Please explain your policy on Internet and Wifi
Let us first say that HL Holidays properties are conceived, designed and aimed at people on HOLIDAY……which means they are not at work, and Guests should therefore should expect holiday type facilities: This means that internet is unlikely to be high capacity and high speed. However, it is recognised that people like to keep in touch by email, and make posts to social media etc while they are away so nearly all properties now have internet connection. Since the COVID pandemic mobile and home working have become much more prevalent, and several Owners are now providing workstations and basic office facilities, but within the limitations of local internet services.
The area of South West France in which HL Holidays properties are based is rural with relatively low population density, and has thus been fairly low in priority as the information superhighway has developed, with high speed fibre broadband still in its early stages of network development in many parts : How quickly it will happen generally depends on the Mairie of the communes!
That said, mobile phone internet by 3G and 4G is generally fairly well available, and there are satellite services available in the area: Mobile data is not included, and you should check with your service provider whether your service includes data while you are in France, especially post Brexit as company policies crystallize.
Most HL Holidays properties now have internet in some form or other, but it is provided subject to conditions:
- There is no guarentee of speed – The equipment is there and should function provided the wider network is functioning, but no liability can be accepted for loss of service or failure of an application to operate correctly.
- Generally speaking, the speeds are adequate for email and social media contact: Higher requirement applications and streaming are likely to struggle and should not be relied on.
- Downloaded content is the responsibility of the Guest, and co-operation with third parties will not be construed as a breach of Data Protection law if investigations are made.
Please remember that nearly all character rural properties are of very traditional construction, and most have thick stone walls, internal and external, which can limit the range of wifi signal, making some areas of the property off limits for internet connection.
For the duration of your holiday, some flexibility and acceptance of the limitations may therefore be required. Please see information below about short sharp electric storms, which will usually occur at some point during the summer season
How do we connect to the WiFi?
HL Holidays Owners are asked to make the wifi passwords clear and obvious in their house information – and preferably printed, but sometimes a change at short notice leads to handwritten information, so there is sometimes confusion between S and 5, 0 and O etc
Nearly all routers will be labelled with the connection password, so if you cannot find it in the house information, please find the router and look on the label.
We make no apologies for the length and complexity of Orange France router passwords.
Electric Storms
Occasionally during the holiday season short sharp thunderstorms strike. As soon as a storm is detected Guests should disconnect and turn off all internet connection apparatus, including the router, and be sure to unplug the connection to the router to prevent damage from any power surges.
Whilst the Property Managers can register problems with phone lines being damaged etc with the suppliers, they have no leverage to implement faster repairs, so please bear with them and cordially respect their position.
If the internet is down, where can I connect?
Most bars now have wifi available, as do the Tourist Information offices throughout the area. There are a few internet cafés around – La Souris in Montaigu de Quercy is one, and they are also very good with computer and other problems that may arise during your stay.
If you urgently need to get messages to family or friends, and are unable to, please contact us by phone and we will do what we can. Our offices are open 0900 – 2100 UK time seven days a week throughout the Peak season.