The web site www.gites-refuges.com comes from the guide entitled GITES D'ETAPE et REFUGES relevant to France and frontier areas, and have been realised especially for hikers, mountaineers, rock climbers, nordic and mountain skiers, and for those practicing cycling, mountain biking, canoe-kayaking, canyoning, horse-riding and makes the site a must for any lover of outdoors sporting activities wishing to prepare both itinerary and stopovers at any time of the year. The web site is regularly brought up to date.

GITES D'ETAPE et REFUGES is the only guide that has collected all data on accommodation in France and frontier areas for traveller stopovers or short stays, with attention drawn to principal activities, walking or climbing trails. Given the diversity of different regions and the need for continuity along the trails, accommodation varies from basic to very comfortable.
Another unique feature of www.gites-refuges.com concerns its annexe rubrics which make the site a powerful information search tool.

If you choose free consulting, you will have access to detailed information on all lodgings which have contributed to the web site, with a link to their e-mail, or to their personal site or promotional page. If they have not subscribed, the information is masked but provides sufficient information to get in touch with the place. If you choose a paying consultation, you will have access to detailed information on all accommodation possibilities.

Search :
A search for accommodation can be done in three ways :
¨>> All accommodation in a department (or region or province outside France). A mountain massif can straddle several departments in which case, to respect geographic coherence, accommodation options may be carried over to a neighbouring department. When this is so, your search will be guided by " reminders ".
>>¨ A single accommodation using the name of a village, a hamlet, the name of a mountain hut (refuge) which may bear no relation to a geographical location. If you are unsure of the spelling, especially that of compound names, start your search on one of the words or part of word.
>>¨ All accommodation on a given trail : this unusual type of search is very interesting when preparing your stopovers. Available itineraries are listed and carried over on to a map. You only need to click here or there to obtain accommodations which are classified as they appear on land, either on your route or close by.







Reservations
You are strongly advised to make reservations, and booking is generally compulsory for groups. In any case, booking guarantees a place and a meal. Booking is simple nowadays. With few exceptions, even the remotest mountain huts are equipped with telephone, mobile, often with fax and increasingly with e-mail. Accommodation provided by associations are generally open to everyone, with a few (such as Youth Hostels) requiring a member's card.

Meals, food supplies
The sign repas (meals) means that the place of accommodation can provide its visitors with evening meal and breakfast (half-board) but only with prior warning (they are not hotels). The sign restaurant or ravit. (food supplies) indicates a service or shop on the spot or nearby. The presence of tables d'hôtes (host tables) is not indicated though this system is often associated with gîtes d'étape (stopover lodging).

Opening seasons
When known, opening dates and restrictions are indicated. Some places can be opened upon request. Ouvert toute l'année (Open all year) accommodation still requires your booking.

Some types of accommodation
From one region or one country to another, names differ and do not always mean the same. Here are the main, broad categories :

- Gîtes d'étape, gîtes d'étape et de séjour (stopover or short-stay lodgings)
This type of accommodation is found in lowland and middle-range mountain areas. They offer small dormitories and rooms, blankets provided, which are improving all the time. Previously, these stopover places provided a small kitchen area which nowadays is often lacking. Absence of cooking facilities is mentioned. When no restriction is specified, you can cater for yourself. With or without self-catering, half-board is often possible on request (sign repas).

- Gîtes-auberges (hostel-inns), refuges-hotels, gîtes- hôtels, etc…
In France as abroad, certain inns, farm-inns, or mountain hotels may have rooms or dormitories available for overnight stays. Some hotels offer a special hiker's deal with attractive prices for half-board. Often self-catering is not possible and the evening meal obligatory.
Refuges de montagnes, chalets-refuges, gîtes d'alpage (mountain huts, chalet-refuges, mountain hostels)
High altitude accommodation often lacks kitchen facilities (we indicate only when equipped) but meals are served where the place is manned.

- Chalets
Chalets belonging to associations generally have a kitchen area, especially when meals are not served, and vice versa.

- Refuges non gardés, refuges d'hiver, refuges-bivouacs (non-manned refuges, winter refuges, bivouac refuges)
Often lacking in kitchen facilities and blankets. When closed, we indicate a contact to get the key.

- Auberges de Jeunesse (Youth Hostels)
They may or may not propose meals or provide a kitchen ; mention is made case by case. You must be a member of the Y.H.A.

- Gîtes ruraux (Rural hostels) gîtes de séjour, chambres d'hôte (bed & breakfast)
May welcome hikers but this is not their vocation and so do not normally appear in the guide or on Internet. Those mentioned have extra accommodation (a dormitory or stopover lodging) or present a necessary stop on a given itinerary.

Activities
The main activities at or near the accommodation are mentioned, signed walking tracks, the best-known climbs. The sign Equestre (horse) and Anes (donkey) means that riders and their animals are welcome.

Certificates
The number of certificates granted to the different types of accommodation has multiplied of late on the initatiative of national, regional and departmental organisations. We have retained the following : Rando Plume, Gîte de France , Accueil Paysan, Gîte Panda, Bienvenue à la Ferme.


Telephone
The telephone number indicated for any accommodation is the national or mobile phone number. Here are some telephone codes to use when calling countries from abroad :
Switzerland : dial 00 41 + zone code without the 0 + number
Italy : 00 39 + zone code including the 0 except for mobile phones + number
France and the DOM : 00 33 + number without the 0 (9 figures)
Spain : 00 34 + zone code including the 9 (or 6 for mobile phones) + number.
Belgium : 00 32 + zone code without the 0 + number
Andorra : 00 376 + number
Germany : 00 49 + zone number without the 0 + number
Luxembourg : 00 352 + number

Maps
For France, reference is made to IGN 1/25000 maps (National Geographical Institute) sometimes along with special editions (1/50000 Rando Editions for the French or Spanish Pyrenees …).

Abbreviations
The most commonly used are :
Ch. = rooms
corr. = correspondant
info. = information
vac. scol. = school vacation
ravit. = food supplies
prox. = proximity
rés. = reservation
VTT = mountain bike