Two houses, one owner, no agency

Six years of hosting on the island

My name is Simon. I have been renting out Rory's House and Aston's House for six years, with Superhost status on Airbnb — a distinction based on response rate, consistency of ratings and honouring bookings, not on a subscription. Over that period the two houses hold ratings of 4.98 and 4.79 out of 5, and 4.9 on the Google listing.

Both houses are on the same quiet street in La Flotte-en-Ré, 500 metres from Arnérault beach and the harbour. They were not bought as rental yield: they are houses we know room by room, whose bedding, kitchen utensils and garden furniture we choose ourselves.

Why direct booking

Platforms provide a real service: they bring visibility and reassurance. They also take a commission that funds neither your stay nor the upkeep of the houses. Booking here, that amount stays in the price you pay rather than going to an intermediary, and you deal with the person who holds the keys — not a support desk.

The same goes for what we do not do. Bed and bath linen are not provided — you bring your own or rent it on site. Pets are not allowed, the houses are non-smoking, and a maximum of three guests stay in each. We would rather write it here than let you discover it on arrival.

The island guide

The guide on this site is not bought-in content. The beaches, the places to eat, the bike rides and the coves we describe are the ones we actually use. When we lack a piece of information — an opening time, a distance — we would rather not invent it.