frequently asked questions

Our holiday homes with a swimming pool

Yes, Reli holiday homes usually have a private swimming pool that is exclusively for your family, unless the description on our website explicitly states otherwise. For example, when you rent a house on a small estate or when the owner lives on site. In that case it will be indicated as a “shared pool” or “pool shared with the owner”.

In all other cases you do not share the pool with other guests or with the owner. This allows children to play safely while you enjoy peace and privacy. Reli deliberately selects many homes with private pools because they are a real added value for families with children.

Reli personally checks every swimming pool during an on‑site visit.

Yes. Reli holiday homes are carefully selected for families with children and therefore include additional safety measures. In France, anyone renting out a holiday home with a pool is legally obliged to secure it. Possible safety systems include: a fence around the pool, a pool cover or an alarm.

Because Reli personally visits every property, the safety around the pool is clearly described and accurately photographed so you know in advance what to expect.

Some pools are fenced or can be closed with a pool cover. This information is always mentioned in the description of the holiday home. If this is not the case, the pool is secured with an alarm. In France every private pool must legally be equipped with a safety system.

Because Reli personally visits every property, the safety measures around the pool are clearly described and visible in the photos.

Would you like to receive a list of holiday homes with a fenced swimming pool? Share your preferences here and we will send you a tailored selection.

Some Reli holiday homes have a heated swimming pool, but not all of them. If a pool is heated, this is always clearly mentioned on the detailed page of the house.

When searching for a holiday home on reli.be you can select “heated pool” as a filter. This way you will only see houses with a heated swimming pool. Reli communicates this information transparently so you know exactly what to expect in advance.

A heated swimming pool is especially pleasant:

  • in spring and late season (May, June and September)
  • for families with young children who cool down more quickly
  • for houses located in higher or more sheltered areas

Thanks to heating, the water remains comfortable even when the outside temperature is lower.

Please note: heating does not guarantee very warm water. The outside temperature always has an influence, especially in spring and late season.

During the personal inspection of each house, Reli checks whether the pool heating works properly.

Yes, the pool is regularly maintained by the owner, a pool caretaker or a professional service. This keeps the water clean and safe throughout your stay. Maintenance is carried out discreetly and at announced times so it does not disturb your holiday. If you experience a problem with the pool during your stay, Reli can always contact the owner.

A holiday home with a private pool is not necessarily expensive. The price mainly depends on the region, the period and the size of the house. During high season (July and August) prices are higher, while in spring and autumn rates can be very attractive.

For families a house with a private pool is often a smart choice:

  • freedom to plan your day as you wish
  • no need for daily restaurant visits or excursions
  • children can enjoy the pool for hours
  • lots of space and privacy both inside and outside

Because Reli personally visits and carefully selects every house, you benefit from good value for money without unpleasant surprises.

Renting a holiday home with children

Yes. Reli specialises in holiday homes for families with children. When selecting houses we pay particular attention to a quiet location, space for children to play, a private swimming pool and a child‑friendly environment.

Many houses also offer baby and children’s equipment such as a baby cot or high chair (as mentioned in the description). Reli has been helping families find carefree holidays in the south of France for many years.

That depends on your preferences, but several regions in the south of France are very suitable for families:

  • Provence: lavender fields, charming villages and vineyards 
  • Languedoc: excursions to the coast and the countryside 
  • Ardèche: nature, rivers and adventure 
  • Dordogne: culture, castles and rivers 
  • Midi‑Pyrénées: peace and authenticity

Because Reli knows each house and region very well, we are happy to help you choose the one that suits your family best.

Would you like to receive a list of holiday homes with a fenced swimming pool? Share your preferences here and we will send you a tailored selection.

Yes, many holiday homes offer baby and children’s facilities such as a baby cot or high chair. This is always mentioned in the description of the house. Would you like to use the baby cot or high chair? You can indicate this after booking via your MyReli account.

Reli has been helping families find a carefree family holiday in the south of France for many years.

Many holiday homes at Reli have a garden that is suitable and safe for children, but the level of safety can vary from one property to another.

That is why Reli describes as precisely as possible how the garden of each holiday home is laid out and whether it is suitable for children to play in. This allows families to make a well-informed choice in advance.

What does Reli look at regarding garden safety?

During the personal visit to each holiday home, Reli checks, among other things:

  • whether the garden is fully or partially fenced
  • whether there are level differences, stairs or steep slopes
  • how far the garden is located from a road, neighbours or farmland
  • whether there is sufficient flat space for children to play

These elements are clearly mentioned in the description and illustrated with realistic photos.

How reliable is Reli?

