Absolutely Fabulous

Guest: Meg (Wilmington, DE USA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/17/11

Spent 3 delightful days in the cottage with the most hospitable hosts - Nicholas & Deborah, their children & sweet dogs. Deborah made 2 fabulous meals which we were invited to partake with lots of lovely Provencal wines. The bus to town made for a very easy commute & Deborah was our tour guide for a morning trip & swim to Cassis! Both hosts' suggestions on day trips, restaurants and what not to see was a life saver... Comfortable beds, nice accommodations, well equipped kitchen and a lovely private garden to sit, dine and relax right next to the beautiful swimming pool. A MUST visit......

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A perfect honeymoon

Guest: Adam+Heather (Ottawa Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/04/10 Review Submitted: 04/14/11

My wife and I stayed in the Pigeonier for our honeymoon. It is an adorable, quiet and private cottage on the beautiful property of Nick and Deborah. We felt welcome and well cared for without being hovered over. We took great advantage of the Pigeonier’s kitchen, walking into Aix city centre every market day for beautifully fresh ingredients. Alternating restaurant meals with home cooking was a great way to keep costs down and to fully appreciate the wonderful markets. We also took many day trips to surrounding towns and sights, including Cassis, Marseille, Rousillon and Mont St. Vincent. Our hosts were excellent trip planners, giving insights into which locations were worthwhile and which could be skipped. Nick and Deborah were both charming and generous. When the Icelandic volcano interrupted air travel and left us stranded for a week, they invited us into their home (the Pigeonier being already rented). We lived in their son’s room and ate with the family (all of whom have their mother’s grace and their father’s… well, I’m sure they got something from their father). It was a kindness that we will never forget. Thank you Nick and Deb.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.

A week in Aix

Guest: Scott and JM (Sydney, NSW, Australia)
Date of Stay: 07/04/10 Review Submitted: 11/08/10

Pavillion Xavier was everything we were promised and is as exactly as the photos show. We are a family of 4 with 2 very active boys aged 8 and 11. The boys loved the huge yard, the pool, the pentanque court and the Pigeonnier and Daisy the doberman! We were an easy walk into the heart of Aix yet the house is very private and quiet.Our hosts Deborah and Nicholas were the perfect hosts giving advice on where to go and what to see, making sure we were well cared for (and saving us from catching the wrong train!) and at the same time respecting our privacy. We'd thoroughly recommend this property for anyone wanting to enjoy a true Aix and Provencal experience.

Owner response:It was a real pleasure to meet you all, I'm glad the boys had fun running around and playing with the sprinklers,the game of boules was really nice.Next time stay longer ,there is so many more things to see and do in Aix and the surroundings, I wish you had time to enjoy the music festival or climb the mountain Ste Victoire painted so many times by Cezanne...an other time perhaps! Nicolas

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Charming location, warm welcome

Guest: Lainey (Southern California)
Date of Stay: 09/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/10

The "pigeon house," as we came to call it, was just what we expected -- quaint, fun and low key. The bed is large and comfortable and the bedroom is perfect for a romantic getaway. The real bonus at this property, however, is the warm, generous welcome you'll get from the owner, Nicholas, and his beautiful children. Because we got in rather late, Nicholas made a special trip to a store to pick up some bread, milk and croissants for us for the next morning. He even gave us a lift into town the next day and picked us up when we got hopelessly lost in a rain storm on our way back to the house. Prospective renters should know, however, that the bedrooms and bathroom are accessed only via steep staircases. This would not be a good location for anyone with mobility challenges (or who has had too much fine red French wine, as we did one night!). We left wishing we could have stayed longer and have vowed to return for a South of France exclusive tour in a couple of years.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your lovely comments ,I am very touch by your kindness,I was only trying to be helpfull ! I take all the blame for furnishing the wine that made the staircase so steep!!! It was a pleasure meeting you,come again. Nicolas

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.