The Host and place were exceptional

Nothing to dislike

This was our first trip abroad with our 5 children. We decided not to fly and the drive from Calais was around 6 hrs but quite straight forward with plenty of places for pit stops on route. The trip almost didn't happen as we had a delay in getting one of the children's passports back in time. The host could not have been more helpful and managed to swap our week at no additional charge which was very generous. We arrived at the end of August, this was a little out of season for some of the local facilities but the weather was good and there was still plenty to see and do. The house was beautiful, it was very well equipped and had lovely atmosphere, very French and homely, it was very pretty and we were most comfortable. The house is set in a very peaceful location surrounded by mature trees and river/stream running along the bottom of the garden. There were plenty of amenities within a short drive and would recommend a night (or lunch) at the restaurant Café-Cantine du Commerce in the nearby village of Gencay (recommended by our host - there is a little card in the what to do and see info in the house). They served good food, the staff were friendly and there was a relaxed atmosphere (it was clearly popular with the locals). The viaduct and river at L'Isle-Jourdain are also well worth a visit (around 10/15mins in the car). The pool was perfect, the house was perfect, the host was perfect. We spent most of our week enjoying the house and pool, we stocked up at the nearby supermarket. The patio was huge and we ate there in comfort most evenings. The host was really helpful, we don't speak much French but she offered to make calls to shops and restaurants to help us plan our week and was on hand if we needed anything (this was so reassuring when travelling with children). We were utterly enchanted and can't wait to return (perhaps for 2 weeks this time).

Merci François & Marie for a wonderful stay! Even your little dogs were adorable! Everything was clean upon arrival. Kitchen has everything you need. Beds are good. House is cool in hot summers. There is a carport for two cars (private parking). Garden is full of fruits and vegetables. We had squash (NL: courgette), lettuce, basil, and prunes. In the fall, it should be possible to see apples, pears, and walnuts in full glory (perhaps edible)? Small pool is great, we had so much fun. And is continuously kept clean.

House has old wooden floors, so it can be noisy. The smaller bedrooms have new floors, but the master bedroom and living room are basically one big space with only one layer of wood in between. We didn't mind though. Insects love the house too, so prepare with at least anti-mosquito gear!