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Customer Reviews
Overall:
We enjoyed the property very much.
Enjoyed Most:
The location was excellent -- many areas were within easy driving distances.
The bedrooms were very nice and the bathrooms were excellent. The kitchen was very well equipped.
The swimming pool is a good size and well-cared for.
Enjoyed Least:
We had no complaints about the property.
The furniture on the ground floor could use some updating.
Surrounding Area:
The surrounding area in general was quite nice - beautiful trees lining the roads in many areas.
The ease of access to many of the towns and cities and the multiplicity of sites to visit provided the opportunity to do something different each day with relatively modest amounts of driving time.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Mas Blanc des Alpilles; one could probably walk there, but there isn't anything in the town of interest. Saint Etienne du Gres is not far and has a fabulous restaurant Le Garde Manger.
St. Remy de Provence is very close and has many good restaurants, shops, etc.
Directions:
I used Mapquest driving directions from Avignon, and they were fine.
Check In Out:
The key holder was very accommodating although his spoken English is very limited. Check in/check out worked fine.
Howard, September
Overall:
Wonderful, place is beautiful.
Enjoyed Most:
The pool.
Enjoyed Least:
No internet.
Surrounding Area:
Mas Blanc is a fantastic base for exploring the area.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Mas Blanc is in walking distance, 1.2km. I think there is a little grocer there but I wouldn't rely on that.
You do need to have a car to stay at this property.
Tips or Restaurants:
Not really. Property is amazing and had everything plus more.
Weren't expecting pool towels for example and there were ample provided, all quite new.
Directions:
Directions provided were great.
Check In Out:
Went like a dream. They were all very accommodating as we changed arrival times and then got there early. We also left early and they checked us out the night before. They were wonderful!
Aluesi, July
Overall:
It was good. Lots of room. The kitchen had everything we needed, including a large fridge.
Enjoyed Most:
The house is very nice and met all our needs. It was especially nice to have the use of large, good quality beach towels.
Enjoyed Least:
When we arrived we entered through the garage and no effort had been made to clean anything above 8-10 feet. The beams were laden with cobwebs and just generally dirty so our first impression was not all that good.
The pool and surrounding area had not be cleaned of leaves the day we arrived so we did that. After the first day the caretaker was very good about keeping the grounds and pool tidy. We thought they would have done that knowing we were arriving.
Surrounding Area:
Being close to St. Remy and many other sites we wanted to see. Very central location.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Not really a town, but we walked out to an area that had a couple of restaurants, a shop that offered paid WiFi and a very, very small corner store.
Tips or Restaurants:
It would have been good to have some music. A radio or CD player with CDs would be a plus.
Directions:
Being met on the highway by the property manager was a plus, otherwise we may have had a hard time finding the property.
Check In Out:
It would be good if they offered a copy of instructions for using the stove, microwave and washing machine but we did figure them all out eventually!
Vivienne, September
Overall:
The property was exactly what we expected it to be.
Enjoyed Most:
Size, comfort, and decor.
Enjoyed Least:
A little more outside living amenities, such as another table and chairs in the courtyard, would be nice.
Surrounding Area:
Privacy, quiet, and atmosphere.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Nearest town is too small to really be considered a town, but it had a wonderful restaurant.
Tips or Restaurants:
The restaurant in Mas Blanc was charming.
Check In Out:
As our plane was delayed, the keyholder was very accommodating and waited late in the evening for our arrival.
Janet, June
Overall:
Good.
Enjoyed Most:
The rural location. We were out during the days and ate in most nights. Making dinner there was easy and the grocery store and markets were a short drive away.
Enjoyed Least:
The windows had no screens, so we had mosquito issues. Also, with the mistral winds, the shudders banged at night unless we closed them. If they could do something about the window system it would make for a better experience.
Surrounding Area:
Rural nature.
Tips or Restaurants:
We rented bikes and explored the area on bike. I recommend that. Get instructions on using the appliances.
Directions:
we used GPS.
Christopher, October
Overall:
This was a wonderful place to stay. Large, comfortable, with the charm of an old Provencal home but with all the modern conveniences. We were there for two full weeks and it really became "home". Even though the caretaker is on the same property, there is still plenty of privacy.
Enjoyed Most:
Hard to say--there was so much to like. Among the best things about the property are the location--very central to just about any place you would want to visit in western Provence, the peace and quiet in a very rural area surrounded by fields, the neighbor's dog Ulla who loved to visit and go on walks, the plumbing (plenty of hot water and good water pressure), and the pool--a great place to end an day of sight seeing.
Enjoyed Least:
We noticed the lack of screens on the windows as the mosquitos and flies were pretty bad. Also, we noticed the absence of any fans for the bedrooms as it was unseasonably hot. Ceiling fans would have been nice. The fans that an earlier tenant bought for the house were nowhere to be found. Also the furniture in the TV area is quite worn.
Surrounding Area:
Everything--the proximity to St. Remy de Provence the centrality to so many beautiful towns and places of interest, the peace and quiet and ability to really relax.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The property is in the village of Mas Blanc des Alpilles which is within walking distance, but there is not much there. St. Etienne de Gres is only a few minutes away by car.
