I am wondering if some of the larger boutique country hotels monitor their e-mail or faxes during their closed period in the winter. I sent an e-mail to a Relais & Chateaux because I thought it was large enough that surely someone takes care of it during the winter.

I'm afraid that if I wait until April to make a May reservation in a resort area I may be cutting it pretty close.

Any knowledge of reaching these places during the off-season?

I would try getting back in touch with them right after Christmas/New Year's. My experience is that most hotels have somebody on hand after the holidays to answer e-mails.

sometimes they check often, sometimes they leave it to a web master to check in, and some close up and go on holiday themselves.

How long ago did you e-mail? In the closed season I usually allow a week or more for response and then I phone and see what's what

Have you tried booking through Relais & Chateau itself, not the particular hotel?

Exactly what I was going to suggest...the parent group should be able to elicit a response.

Good idea. I'll give them awhile to answer and then try that.

After waiting for 3 weeks for a fax from another place I got a very nice, polite letter written in English.