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Review submitted by Heimo from Berkeley (Submitted: 11 Sep 2011)
We had a fantastic time, the house exceeded our expectations and we felt we got our moneys worth. Its a great house for a family, and the caretakers were exceptional! The description was very accurate, and I will definitely recommend it to anybody considering a vacation in France, especially to those who want a quiet, local experience.
Review submitted by Elizabeth from Chichester (Submitted: 12 Aug 2010)
The cottage was clean and comfortable and we were met by a very friendly Englishman who gave us the key.
The lack of garden makes it less than ideal for young children although ours did enjoy playing in the loft bedroom and having snail races on the outside walls. It would have been nice to have somewhere to sit outside in the evenings (rather than the road - which we used).
Audierne and the surrounding area are beautiful and there is plenty to do.
Review submitted by David from St. Paul, MN (Submitted: 10 Aug 2010)
The cottage is charming and the location perfect. The caretaker was very friendly and helpful. I just wish wed been able to stay longer.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 3 Aug 2010)
I just wanted to send a quick note to say that we had an absolutely wonderful
time. The property managers were perfect hosts, and their recommendations and advice were very welcome. I'm happy to be in Paris, but confess that I woke up this
morning thinking about the walk I took every morning down to the
boulangerie/patisserie every morning. The time we spent there far
exceeded my (already high) expectations, and we'll be talking about it
together and with our friends for a long time. What a delightful part of
the world!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 29 Jul 2010)
I LOVED my time in Brittany! The cottage was exactly right for the dogs and me even without a garden since there were good places nearby to take them. I thought the kitchen was all I could have wanted and the little house delightful. The property managers really made my stay delightful. I really loved having so many towels and tea towels - what luxury!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 17 Dec 2009)
"Al and I have just got back from our European trip. We had a wonderful six weeks and your cottage in Brittany was perfect. Malcolm and ‘D’ were very helpful and a comfort to know we had English speaking help available if we needed it. The weather was unbelievable, we were out every day exploring the dramatic coast and romantic villages! Would love to do it all again.
Many thanks and please give our regards and appreciation to Malcolm and ‘D’."
Review submitted by Carol from Shoreline (Submitted: 14 Sep 2009)
We stayed in the cottage for a week and had a wonderful time. The cottage is well equipped and the surrounding area provides a a great locale for a vacation. We enjoyed the nearby restaurants and the availability of walking paths . In all, we had a very relaxing stay.
Review submitted by Barbara from Colebrook ,Plympton ,Devon (Submitted: 8 Sep 2009)
we arrived in Audierne on a bright sunny afternoon .From the outside the house looked impressive with its location off the main road but easy to find .We loved the authentic shutters.It proved easy to park outside - a relief as it was not easy to see online and with three children there was a lot of luggage to unload!
We were met promptly by the person managing the property he was friendly and informative also visited on our last day to see how we enjoyed ourselves we had contact numbers in case there were any problems.
The boys loved the loft bedroom and spacious area to play and run around.Be careful of the sloping walls as i banged my head several times in the first week!!!
Would probably bring my own duvets next time -its a matter of what you are used to.
There was a bright living dining area where some welcoming flowers were left by the people caretaking-thank you a nice touch. The dining table was cosy to sit around a fifth chair had been thoughtfully supplied but not really big enough for a family of five.
Although the seating was adequate there could have been extra cushions or beanbags as there wasnt enough room for us all to sit in comfort.The seat covers could do with updating.
The kitchen was fine ,there was an adequate supply of utensils etc The gas cooker was easy to use .There is minimal storage for supplies but then it was a great excuse to eat out and sample the lovely cafes and restaurants!
We appreciated the games left had lots of fun and didnt really miss having no TV.(We know we could have asked for one but to be honest we were glad that we didnt!)
This property although not perfect was very good value for money considering the present exchange rate . we loved the location there were two beautiful beaches within walking distance and numerous interesting places to visit within 30-40 minutes drive or less. A great base for exploring.The website did not do the town justice - a very pleasant surprise
Review submitted by Robert from Spilsby (Submitted: 22 Aug 2008)
We have stayed three years running at this property. It offers good value basic but comfortable accommodation near excellent beaches. Its always spotlessly clean and we have received a warm welcome each time. We hope to return!
