Vacation Rentals by Owner

Guest: Jill, Charles, Livvy and Susanna
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

What a lovely week at Villa Clara! We could not have found a more perfect place for exploring the French Riviera. The highlights of our trip: • Hiking to the top of the Baou! • The Gorge du Loup tour with Benoit, the consummate tour guide and host. • Visiting the beach in Cap d’Antibes. • The visit to the aquarium in Monaco. • Relaxing by the pool and cooking pizza at Villa Clara • Having breakfast and dinner on the terrace and enjoying the spectacular view. Thank you Anna and Bryan for sharing your beautiful home with us. We will cherish the memories of our week in St Jeannet for a lifetime.

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Guest: Jill
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Dear Anna and Bryan, I just wanted to write and express our gratitude for letting us stay at your lovely home, Villa Clara. We found the home to be extremely comfortable, the view was absolutely breathtaking and the location in St Jeannet could not have been more perfect for exploring the French Riviera. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and were so sad to leave at the end of the week. Benoit was an absolute delight! We joined him for the Gorges du Loup tour one day and then ran into him on top of the Baou and again in Vence at the Matisse Chapel. He is so kind and has a wonderful sense of humor and is a real asset to the stay at Villa Clara. Finally, thank you so much for the lovely ceramic dish and bottle of rose wine you gave us as welcoming and departing gifts. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. We kept a blog during our entire trip and welcome you to review it and feel free to send the link to any prospective visitors who are curious about the location or Villa Clara. The link is plagemanvacation.blogspot.com – the first half covers London and Paris so feel free to skip that- but the remainder is all about our stay at Villa Clara. Thank you again. We will cherish our memories for a lifetime.

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Guest: Jill, Charles, Livvy and Susanna
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 10/16/10

Dear Anna and Bryan: I just wanted to write and express our gratitude for letting us stay at your lovely home, Villa Clara. We found the home to be extremely comfortable, the view was absolutely breathtaking and the location in St. Jeannet could not have been more perfect for exploring the French Riviera. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and were so sad to leave at the end of the week. Benoit was an absolute delight! We joined him for the Gorges du Loup tour one day and then ran into him on top of the Baou and again in Vence at the Matisse Chapel. He is so kind and has a wonderful sense of humor and is a real asset to the stay at Villa Clara. Finally, thank you so much for the lovely ceramic dish and bottle of rose wine you gave us as welcoming and departing gifts. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. We kept a blog during our entire trip and I welcome you to review it and feel free to send the link to any prospective visitors who are curious about the location or Villa Clara. The link is plagemanvacation.blogspot.com – the first half covers London and Paris so feel free to skip that – but the remainder is all about our stay at Villa Clara. Thank you again. We will cherish our memories for a lifetime! Jill

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Guest: David and Patricia
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

What a lovely spot on earth. We love it!

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Guest: Leanne and Dan
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

What a glorious week of sun, swimming, exploring the beautiful countryside and relishing wonderful food and wine. Never did a simple meal of bread and cheese taste so delicious. We feel as if we’ve experienced so much yet done so little. Our home in Toronto, Canada feels a long way away! We hope to return one day and are thankful for the chance to share your beautiful home. We loved the pizza oven!!

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Guest: Nelson
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Our family travelled from Dublin and Vancouver, Canada, to share a week together at your beautiful home. We all enjoyed the pool, as our weather has been hot!! We ate the wonderful bread, perfect olive oil and tasted your wine. Visited your hilltop village and your wonderful scenery. Thank you.

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Guest: Marie-Chantal and Francois
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

We have adored our stay in your lovely home. One week came and went in the blink of an eye. The house is charming, the view is perfect and the grounds are inspiring. We hope to be back one day soon... Mathieu, Alexandre and Catherine loved swimming in the pool and playing “Boule”... Benoit and Corinne were very kind and helpful. Thank you very much.

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Guest: Keith and Penny
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Having found Villa Clara on the internet 2 years ago on our way driving from England to Italy – Anna told us to contact Benoit and view their wonderful house. We vowed then that we must return to this part of France we know and love. What a wonderful 2 weeks we have enjoyed with one of those weeks with our youngest of 4 children – Georgina – and her new husband of 1 year – Renald. We loved playing La Boule each evening and had fantastic dinners and the local wine on the terrace. Villa Clara “ticks” every single “box” for the perfect villa holiday and we have already booked our return in September/October. Our sincere thanks to you both.

