Holiday House France
Some of the reviews received along the way
Séverine R
Très beau gite rural
Nous avons passé une excellente semaine dans le Périgord. La maison de Rachel offre une vue incroyable et a très bien été pensée, il ne manque rien. Le village a tous les commerces nécessaires et les locaux sont charmant. Rachel a été une hôte tres accueillante, disponible et à l’ecoute de nos besoin. Nous recommandons
Annick T
Vacances reposantes
Le 1er jour viste a bugne de l aquarium puis le labyrinthe de verre chercher des egnimes super c2ème jour ,a Belves charmant petit village typique et l aprem visite des maison troglotique la découvert puis le muséum et la grotte au sorcier,3ème j les jardin et le chateau decateln
Philippe D
Séjour agréable
La région est magnifique, la location est très calme et très bien située. La literie est bonne, la cuisine est bien équipée mais mériterait d’être revue notamment au niveau des verres. L’état général de propreté est acceptable mais pas fignolé (Salon de jardin très sale, récupération de la carte pour les ordures le dernier jour, le ménage est manifestement vite fait…) Nous garderons toutefois un excellent souvenir de notre séjour.
Virginia R
Everything as expected
Lovely place to stay and enjoy visiting the area. Clean, comfortable and well equipped. The terrace is a plus to relax and enjoy. Despite the heat wave, we had a great time there!
Stephane P
Séjour à Villefranche
Très bonnes vacances dans un village rural calme mais avec toutes commodités. La location est typique et très agréable avec tout le confort nécessaire.
Thomas S
Très bonne
La maison est agréable et confortable. La possibilité d’accéder à la piscine du petit camping qui se trouve non loin de la maison est un plus. La ville est charmante et bien située pour découvrir cette belle région.
Patrice D
Vacances très sympathiques en Perigord
Charmante maison dans le Perigord dans un joli et typique village. Maison bien équipée , literie excellente, très proche du centre ville, tres calme avec une jolie vue sur un paysage bien vert. Seul dommage le mur en pierre de la terrasse s’était écroulé avant notre arrivée a cause de la sécheresse. Les propriétaires avaient sécurisé mais la terrasse avait perdu un peu de son charme. Neanmoins les vacances ont été très sympa, le region y est pour beaucoup , avec des paysages magnifiques et plein de sites a decouvrir. L’accueil a lui aussi été excellent ; merci a Estelle et Rachel
Axelle D
Séjour très agréable
Découverte des fermes auberges, du Périgord…. région exceptionnelle
John and Armorel Young
Attractive and unspoilt French town
We were very pleased with our choice of Villefranche-du-Perigord, as an attractive and unspoilt French town, small but with all the amenities we wanted, in preference to one of the more well-known Dordogne places which attract more tourists. We took advantage, though, of the main Dordogne attractions, which were within easy reach. We were equally pleased by Le Retraite, which was very clean and well-equipped. We especially enjoyed the spacious terrace with its views over wooded hills, where we had our breakfasts and (except when we went to a local restaurant) all of our evening meals.
Laurence et Frédéric M
Magnifique!
Bravo pour cette location irréprochable : tout était parfait. Mention spéciale à la literie hors pair, nous avons tous dormi comme des loirs 🙂 Maison impeccable : les équipements (pas de télé mais un très bon lecteur de DVD), la batterie de cuisine, le linge, le barbecue …), la terrasse avec une vue splendide sur une forêt d’arbres, la machine à laver, les canapés ultra confortables …Toutes les consignes sont minutieusement indiquées, impossible de s’y perdre. Le gros plus : les échanges avec les propriétaires, très réactifs et attentionnés. Merci pour la très bonne bouteille de vin à l’arrivée 😘 Ne pas hésiter à louer en t. . Vous pouvez louer en toute confiance. Il y a plein de choses à voir autour. Commerces et services tout à côté. Parfait pour nos ados et notre mamie. Merci beaucoup +++
Frederique Galban
Absolute calm
Magnifique Endroit beautiful house in a quiet and relaxing village. Close to shops and enjoying absolute calm, this house has all the qualities. Furnished with great taste, it has everything you expect from a rental: comfort and amenities. In short we will come back!
Linda W
A very peaceful, fantastic place to stay in the Dordogne.
