.

The Only Gîte in France with an On-Site Fashion Museum

Our vintage fashion museum houses a carefully curated collection of 20th-century women's clothing and accessories. Complimentary tours are available at a time that suits you, and many guests find themselves captivated by the stories behind each piece. It's social history, art, and craftsmanship all rolled into one unique experience.

We also offer a vintage fashion studio collection where guests can browse and even purchase designer pieces. Several guests have found spectacular vintage treasures to take home - it adds a unique dimension to a French holiday.

Adults-Only Haven

Beaux Souvenirs is exclusively for adults. No children, no family chaos, just sophisticated relaxation. This attracts professional couples, discerning travellers, and those seeking genuine peace. We've welcomed everyone from thirty-somethings celebrating anniversaries to octogenarians enjoying active retirement - what they all share is an appreciation for quality, tranquillity, and grown-up conversation. 

Sawday's Listed Quality

We're listed with Sawday's Special Places to Stay - they've visited the property and verified that we meet their exacting standards. This isn't just an online listing; it's a genuine seal of approval from Britain's most respected specialist accommodation guide. When you book with us, you're booking quality you can trust.

Our Welcome Approach

From the moment you arrive, you'll find:

• Welcome hamper with local treats and chilled wine

• Two king-size bedrooms with superior comfort

• Exceptionally well-equipped kitchen (consistently praised in reviews)

• Private 12m x 6m pool, cleaned daily

• Your own herb garden, perfect for home cooking

• Private on-site gym for guest use

• Fast WiFi and work-friendly space

• Detailed area guides and personal recommendations

• Complete privacy, with friendly help whenever needed

The Region: Beyond the Tourist Trail

Not Your Typical Tourist Dordogne

We're in the Périgord Vert (Green Périgord), the northern, quieter part of the Dordogne. This isn't Sarlat or the Vézère Valley packed with tour buses. This is authentic, unspoilt, working France where farmers still sell at weekly markets and locals outnumber tourists even in summer.

The Périgord-Limousin Nature Park surrounds us - rolling hills, medieval villages, and that particular quality of French countryside that somehow looks more "French" than anywhere else. It's what people imagine when they dream of rural France.

What Our Guests Love Doing

For treasure hunters: Brocantes (antique fairs), vide greniers (car boot sales), and Limoges porcelain outlets

For food lovers: Truffle markets, foie gras farms, Michelin-starred restaurants (five within an hour!), weekly markets overflowing with local produce;

For active types: Golf, horse riding, swimming lakes, zip-lining, the Vélorail bike adventure, countless walking and cycling trails

For culture seekers: Medieval châteaux, artisan workshops, traditional festivals, and of course, our fashion museum

Local Highlights Within Easy Reach

With six full days of sightseeing during your stay, most guests prefer to explore the wealth of attractions close by rather than venturing to distant cities. Here are the most visited and loved destinations:

Brantô me (37 minutes) - Known as the "Venice of the Périgord," this stunning town built around and on the river is simply enchanting: medieval abbey, riverside restaurants, and that quintessential French charm.

St-Jean-de-Côle (22 minutes) - Officially one of France's Most Beautiful Villages, and you'll see why— picture-perfect stone houses, a stunning château, and an ancient humpback bridge.

Jumilhac-le-Grand (22 minutes) - Home to a genuine fairytale castle with pepperpot turrets rising from the hillside. The château looks like something out of a storybook.

Oradour-sur-Glane (52 minutes) - A profoundly moving experience and truly one-of-a-kind in France. This martyred village, preserved exactly as it was left in 1944, serves as a powerful memorial to the horrors of war. These are just the highlights - there are dozens more villages, châteaux, markets, and hidden gems to discover within 15-50 minutes of Beaux Souvenirs.

Book Direct, Book Smart

We work with just two partners: Sawday's (who act as a shop window, with guests contacting us directly) and Olivers Travels (who handle bookings but add a booking premium to our rates).

Booking directly with us means:

• Best available rates - significantly better than third-party sites

• Personal service from hosts who know and love the area

• Direct communication for any questions or special requests

• Flexibility when needed • No intermediary - you're dealing with us directly

Our booking terms are straightforward: a 25% non-refundable deposit secures your dates, with the remaining 75% due 10 weeks before arrival. Many guests appreciate being able to spread the cost over several months rather than paying everything up front.

Don't Wait - Here's Why

The reality of running a much-loved two-bedroom gîte is simple: we have limited space. Peak summer weeks like July and August typically book many months in advance, often with returning guests who know exactly when they want to return.

Book early and you:

• Get your preferred dates, not what's left

• Have months to plan and build anticipation

• Can spread the cost comfortably

• Secure school holiday periods if needed

• Avoid disappointment.

Wait until closer to your dates, and you might find:

• Limited availability, especially for the summer 

• Having to work around restricted dates

• Less time to plan activities and book restaurants

• The stress of last-minute arrangements

The guests who contact us early get their perfect dates. The guests who wait often say, "I wish I'd booked earlier." Which would you rather be?

Ready to Secure Your Perfect Dates?

Check our availability calendar and claim your dates before someone else does. Whether you're dreaming of July sunshine, September's golden light, or the unexpected pleasures of April, May, or early October, now is the time to make it real.

Have questions about dates, flights, the area, or anything else? Contact us directly - we're here to help you plan the perfect Dordogne escape.

Start the year with something extraordinary on the horizon. Book your Beaux Souvenirs getaway today.

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