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Guest: Doug
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

St Jeannet is a painting come to life. I feel as if I’m walking around in a painting. My favourite painters, Bonnard, Vermeer, Matisse, Cezanne, Georgio Morandi, Mondrian. Even though they dealt with different subjects and palettes they were all trying to capture something quiet but compelling. Beauty, alive but still. The village windows, the doors, the church tower, clothes hanging from windows, les baous, a dove drinking from a fountain, a little child on a little bike, the boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables that line “les petites rues”, lovers on vacation sitting together on a bench in silence looking towards the sea where it meets the Cote d’Azur, the dogs and cats whose behaviour mimics that of the three or four “old guy” fixtures who sit or stand everyday down by Benoit and Corinne’s stroking their beards, picking their nails with a knife, smoking a pipe, even arguing with one another. Ah, Benoit and Corinne! As quiet and compelling as they can be, their energy, openness and passion for what they do can not be left. Benoit’s little tour of the village reveals further visual St Jeannet treasures. Corinne’s meals share the same quality as the surroundings, simple but fresh, compelling, beautiful. Uncomplicated beauty with a palette of her own, even as she weighs, chops and otherwise prepares the food in the afternoon. Villa Clara is at once a part of this painting come to life and a place to sit back and soak it in. The walk up the hill with the Baou St Jeannet on the right and the waiting serenity of Villa Clara’s grand but quietly composed front room where the colours of the village and the mountainside become one. Morandi meets Bonnard as you open the doors to the garden and pause for a moment to just be there, in this beautiful place, before you move through to the kitchen, pause another moment to soak in the compelling quietude of the table and counters meant for preparing and enjoying the foods that the village and Clara’s garden itself has to offer. Then, and only then, it is time to grab a bottle of St Jeannet Red that has been waiting for you on the kitchen table, a plain glass (no stem) from the cupboard, and open the doors to the terrace pausing again, to take in one of the most beautiful sites the world as to offer, before you sit down, uncork your bottle, pour a glass, take a good hearty gulp, sit back and exhale again, lazily place your glass back on the table, look outward and become part of the painting.

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Guest: Ainslie
Date of Stay: 04/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

I have enjoyed myself immensely at Villa Clara. I feel like I already know you Anna and Bryan. Your holiday home has already embraced me. I am a realtor in Vancouver, BC. It is true... once you walk through the front door of a home... one knows the feeling of true bliss. You have created an absolutely magical home. I was one of four in our group. We enjoyed a world class tennis tournament in Monaco at the Monte Carlo tennis club. We drove to the Cinque Terra in Italy and hiked the 5 areas. We also climbed the St Jeannet Baou. The view from Villa Clara is one of the best in the world. Thank you for sharing your home with us. I would love to return one day...

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Guest: Kathleen
Date of Stay: 04/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Benoit answered the phone – we were staying somewhere else. And he and Corinne invited us to stay here. We have so enjoyed Villa Clara as our main base for 3 weeks. Thank you

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Guest: Gregory and Penny
Date of Stay: 09/15/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Dear Anna, Gregory and I have returned from our holiday in Europe well rested, relaxed and as always, happy to be home. We enjoyed our time at Villa Clara immensely, found it to be a real home away from home, very quiet, comfortable and charming. The house is gorgeous and we loved the village and the people in it, some of whom we got to know quite well!! The location was perfect for the villages, galleries museums and places we wanted to visit, and it was so good to have one place to return home to each night. Benoit and Corinne are true gems. They were most helpful, friendly and always willing to assist when we needed some direction and such a cheery happy young couple. Thank you also, for making it possible to ring New Zealand while there, because of your wireless set up. And for the opportunity to stay in your beautiful villa. We also learned from Benoit that you have an equally beautiful apartment in Paris, which we will make use of it, if possible, next time we are visiting there. Kind regards and many thanks.