Tips or Restaurants:
Do not miss Eygalieres. It was not listed in either of our guidebooks and was our favorite town of the trip. Eat there at Sous les Micocouliers. Bring insect repellent and use it. L'Ami Louis in St. Etienne de Gres a wonderful boulangerie/patissierie. If you like to cook as I do and did, bring your knives packed in checked baggage of course--the ones in the kitchen are not very good. The Intermarche supermarket in Tarrascon is MUCH nicer than the one in St. Remy. Someone in the party should have a cell phone that works in Europe. I was able to upgrade my Blackberry for a minimal fee through Verizon. This is especially useful for communicating with Ines the keeper of the keys for checking in and out of the property.
Directions:
The directions assume you are driving from Paris on the A7. We were coming from Avignon having taken the TGV from Paris, so we had to get directions from Mapquest before we left. We did not use GPS. The good news is that the signage in France is quite good.
Check In Out:
Ines the keeper of the keys was very helpful and accommodating.
Don, October
Overall:
The property was amazing! The grounds were very well kept, the pool was clean, and everything that one could want for outdoor entertainment was there.
Enjoyed Most:
I loved the feel of the a stone-built home sitting on such lovely land. One knew he was in France!
Enjoyed Least:
The rooms were very hot at night. We had to close the windows because of the flies and the "air conditioning" was imaginary. I bought fans for each bedroom as a gift to the house.
Surrounding Area:
It is a perfect location for day trips to many wonderful areas.
Nearby Events or Locales:
St Remy was the nearest town. One needs a car, however.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring bug repellant! The French commune with nature better than Americans do. I am home now, and miss the open windows without screens and the sounds of outside! There were too many great restaurants to list them all, but our favorite was in Chateau du Pape.
Directions:
Without the coordinates and a GPS we would have been wondering around lost forever!
Check In Out:
Our 15 hour trip ended up taking us 36 hours! We drove all night and ended up arriving around 6 am. Our phones didn't work so we were unable to contact the key keeper until the day after our expected arrival. She was quite nice and understanding however. She arrived promptly at our departure time too.
Jeanne, July
Overall:
The villa was very nice, updated with spacious bedrooms with en suite baths. The area is rural, and a car is a definite need, even to get to the closest store. It is a great property for families or a group of adults traveling. The overall area is beautiful and it was a great "home to come back to at night after a full day of sightseeing.
Enjoyed Most:
The villa is very roomy, the bedrooms and baths are wonderful. It is private, and the nights barbecueing under the stars by the pool were memorable. The villa was even bigger than the Internet pictures display. The kitchen was fully equipped. All that was needed was the local fare: wine, cheese, and everthing in between.
Enjoyed Least:
It is more isolated than we expected. It also had cobwebs and dead bugs. The hot water tank did not work at first. A service guy came out, then there was only enough hot water for 2 people - had to wait 1-2 hours to heat up.
Surrounding Area:
The peace at night was great for sleeping. The village of St.Remy was 5 minutes away by car - a beautiful area. We could see most of Provence, such as Cassis, Avignon, Arles, Gordes - and still relax at the villa at night.
Nearby Events or Locales:
St. Ettiane was the closest, but there was not much there. St Remy was the nearest village, 5 to 10 minutes by car.
Tips or Restaurants:
This villa has everything. All you need is food and personal items. There are great restaurants in St. Remy, and the tourist office is very helpful. Keep in mind that this villa is roomier than it's pictured, so comfort is great. You definitely need a vehicle. A GPS really helps to navigate to the property and to all the great areas to visit.
Directions:
Need GPS to get to property.
Michael, May
Overall:
Wonderful! Beautiful home. Clean and comfortable.
Enjoyed Most:
Old World style with all the modern conveniences.
Enjoyed Least:
Living room furniture.
Surrounding Area:
Great villages and towns.
Nearby Events or Locales:
A convenience store and pizza parlour were in walking distance. Town was a little further away. e.g. 5 min. drive.
Tips or Restaurants:
Highly recommended. A terrific holiday home.
Check In Out:
Easy with a hospitable welcome.
Susan, October
Overall:
First of all let us say the house was lovely and exactly as depicted on your website - clearly there was no "enhancement" of the photographs. The house was well furnished and most amenities were of good quality. All in all everyone had a great time. The weather was mild with some cloudy days but it did not spoil our exploration of the area around the house. We will certainly recommend your company to anyone who is looking to rent in this area.
Enjoyed Most:
Nicely furnished, and the house was lovely. The pool was fenced with a childproof gate.
Enjoyed Least:
The French doors at the front did not lock, since the previous renter had taken the key. No linen change after the first week. During the second week, there was the smell of fertilizer; the house is located in an agricultural area.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The house was situated on a dirt road further from the hamlet then we expected.
Tips or Restaurants:
In fact, there was a baby bed at the house, and there was no reason for us to have brought one with us. It would be nice to have had a CD player.
Colin, October
