Vacation Rentals by Owner

Fantastic Apartment, Great Location and Very Helpful Owners. Highly Recommended

Guest: Warwick S.
Date of Stay: 12/08/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

The description was completely accurate and we had a fantastic stay in Aix. We only wish we could have stayed longer. A vibrant interesting city, with great eating and amazing scenery nearby. The owners were exceptionally helpful in making us comfortable and recommending places to eat, places to visit and things to do, and advice on transport etc. Highly recommended, and will stay there again when we return.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Aix-quise!

Guest: VS & AM (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/14/11

Our family's stay in the beautiful provençal town if Aix this summer was highlighted by La Maison de Nonna. La Maison is an extension of the beauty, refinement, and elegance of Aix. It's owners, Kristine and Thierry are very gracious, tentative and extremely efficient. For example, during our stay the AC for some reason did not work to its maximum capacity, we immediately notified Thierry and he rectified the problem that same day. Kristine's refined taste does not limit to La Maison de Nonna's impeccable décor, but it also extends to all her suggestions of sights, restaurants, excursions for us to do. We trusted Kristine with everyone of her suggestions and were never disappointed. We can honestly say that when in Aix and if La Maison de Nona is available you will not be disappointed with your stay here. Stepping into La Maison de Nonna is like stepping into a world of "luxe, calme et volupté." Bon voyage!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Living a Charmed Life in Aix en Provence

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

I have stayed here previously and most recently this past June. Aix is one of the most wonderful small cities in France, let alone the world. It has all the modern conveniences of a big city, yet one can walk everywhere and feel the history. This wonderful apartment is just as it looks in the pictures - comfortable, inviting and very French, both old world and modern conveniences. The apt. is very clean and well maintained with many personal touches as antiques and art. I felt a part of Aix every time I came 'home' here. Kristine is a lovely hostess and provided me with information on where to eat and what sights to visit, and made me feel very welcome. This is what I consider a vacation home, not a hotel, so there is a kitchen to cook meals in with ingredients from the outdoor market which is very close by. My week was filled with wandering the streets of Aix and enjoying leisure time reading and resting in this lovely apartment. The building has a welcoming atmosphere as one leaves the sidewalk below and the interior's walls keep the outside noise away, yet the views from the windows allow for wonderful sight line around the surrounding architecture. I would and have recommended this apartment to others.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful apartment in the heart of Aix

Guest: Allan (Oakland, California, U.S.)
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/14/11

My two friends and I had a wonderful stay at Kristine & Thierry's lovely apartment right in the center of the old town. The apartment itself is beautifully and comfortably furnished, with many interesting objets d'art that reflect the owners' good taste. The many large windows flood the apartment with cheerful light. The apartment was impeccably clean, and the beds were quite comfortable. The double-paned windows did a great job of keeping out any street noise at night. The air conditioning was quiet and effective. Staying at an apartment is such a great way to immerse yourself in the life of Aix. We bought fresh food at the local market and prepared a delicious breakfast each morning. The patisserie just steps away from the front door had fresh and tasty breads and pastries. Kristine and Thierry are perfect hosts. Kristine provides a wealth of useful information to enjoy your stay in Aix (as well as other cities you may be traveling to). Although the three hotels we stayed at during our trip to France were all quite nice, none of them compared to the comfort and style of Kristine & Thierry's apartment in Aix. Many thanks for a memorable stay!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Week

Guest: Brianne (Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/05/11

My family and I had an excellent week staying in Aix at Maison Nonna. The apartment was beautifully furnished, in a great location, and Kristine and Thierry were wonderful hosts. I would stay there again and recommend it to others in a heartbeat.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A good beginning to our month in France