Yes, every holiday home on reli.be is personally visited by the Reli team. During this visit, we check the location, facilities and comfort. We also take all the photos for the website ourselves. This allows Reli to guarantee that the information on the website is accurate, complete and realistic. No surprises upon arrival, but a holiday home that fully matches what you see online.

Yes, all photos on reli.be are real photos taken during a personal visit by Reli. Reli does not use stock photos. The photos show the holiday home as it really is, including the swimming pool, garden, terraces, view and interior. This builds trust and helps avoid disappointment upon arrival.

Reli is not a platform, but a specialised holiday expert that offers personal quality control and guidance.

The difference:

  • Every house is personally visited
  • Real photos and accurate descriptions
  • Focus on families with children
  • Dutch-speaking support
  • Direct contact with owners

With Airbnb, this level of quality control is often absent. Reli consciously chooses quality over quantity.

Regions in Southern France

That depends on your preferences, but several regions in the south of France are particularly well suited for families.

  • Provence: lavender fields, quiet villages, vineyards
  • Languedoc: excursions to the coast and the countryside
  • Ardèche: nature, rivers, adventure
  • Dordogne: culture, castles, rivers
  • Midi-Pyrénées: peace and authenticity

Because Reli knows every house and region, we are happy to help you choose the region that best suits your family. Share your preferences here and we will send you a tailored list.

The temperature differences between the regions in the south of France are usually not very large in summer, but in general Provence and Languedoc are among the warmest regions. In July and August, temperatures in the south of France are often between 25 and 35°C. Heatwaves can occur anywhere, regardless of the region. That is why it is important not only to look at the region, but also at the location and comfort of the holiday home.

Holiday homes located at a higher altitude are often slightly cooler, especially in the evening and at night. Because Reli personally visits every holiday home, our team can provide targeted advice on this.

A private swimming pool always offers refreshing relief during hot days, regardless of the region. For families with children, this is a major advantage during hot summers. In our blog article, you can read which type of region and holiday home best suits your family.

Practical information before departure

You can move into the holiday home between 4 pm and 8 pm (= standard time of arrival). This gives the cleaning team enough time to clean the house after the tenants before you have left. For some houses there is a different (later) time of arrival. This is clearly stated on your voucher (which you will receive by e-mail after payment of the balance and which you can always download on our MyReli platform).

Your voucher contains the mobile number of the person who will receive you on site. We ask that you call this person around noon during the outward journey and inform them of your expected time of arrival. If you want to move into the house earlier than 4 pm, you can check whether the house will be ready earlier. Please note: the contact person always has the right to refuse this.

Leaving the holiday home is normally provided between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The contact person is present at that time and will draw up the "state of the house" with you. We rely on this document for the refund of your deposit.

If you wish to leave the holiday home earlier than 8 a.m., please discuss this with the contact person. If he/she is not present at the time of your departure, this means that you automatically accept the "state of the house" document drawn up in your absence (see our terms and conditions).

Blankets or duvets and pillows are always available in our holiday homes. For sheets, mattress protectors and pillowcases, this varies from house to house. On our website you will find what is possible and what the cost is at the detail page of the house.

There are 4 options:

  • sheets are included in the rental price
  • you can rent sheets for a fee (optional)
  • you have to rent sheets for a fee (mandatory)
  • there are no sheets for rent (so you bring them yourself)

You must request sheets in advance via our platform  MyReli.

For cots, we recommend that you provide your own bed linen, unless it is explicitly stated on our website that they are available.

A standard towel package contains 1 large bath towel and 1 small bath towel per person.

There are 4 options:

  • towels are included in the rental price
  • you can rent towels for a fee (optional)
  • you have to rent towels for a fee (mandatory)
  • there are no towels for rent (so you bring them yourself)

You must provide large towels for the pool and kitchen towels yourself, unless stated otherwise on our website.

Towels must be requested in advance via our platform  MyReli.

Anyone traveling with an electric car and wishing to charge it on site must indicate this in advance via MyReli. The tenant then sees on MyReli how charging will be charged (according to consumption, via a fixed supplement, etc.).

If the tenant does not inform Reli before departure that he/she will charge an electric car at the holiday home and the owner/contact person notices this during the stay, the owner has the right to charge a supplement of his/her choice for this.

Reli holiday homes are well equipped. What you need to bring depends on the house and the age of the children. What is included (such as bed linen, towels or baby facilities) is clearly indicated on the page of each holiday home. Because Reli personally visits every house, this information is reliable and accurate.
 

Yes, for a holiday in a holiday home in the south of France, a car is strongly recommended, especially when travelling with children. Most holiday homes are located in a quiet, rural setting, which provides space and privacy. This location makes a car almost essential for groceries, outings and getting around.

Why is a car so convenient with children?

