Chèques-vacances to pay for gites

This is a national voucher scheme for paying at gites, holiday camps, hotels, youth hostels etc.

They can be a perk from work or are sometimes given out by mairies or cafs (caisses d’allocations familiales) to less well-off families.

Registering to accept them is done via the Agence Nationale des Chèques Vacances (www. ancv.com).

You need a Siret business registration number and to have been inspected and listed by the prefecture for holiday accommodation.

Your customer pays with a cheque and you apply for a reimbursement into your account, which is minus a small commission from the ANCV (€2 if the amount is under e200, then 1%). One benefit is that you are placed in searchable online listings.