Guest: MMW (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

Maybe we caught Kristine at a stressful time. She and Thierry were renovating another apartment in the building the evening we arrived and she just rushed through a few things with us...mainly how to work the tempermental appliances. She told us to make sure to lock the windows and doors as she didn't want any more university students getting into the apartment and making out on her beds, etc. She emphatically asked us NOT to bother her and Thierry unless it was an absolute emergency (her words) as they were trying to get this other place ready for guests arriving soon. Thierry came to collect the rent the morning we left so we didn't see Kristine again. Not the warm fuzzy feeling other guests seem to have felt. When we asked for any personal recommendations she had of places not to miss she just opened the secretary desk and showed us guide books and tourist brochures. She did tell us the university students liked to party a lot and she was sure right about that! On the weekends be prepared for drunk kids screaming up and down the street at 4 AM! Hundreds gather at the square a block away that in the morning is transformed into the great food market other reviewers have mentioned. However, be forewarned...it becomes party central! The decor of the apartment is more "shabby chic" than antique. It's funky....the bed's mattress is actually on some type of futon frame, the daybed in the LR slopes so much it's uncomfortable to actually sit on, there's no fan in the bathroom and it becomes very steamy, there is a real lack of space to hang clothes - the main bedroom has nothing and the 2nd bedroom just a wardrobe with just a few hangars. ETC. But we liked Aix. We took a good walking tour, went to a cool jazz club, hung out in the markets and cafes, shopped and relaxed. It wasn't the highlight of our month long holiday in France but a nice place to visit. In the future I would prefer to stay with owners who accept credit cards or PayPal as Kiristine's acceptance of cash only mailed in advance as a deposit was awkward.

Owner response: I am so sorry to hear that your experience did not live up to your expectations nor to experience that my other guests have had while visiting Aix en Provence . Unfortunately, you did arrive at a stressful time (in fact due to a family emergency, rather than as you suggested, the preparations for other guests) and that your visit coincided with "spring break parties" for the university students. Also, I know you were suffering from your broken foot and it must have been difficult to travel while nursing your injury and that certainly couldn't have made your visit to Aix more pleasurable either. I hope you come back to Aix en Provence very soon in better circumstances, Kind regards and a bientot, Kristine

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

This is the place to stay in Aix en Provence...without doubt

Guest: Barry T. (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/30/11 Review Submitted: 04/08/11

My wife and I had a wonderful time in Aix. The apartment was everything it said in on the website...and more. Kristine, the owner, met us there and told us all about the unit. They had a lovely basked of fruit, cheese and snacks along with a bottle of wine. An old building that has been totally renovated on the inside....and "smack-dab" in the middle of the old town. We would recommend it to all of our friends and certainly plan on coming back in the future. Aix is a wonderful town with fantastic markets, restaurants and lovely winding streets to explore. We didn't have a car and never even thought about it. JUST A GREAT PLACE!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The most comfortable apartment in France

Guest: Leigh & Keryl (Brisbane, Australia)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 06/05/10

For our stay in Aix, we could hardly have done better than La Maison de Nonna. It was spacious, with comfortable furniture and we felt very much at home. The wi-fi access was good and a supply of power adaptors allowed us to recharge our devices. We received prompt responses to our queries. Kristine was friendly, helpful and enthusiastic and worked hard to make sure our stay was comfortable. The old city location is superb and provided a great base for exploring Aix and the surrounding district. (We highly recommend the €1.00 bus ride to Mte Sainte Victoire for a day’s hiking with unbelievable views.) We highly recommend this apartment. May 2010

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Amy160 (Aix-en-Provence, France)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/10

We enjoyed a 3-month stay in this charming, stylish, and perfectly situated apartment. Having stayed in other furnished apartments in Aix whose owners were less accessible or less responsive, we especially appreciated Kristine and Thierry's hospitality and helpfulness (when I accidentally and unknowingly unplugged the TV, for example). The very efficient and quiet heating/air conditioning system was very much appreciated during an unusually cold spell. Our stay began--and ended-- with a delicious and attractive fruit plate (I ate the final grapefruit on our last day and it was amazingly good). La Maison Nonna is a delightful, comfortable, and convenient place to stay in Aix.

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Guest: Jennifer and Ray (Edmond, OK)
Date of Stay: 10/16/09 Review Submitted: 10/15/09

What a wonderful apt!! we hated to leave and had a wonderful time in your AIX EN PROVENCE. This trip could not have been better, in large part due to la Maison Nonna...we were calling it home by the 2nd day. It is so comfortable and beautifully decorated. your excited welcome Kristine was awesome!! Here is to many more travels to provence, especially Aix!!