With a car, you can:

  • easily do your groceries and visit local markets
  • reach beaches, rivers and excursions without difficulty
  • avoid depending on limited public transport schedules
  • take flexible breaks, which is a big advantage with children

For families, this means more comfort, less stress and greater freedom during the holiday.

Is public transport an alternative?

In the south of France, public transport is often:

  • limited outside the cities
  • less frequent in rural areas
  • less practical with a stroller

For holiday homes in villages or the countryside, public transport is usually not a full alternative to having a car.

What about the location of Reli holiday homes?

All holiday homes at Reli are personally visited. This allows Reli to clearly indicate:

  • how far shops and bakeries are located
  • whether a car is necessary for that specific house
  • whether certain outings can be reached on foot or by bike

You can find this information on the holiday home page or request it from the Reli team.

Can I rent a car on site?

Yes. If you travel by plane or train, you can easily rent a car at the airport or in a nearby city. If you would like advice from the Reli team, feel free to send us an email or share your preferences here.

For families with children, a rental car is often the most comfortable way to explore the south of France with complete freedom.

Booking a holiday home, payment, terms and conditions

Have you found your ideal holiday home and would like to book it? Select your desired period on the calendar, available on the property's detail page. To the right of the calendar, you will see a price overview with the Book button at the bottom.

Next, enter the composition of your travel group, indicate whether you want insurance, and fill in your personal details. Click the Book button to send your booking request to us.

Have you submitted your request but haven’t received an immediate confirmation? Don’t worry! We first need to process your request. Once this is done (if you booked in the evening, it will be processed the next morning), you will receive a confirmation email with a payment request.

Once your booking is accepted, you must immediately pay the deposit (50% of the rental amount), along with the tourist tax, administrative fees, and insurance (if chosen).

Six weeks before departure, you will receive an email asking you to pay the balance (the remaining 50% of the rental amount) as well as the security deposit.

Once all payments are completed, we will send you your voucher with all practical information (the address, directions, the contact person’s phone number on-site, some guidelines, etc.). You can also download your voucher anytime via our MyReli platform.

In July and August we rent out our holiday homes only per week or a multiple of this.

Outside of July and August you can rent a holiday home for a different number of days (always more than 1 week). Are you interested in this? Contact us via info@reli.be and we will ask the homeowner if we can accept you request. 

We base the repayment of the deposit on the document "state of the house" (see question above). If everything is in order, we will refund your deposit within a week of departure. Is something wrong? Then we will inform you as soon as possible.

Does the amount we refund not match the amount you paid? Then check your voucher to see if there were any costs to be deducted (e.g. electricity, rent of towels or sheets, pool heating, ...).

You can easily book a holiday home online via our website.

Would you rather book by phone? Call us during office hours on +32 (0)16 772 772 and we will be happy to help you.

It is also possible to book by e-mail. Send an email to info@reli.be with your contact details (name, address, telephone number) and let us know which holiday home you wish to book, for what period and with how many people (number of adults and number of children younger than 18 years).

Dropping by at the office is rather exceptional, but it is possible. Contact us by phone or email to schedule an appointment. Our office is located in Lovendegem (near Ghent).

The insurance covers everyone in the group who is registered as a traveller on MyReli.

Illness or injury of non-travelling family members is also covered, provided that the illness or injury is life-threatening or requires hospitalisation. This applies to family up to the fourth degree of kinship.

You can find more information about this on our insurance page.

More information can be found on our insurance page.

In July and August you can only rent our holiday homes for full capacity. Outside of July and August you can rent certain houses for a smaller capacity.

You always have the guarantee that the rest of the house is not occupied by another tenant or by the owner. Often certain bedrooms and/or bathrooms are closed.

Yes, if the owner of the holiday home allows dogs. On our website you will find an icon of a dog under the price of the house. When this icon is crossed out, it means that dogs are not allowed.

Sometimes the owner imposes additional restrictions, such as a maximum weight or a maximum number of dogs. This is also stated on our website (at the bottom, under "facilities").

This means that you can occupy the holiday home with a maximum of 8 adults and 2 children.

Groups with fewer adults and more children (eg 4 + 4) are also welcome, as long as you do not exceed the maximum number of people (10).

The opposite is not possible. You cannot stay at the property with 10 adults. 8 adults is the maximum.

Service from Reli during the stay

The swimming pool is regularly maintained by the owner, a pool manager or a professional pool service. This ensures that the water remains clean and safe throughout your stay. Maintenance is carried out discreetly and at scheduled times so that it does not disturb your holiday. If you experience any issue with the pool during your stay, Reli is always available to contact the owner on your behalf.

If you have questions or encounter problems during your stay, you can rely on the help of Reli, the owner and/or the local contact person. Before departure you receive clear contact details and practical information for your arrival. Reli is also reachable seven days a week during your stay.