Review submitted by John from Topsham (Submitted: 20 Jun 2008)
Ref 9577: 26 rue Pierre Brossolette
My wife and I rented the above property from June 7 to 14.
The house was very clean on our arrival and we received a good briefing from the owner’s brother on the running of the house and some of the local points of interest.
Additionally, Malcolm and Darina checked that we had no problems during our visit.
But there are a number of issues and I hope that the comments below will help they are all intended to be constructive. These comments are based on our experience both as renters of properties on many occasions in France and as one-time owners of a property in France that was rented out.
Firstly, in my opinion it is an exaggeration to say that the house sleeps six (max) since this implies that the rest of the house has matching facilities for six. This is not so and the statement that “there is room for six in the living room and six in the dining room” is not true in that there is only one room for both dining and ‘living.’ There is only one soft chair and a two-person sofa the dining table seats only four in comfort (there are only four dining chairs). I question the suitability of the house for children other than pre-toddlers given there is no garden.
The kitchen inventory is limited for example, no scissors, no serving dishes, no milk/cream jug and only two wine glasses. Three water glasses and three small tumblers do not represent a proper inventory. One of the salad servers was damaged. There are other refinements which might be provided, eg., a kitchen clock
There is no TV and indeed no DVD player, both considered essential by most tenants.
Upstairs the furniture is minimal – only one bedside light and table in the main bedroom. No chairs or other furniture on which to put clothes.
We have, in other rentals, had a ‘black book’ amassing local information on shops and stores, local sights and, for example, weekly markets. Nor was there a ‘welcome package,’
Further point that the owners need to address are (i) the extensive damp on two internal walls, (ii) the sagging rainwater gutter over the front of the house (iii) the bathroom taps which need servicing (they are both very hard to turn off) (iv) the electric radiators are old and the controls deficient (v) there were no smoke detectors.
These comments may seem picky – but the rental market is competitive and high standards are increasingly expected by holiday makers.
Sincerely,
John Evans
Owner reply:
We would like to thank this guest for his zealous and detailed commentary.
We have amended our description of the property to emphasize that it is best suited to small groups. Note, however that we have had several families with small children as guests at the cottage and they have been pleased with their stay. Depending on style and activity level, such families may opt for economy, proximity to beaches and to the town over large square footage and a garden.
We also encourage guests to let our property managers know if something is broken or missing. If Malcolm and Darina had known, they would have replaced them missing items immediately. Indeed, as soon as we saw this review, they promptly restocked the missing items from the kitchen. These guests as all guests were offered the use of a TV/DVD. They declined, therefore I am surprised that they brought it up in their review. So please do not wait til after you have gone home to let us know what you need. Malcolm and Darina are there to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
We have taken this guests comments to heart in that we want our guest to be comfortable and well-taken care of. Therefore this year as last year, we are adding to the furnishings and inventory of the house, including such items as cozy rugs by the beds, more area lighting and so on. Structural issues are part of our annual maintenance and were addressed prior to the rainy season.
All in all, we hope to offer good value - basic but comfortable accommodation near excellent beaches and the charming port town of Audierne. The cottage is spotlessly clean and our property managers always receive our guests with a warm welcome.
Please consider our property for your next holiday.
Review submitted by Robert from Spilsby, Lincs (Submitted: 2 Sep 2007)
This was our second visit, and we enjoyed it even more than last time. Excellent surfing beaches within easy reach, good restaurants in Audierne close by. We even had warm sunshine! For anyone looking for good value no-frills self-catering accommodation this is an excellent choice. We were welcomed warmly, and appreciated several improvements and some redecoration since last year. A memorable week - thank you.