The property is lovely. It had everything you could possibly want including games , books, bbq along with, every conceivable kitchen utensil. The owners provided very detailed instructions as to how to get there, how to get in, how to operate the appliances. It was brilliant. The property is in a gorgeous little village just a few metres along the road. We were also able to use the local campsite facilities too which was lovely.
Michael Deller
My fifth stay
This must be our/ my fifth stay at Coustalou and on each occasion there is no disappointment – even when the weather is a little cool – the peace of the home is wonderful. Let me encourage anyone looking at this site to book and come to stay at Coustalou – Villefranche du Perigord – a wonderful village with a typical Dordogne charm – the local people are most friendly and the food and wine of the area is of course excellent. I have been to stay is May this year and the weather was perfect – in 2014 we chose to stay last week May / first week in June and sometimes it falls at the end of the Spring weather – so for those who don’t like the heat this may be a good time to stay – but for myself if you like 30 degrees C and above go there in July onward s – and try the local swimming pool and sit back with some chilled white wine. Brilliant- I would live there – without doubt!!!!
Tom Armstrong
A memorable family holiday
A family of four, we spent two relaxing August weeks in the pretty and quiet ‘bastide’ village of Villefranche-du-Perigord located in the south-eastern corner of the Dordogne. Our holiday accommodation was le Coustalou, a cosy, traditional cottage with a small terrace at the back which overlooks the rolling wooded countryside. How lovely to hear the birds singing in the morning! The cottage has a homely feel and is very comfortable. We spent most evenings eating and playing cards outside on the terrace. The facilities worked well and there always seemed to be plenty of hot water for showering. The owners were very helpful in providing information and guidance about the area, and all the arrangements worked like clockwork. The village centre is a gentle stroll, barely five minutes away. There are two boulangeries, so no problem with fresh bread in the mornings! Two small convenience stores provide the essentials and more. Apart from the tourist office, there is also an ice cream parlour/café along the main street. The local people are friendly and we felt very welcome. One of the most charming local customs is the outdoor, communal dinner on Thursday evenings under the covered market in the village centre. A number of vendors have stalls with freshly prepared hot food and local dishes, and having made your choice, there are long tables where everyone sits to eat their food. There is the buzz of activity and conversation above the sounds and smells of cooking ‘al fresco’. A really good atmosphere! The proprietor of the nearby camp site offers access to the lovely outdoor swimming pool for the price of buying drinks on each visit and we enjoyed simple, but tasty fare, at the camp site cafe, especially welcome after a late arrival on our first day. We also enjoyed meals at two local restaurants – La Petite Auberge, on a hill up a quiet country lane, and le Café du Commerce in the market square. We had some great days out in the Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne départements including visits to Cahors, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the spectacular cliff setting of Rocamadour, the cliff-top gardens of Marqueyssac, canoeing on the Dordogne, the château at Biron and the wonderfully preserved medieval town of Sarlat. This was a memorable family holiday and a taste of the real France – thank you!
Stephen B
A Quiet Retreat
I was slightly anxious on arriving in Villefranche after a long car journey across France from Caen but I need not have worried – everything was exactly as we’d been promised in the brochure. Trouble-free access to the key soon gave us entry to the property that was absolutely spotless and clearly well-maintained. We soon discovered that Le Coustalou was indeed a ‘home from home’. The next morning on our initial sortie into the village for fresh-baked bread, it became clear that Villefranche was simply perfect for our needs : an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of working life and offering a splendid centre from which to discover some of the hidden corners of the Dordogne. Shopping was no problem, though it must be acknowledged that large supermarkets were at a fair distance – but the journey was a small price to pay for the benefits of being in such a charming village – besides, the local shops offered most of what we wanted. For one of our party, the highlight was the relative proximity to Perigueux and the closing stage of the Tour de France but for most of us, the best times came from the chance to explore the wonderful hill-top castles and ‘bastides’ and enjoy the excellent local food and wine. There are superb opportunities for walking and exploring the local area, and for those wanting more energetic activity, much is available within a short radius of the village. A word must be given to the local restaurants which were so welcoming and thoroughly merit the stars they have earned! In fact the warmth of the locals is something that will stay in our memories – the friendly toleration of neighbours and shopkeepers who struggled to understand the manic efforts of our Australian brother-in-law as he manfully tried to resurrect his schoolboy French of 50 years ago was a sheer delight to behold! That warmth and friendliness was felt from the very outset with our contact with owners: their service was simply the best – prompt accurate information came our way and the financial arrangements were just as well organised (including the meticulous deposit refund). I could not fault it in any way. I sit now on a damp grey October evening thinking back over a wonderfully relaxing holiday, and in my imagination can still feel the warmth of the evening sun as I sit on the terrace of le Coustalou nursing a chilled glass of rose – Villefranche has worked its charm on me and I shall look back to returning at some point in the future
Eryl & Ann V
The Quiet Life
This was the perfect location for a relaxing holiday in rural France. The village is well placed for lots of sightseeing in the Dordogne area. The terrace is excellent for wining and dining and the views are superb. The village is exceptionally quiet and traditional, as is the property. An excellent and relaxing stay. Many Thanks.