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Guest: D. and the girls (Tulelake)
Date of Stay: 10/16/09 Review Submitted: 10/15/09

We can't even begin to express how wonderful our time has been in aix enprovence. This apartment was "PERFECT"for our girls trip. we really enjoyed all the special touches and location. The Luberon and Calanques of cassis were sure favorites but most of all how nice to be greeted by a friendly face that seemed like an old friend after months of correspondance. we felt safe and comfortable from the first day..WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS PLACE...!!

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Guest: Richard27 (Tenafly, NJ, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/15/09

My wife and I stayed in the apartment for 2 weeks. It was a wonderful experience -- Kristine met us there and provided us with all the information about Aix and Provence that we requested. The apartment was spacious, comfortable and clean with charming decor and furnishings. The apartment's location in Aix is excellent with great cafes, restaurants, stores and sights right in the neighborhood. We had rented a car at the airport and travelled from Aix to many of the charming towns in Provence. It was a terrific experienceWe had a great time! Richard

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Guest: I love Villefranche! (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/30/09 Review Submitted: 03/30/09

The apartment is really beautifully decorated and is very centrally located in Aix. There is a wonderful bakery just outside the front door of the building - we enjoyed fresh croissants for breakfast just about every morning. The host, Kristine, is very friendly and helpful - and her decorating taste is impeccable. The apartment is so very French - filled with antiques and art - quite inspiring. The ceilings are very high, in the French tradition, and they really add to the elegance of the apartment - plus there are magnificent chandeliers in almost every room. Very elegant indeed! All the rooms are spacious. The appliances are full-sized - and very high quality. The bathroom is well-stocked with wonderful, white towels and wash cloths...even white terry cloth bath robes! There is a very good organic restaurant in Aix called Casa Bio, where we were able to find some excellent vegetarian food. One of the best features of the apartment is it's proximity to the daily farmer's market, which is just a block away. I also enjoyed the Tuesday and Thursday market days where you can expect to find antiques, home-made leather purses and much, much more. We rented a car during our stay, and because we don't mind walking we parked in one of the free parking lots over near the military academy. Our favourite day trips were to Lake Ste. Croix, a beautiful lake area virtually untouched by civilization and the Luberon region, where we stopped at many vineyards and tasted wine! Some of the homesteads at these vineyards will blow you away - very stately, to say the least. There is alot of upscale shopping in Aix, so if you have spending money you shouldn't have trouble parting with it here! (We found a couple of really great home-decorating stores.) In Kristine and Thierry you will find kind, friendly, gracious hosts. We had more contact with Kristine, who speaks excellent English I might add, and she was very, very helpful and knowledgeable.

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Guest: VS & AM (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

Date of Stay: July 2008 We have stayed at La Maison de Nonna twice now and enjoy the apartment very much. What brings us back each summer is the hospitality of our hosts, the apartment itself and its location in the middle of historic Aix-en-Provence. Kristine and Thierry are such wonderful hosts. They are always smiling (blame this on the Provençal sun) and more than willing to lend a hand should any concerns or questions arise. And being locals, they know the area well and are able to share with us some of their favourite places. The apartment itself is tastefully decorated by Kristine, who uses a designer's eye to combine comfort, beauty and authenticity to this splendid 17th century apartment. Look out its windows you will be rewarded by the blue skies of Aix, the yellow-ochre hues of nearby buildings, cobblestone streets filled with life and the quiet gurgle of the fountain in front that dances for passers-by. Not only does the apartment exude character, but it also is clean, spacious and well-lit by the Provençal sun. Its location in the historic center of Aix -- Cézanne lived a few doors down this street -- just adds to the pleasure of this apartment. It's only a short walk to the Hotel de Ville (1 minute), Saturday market (2 minutes) and the exceedingly pleasant Cours Mirabeau (5 minutes). We recommend La Maison de Nonna and we look forward to our next blissful stay there! Merci Kristine et Thierry et à l'été prochain!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful stay we had at the Maison Nonna in Aix-en-Provence. Kristine's warm and gracious welcome set the tone for what would be the best five days of our entire vacation. Your welcoming touch is evident throughout the apartment, from the plate of fruit and sweets, to the bathroom accessories, to the tasteful decor throughout. We truly felt at home. You could not ask for a better location in old Aix-en-Provence! Everything we needed was a short walk from our "home." The Saturday market at the Place des Precheurs was absolutely fantastic, as was the daily market behind the post office. We took advantage of our fully equipped kitchen to enjoy many meals we put together from our forays to the markets. We often said, "Do you suppose they have a........ here?" We would then immediately find in the cupboard or on a shelf the exact item we were wondering about. We were amazed at how equipped the kitchen was. Thank you also for your recommendations for local cafes and restaurants. Our favorite was having breakfast at the Cafe l'Unic, where we would watch the hustle and bustle of the daily market. Having our own apartment certainly allowed us to experience daily Provencal life in a manner we would not have known otherwise. For that we will always be grateful.