Review submitted by keen from cirencester (Submitted: 5 Jun 2007)
We were disappointed by the suburban feel to the area and the proximity of the radio mast. Loved the town and harbour, but it was a bit far to walk through it and to the beach beyond and very trafficky over the bridge for small children. Our family is very conscious of green issues and we did not want to use the car. Those with bikes might be happier. Malcolm and Darina scored highest marks for thoughtful kindness and the spotless condition of the cottage. We also appreciated the relaxed attitude of the owners about extra children and two dogs ( although two of us did move into a hotel as it was very cramped.) This is basic and good value accommodation, in a potentially lovely area but for us it lacked atmosphere.
Owner reply:
Our cottage is on the edge of the port town of Audierne. The closest beach is a twenty-five-minute walk (for those active types) or a five-minute drive away. There are several other beaches in the area including the two exceptional family beaches these guests are referring to. These are located across the small bridge over the Goyen River, and are just past the fishing wharf. They are indeed too far of a walk from the cottage for children. We encourage our guests to check with our property managers for the closest or best beaches for you.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 21 Dec 2006)
"We had an absolutely magical week in Brittany. The house is adorable and was absolutely spic-and-span when we arrived. It really feels like a traditional fisherman's cottage, and I loved seeing the ocean as soon as I stepped out the door.
The area is absolutely phenomenal and we felt that at the end there was so much more to explore. The hikes were fabulous and even if our girls were real troupers we both felt it would be wonderful to come back just the two of us and do the hike around the "Pointe de Raz" and the rest of the coastal trail.
I was very surprised by the beaches - I was expecting pebble-y beaches like on the Pacific NorthWest and couldn't believe the stretches of golden sand before my eyes - wow! One day was even mild enough for Franck and the girls to go for a dip - I wasn't quite that brave. "
-Laura, Franck and Family
Review submitted by Robert from Spilsby, Lincolnshire (Submitted: 14 Sep 2006)
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay - excellent beaches, good food nearby and well off the beaten track.
Comfortbale, plenty of room, clean and well cared for. A warm welcome from Malcolm, who called in midway through our stay to check all was well.
Good basic equipment, no frills, excellent value. A bit more hanging space in bedrooms would be a good idea.
The midges are active in this area and like English flesh - come equipped!
We hope to return!
Review submitted by Susan from Plouhinec, Brittany (Submitted: 30 Aug 2006)
This property is extremely quaint and situated in a good location for exploring the local area. The town has everything needed for shopping. English is spoken in the Tourist Information office, which was helpful. The nearest beach is beautiful, but we found it well outside comfortable walking distance. The lack of storage, both upstairs and down, is an issue at the cottage. However, we had a fabulous time and would certainly go back very soon.
Review submitted by Megan from Plouhinec (Submitted: 6 Dec 2005)
I really enjoyed this property. It was quiet, within walking distance from the coast, stores, and cafes. The neighbors are very friendly. The kitchen is fully functional for heavy cooking. Audierne, the neighboring town, is an extremely quaint and picturesque commercial area-- great for restaurants and open air markets.
Review submitted by Caroline & Ian from Wiltshire (Submitted: 27 Aug 2005)
House is Spacious and perfectly situated for visiting a great region of France.
Within a 5 minute drive or easy walking distance to fantastic beaches of glorious white sands and the picturesque port of Audierne.
Ideal for a peaceful relaxing holiday. Many walking/cycling tracks close by.
Our hosts hospitality was exceptional and really added to our enjoyment of the holiday.
Owner reply:
they're having a baby!:
"That fantastic holiday last summer in your cottage made our minds up after 21 years together to finally try for a baby and here we are getting very excited and preparing a nursery..huge, but exciting life change...
When our little boy is a couple of years old we will be in contact again and would dearly love to go back to Audierne the place where we at long last decided to start our family.
I hope that you are well and wish you all the best for the future and
lots of luck with your cottage, it truly is in a magical place!
With very best wishes,
Caroline, Ian and little Jake '-3 months old!!!!!"
Review submitted by Gordon from Hampshire, England (Submitted: 8 Aug 2005)
A spacious, well equipped property close to beaches, restaurants and the shops. Excellent site managers on hand at all times. I will definitely return!