Jonathan S
Cozy, family friendly home
Everything was “just right” about this old-style house on the edge of the village. We could sit on our balcony and stare out over the hills in the twilight pretending we were alone or in minutes walk to the center of a thriving small town. Our young teenagers loved the proximity of the campground, where we were able to arrange use of the pool in exchange for buying a few drinks. The auberge at the top of the hill affords a delicious meal – though you should get there by 8:30 if you don’t want to incur a grump from Madame. All the beauties of the region are within an easy drive.
Janet H
Fabulous holiday at this Gite!
We have had a fantastic holiday at this lovely gite. We loved being so close to the village with all the amenities on our doorstep and took full advantage of all the community activities that were taking place during our stay in the market place. We enjoyed using the local campsite pool which was very good value for the price of an ice-cream or 2. The owners of the campsite were very friendly and welcoming. There were so many lovely places to visit and we enjoyed doing some of the local circular walks. We also enjoyed meals and sitting reading on the sunny terrace, with beautiful views over the countryside and even watching shooting stars late at night. Having been to many gites in France, this was by far the best- clean, well equipped and ideally located. Although there was no dishwasher, we did not find this a problem and even found we enjoyed sharing the washing up! The owners have been very helpful at every stage in the process of booking, providing detailed information and prompt responses to queries. We would definitely recommend this gite and hope to return again soon.
Barbara Danny Daniels, Jill and Rob
Not disappointed
Geriatric Reunion 2013 We chose La Retraite in Villefranche Du Perigord after quite a long search; we were not disappointed. The booking process was seamless due to good communication and attention to detail. Nothing was too much trouble. The house was very welcoming and well equipped. The terrace was the perfect place to relax and enjoy some alfresco dining; unfortunately due to the unseasonal weather we didn’t do it justice. We did manage one visit to the local camp site where we were made welcome by the owners and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon in and around the pool. Villefranche is a delightful small town and we enjoyed having all amenities so close by. We met our neighbours who were friendly and always had time for a chat – not forgetting Lily the cat. We visited picturesque villages on the Dordogne but we all agreed that Villefranche was special as it is distinctly French. A great holiday, one of the best. Thank you Rachel
Anthony Robbyn, Colin, Fiona and Lara Summers, Ireland
formidable
On a passe un sejour formidable! Your house was exactly what we needed for our short break, It felt welcoming from the moment we walked through the door, we’d like to come again.
Jacqui and Harry Harrison
Wonderful week
Many thanks for a wonderful week in Villefranche. We found the house extremely well equipped and nicely decorated throughout. The rear bedroom was a true delight, with clear views across the pastoral landscape. The jewel in the crown was the superb terrace, where we dined every breakfast and evening soaking up the ambience of the French countryside. Villefranche is a quiet town, but is just the place for getting away from it all, and is well placed for sightseeing to both the Dordogne and Lot valleys.
Phillipa and Martin Lavender
One of the best holidays ever!
This rates as one of the best holidays ever! such variety in the area and we have loved being carless, taking the taxi with Monsieur Alain and the local train to various places. Perigueux market on wednesday was such a treat, Monsepron-Libos, Belves and Les Eyzies all so pretty, the Roses! everywhere they amazed us.The locals as everyone says are so friendly and helpful, weather went from 7-32, generally around 25, perfect, 3 words, tranquille, calme et belle.