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Guest: Vanessa C. (England)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

Kristine and the apartment are awesome. Everything you need to feel at home is in this apartment. The apartment is beautifully decorated. Open your shutters every morning to look out on the old town. The baker is downstairs as well as great shopping. You will feel like a local being in this apartment!

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Guest: ANGES (california)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

My wife and I stayed at La Maison Nonna for 12 days and we felt like it wasn't enough time. The apartment is beautiful, comfortable and exquisitely decorated. The fully equipped kitchen is separate from the dining area and living room giving us the privacy we wanted. We had to conduct a little business while we were there so the free 24 hour high speed internet was helpful. The weather was a little warm while we were there. The central air conditioning made our stay very comfortable and the air conditioning unit is practically silent making it very easy to sleep at night. What we liked about the apartment location is that it is close to restaurants, cafes, patisseries and boutique stores. There is a very good patisserie about 10 steps from main door of the apartment building. Also in the little plaza in front of Maison Nonna is a cute bookstore and one of the 100 fountains found in the city. Very charming indeed. We enjoyed the location convenience being very close to small grocery stores, every type of restaurant you need, boutiques and upscale shopping. Every night we would walk thru the quaint streets to Cour Mirabeau which is the main attraction of Aix in my opinion. . we parked our car at a convenient parking garage located about 500 meters from the apartment. A very important part of our rental which made our decision to stay again at La Maison Nonna is the landlord. Kristine is the most gracious and accommodating landlord that we have ever had and we travel quite a bit. Kristine was always available to answer our questions whether it was restaurant recommendations or directions to other cities. She knows what makes travelers comfortable and she provides it. I was very impressed with her service.

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Guest: peter24 (New york city, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

I had the opportunity and pleasure to say at your lovely Maison de Nonna this past April, as you will recall. My real reason for traveling to Aix was to improve my French at a language school; however, I soon learned the trip was really about falling in love with your lovely village (city really!) and your dream of an apartment. Please accept my compliments and gratitude for a wonderful stay. The kitchen was a delight to me as I am a pretty good cook and was able to shop daily at the various outdoor markets and shops – all within a 5 min. walk at most – and come home and cook in your completely furnished kitchen. I enjoyed my meals at your lovely table and also in the dining area and was able to invite some new friends over as well. I am still cooking the French way as much as possible here at home. The bathroom was big and wonderful – not the small showers one sometimes has in France – as well as soaps, a robe, a heater, etc. – and all with great style. And the bedroom was wonderfully furnished and comfortable! My initial impression was highlighted by the very old staircase (17th century I think you said?) and the magical ‘theatre set’ upon my arrival – an aperitif, candles and fruit. Wow – this was like a 5-star hotel to be sure. As I had no car, being so close to the center of Aix made it all so more amazing and convenient. You were so thoughtful in your answers to all my silly questions and I always had a great adventure after your suggestions of museums, restaurants, cafes, etc. I realize one can drive in Aix and there are plenty of garages available nearby should one chose to have a car – however, I was determined to walk. And the suggestion of having a maid come in once a week was super – Florence was so helpful did a great job and was very reasonable. Thank you again Kristine – I shall return to your lovely town of Aix en Provence soon I hope. Peter

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