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Guest: Elke and Andreas
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Dear Anna! Excuse us very much for writing our comments concerning our trip to Villa Clara in summer this year so late. But daily life has caught us back too soon. We enjoyed your house with its well organized infrastructure, its warm atmosphere, its humorous and outstanding friendly managers/keepers, the most beautiful view we’ve ever had from a vacation cottage, the lovely village...and...and...and... You can ask each of us, we all would like to come back soon. Thank you very, very much for this experience!!!!! Warmly,

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Guest: Peter and Marie
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Hi Anna, Sorry for the delay in writing but life was a bit hectic when we got back. The holiday was great, we managed to do very little other than read, swim and eat and take in those fabulous views. Your home is in a beautiful setting and the gardens were a joy with great colours and delightful aromas. It really does feel like a home and we understand why you love the area so much. We came to Grasse area two years ago but we preferred St Jeannet. Benoit and Corinne were charming and helpful with a good sense of humour and the gardener looked very like Sebastien Chabal the French Rugby player. A smashing week for both of us, thank you for all your help in having everything so well organised. Best wishes

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Guest: Betsey
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Bonjour Anna! We have arrived at Villa Clara, and it is absolutely gorgeous!!! All the flowers have bloomed, the weather is perfect, the sun is shining. Life is good!!! Your home is beautiful and very comfortable. We are sitting on the patio, enjoying the spectacular view. My daughter and my niece are dancing in the gardens below, and my son, after having photographed every flower on the property, is now sitting in the laundry room, fascinated with the clothes spinning in the washing machine! Everyone is very happy! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. We are looking forward to a fabulous week in St Jeannet! Warmly,

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Guest: Jane and Angus
Date of Stay: 05/23/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Dear Anna and Bryan, A big thank you from the six of us who spent such a wonderful week at Villa Clara 23rd-30th May. Your home in St Jeannet is truly wonderful and is definitely a “happy family home”. Even now being back home we think fondly of our week in Villa Clara we could not fault a thing and love the pool. We were totally taken back with the views. Benoit was an exceptional Manager who made us feel very welcome and settled. We called upon his assistance getting to the St Laurent train station on the Grand Prix day and he was waiting for us on our return with the minibus. St Jeannet is a beautiful village and we enjoyed sampling all the restaurants and what a joy it was to find a Vineyard on our doorstep so obviously after lots of sampling the different wines with our meals we just had to visit and support the locals. We were taken back by the width of the roads and this took a bit of getting use to especially “bon courage” and your driveway in a Porsche (low slung!) I hope you enjoyed watching the Grand Prix on TV. I had booked train tickets and everything went off without a hitch and we loved every minute of the day, we were sitting on Rascasse corner so felt very much part of the race being so close to the circuit. So all in all a perfect week was spent at Villa Clara and all six hope to return in the future. Thank you for all your information and help on planning and booking at Villa Clara. Kindest regards,

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Guest: Brian
Date of Stay: 04/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

We have now returned from our fantastic trip to Provence. After a week near Avignon, we moved to Villa Clara and were thrilled with what we found. Both Dylan and I, along with our friends the Rodrigues, want you to know how much we enjoyed using the Villa. It is a real jewel and you must take such joy in spending time there. The facilities were in excellent condition, the property is simply awesome and the location served our day trips perfectly. In addition, we appreciated the personal contact of Benoit and Corinne, both of whom represent you very well. Thanks again for all your co-operation and for the use of your villa. Cordially yours,

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Guest: Don
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Anna, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful hospitality at Villa Clara. I stayed a few weeks ago with my parents and other family members. It was one of the best vacations of my life. Very relaxing, wonderful village... we rarely left. Enjoyed hikes, great meals, wine and wonderful scenery. The view from the Baou was spectacular on a clear day. Sunny and wonderful weather every day. I can’t say enough about your managers, Benoit and Corinne were wonderful. They even did what they could to help me find my lost luggage. Even without luggage, I had a wonderful time. We would love to visit again and will recommend it to anyone. Thank you again for sharing Villa Clara.

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Guest: Sian
Date of Stay: 08/04/07 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Dear Anna, We wanted to email you to thank you for renting your wonderful villa to us – it was absolutely beautiful in every way and we had a wonderful holiday. I lived in France as a student as part of my degree course and it was great to be involved in a village where our own children could also start to practice their French! Thank you for the comprehensive information relating to the villa and all the useful guides-which we used. We hope to come back again some day-we have been recommending it to friends and family on our return! Thank you very much once again. With our thanks and very best wishes.

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