Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Memorable Decision!

Guest: Charles and Catherine (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/12/11

We recently enjoyed a 5 week trip to Italy and France with our two teenage children (15 and 16 years old.) We had prebooked all our accomodation prior to leaving Australia except for one week in France. So one evening during our stay in Venice we did an internet search on our trusty computer looking for apartments in Burgundy. By chance we happened on the listing for La Charite-sur-Loire. After emailing the owners with a number of questions and being very impressed with their prompt, helpful and friendly response we decided to book the Lucarne Suite from the 22nd - 29th of January. What a great decision! Not only is La Charite a wonderful place to stay, our hosts Kelly and Byron were fantastic, providing us not only with superb, warm accomodation, but with their very generous assistance and hospitality. We especially appreciated their advice on places to visit in the area, sharing drinks with them one evening, and Byrons personal tour of La Charite! So do not hesitate for one moment - book your stay with Byron and Kelly now. You will love it!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

A Serendipitous Discovery and Experience

Guest: Dolores and Ross (Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/24/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

My wife and I decided to spend the last week of our 7 1/2 week trip to Italy and France in a spot relatively close to Paris, for an easy drive in our leased car, to catch our homebound trip from CDG on 31st October. The previous 6 1/2 weeks had all been arranged and booked in the Spring, leaving us open for our last week. After a fair bit of research on the Internet, we decided on the Benedictine Suite and were pleased that it was available. What a great choice that was ! It is ideally located in the town of La Charité-sur-Loire and it was an excellent base for our daily drives around the gorgeous local countryside, which was in it’s Autumn colours. The apartment is beautifully furnished with absolutely everything you could want. The Butcher and the Baker – are close by - we didn’t find the Candlestick Maker though ! There is an excellent choice of neighbouring good restaurants. If you want to do some self catering then the local supermarkets are in town too. The Benedictine Suite is right at the top of our list of the 8 places we stayed during this trip and ranks highly with other places we have stayed on 2 previous European trips We unfortunately didn’t get to meet Kelly and Byron, who were out of town but we were fortunate to meet their good friends Wendy and Derek, who looked after us very well indeed. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Benedictine Suite, or any of the other Seyr Vacations Suites, which we are sure will be of the same 5 Star quality and standard. We are seriously considering another European tour in 2012 which will most certainly include a week in La Charité-sur-Loire, in one of Kelly’s and Byron’s Suites. Thank you all for providing the ‘Icing on the Cake’ to our wonderful memorable 2010 trip to France and Italy

Owner response:We are always delighted by feedback from our guests who enjoyed their holiday with us. We try to think of everything they would want or need during their stay. Our vacation rentals are well situated to enjoy exploring Burgundy and the Loire Valley.

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

Awesome apartment and overall experience!

Guest: Natalia (Seattle, WA, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/10

My husband and I have stayed in 8 vacation rentals by owners in several countries over that past three years, and I have to say that this one was the best of all. The apartment was exactly as we pictured it from the photos, actually even better, as the photos didn’t show that the shower had massaging water streams. A bottle of chilled white wine in the fridge was greatly appreciated after a long trip from overseas. The amazing thing about this apartment was that we were staying in the 16th century house right by the major landmark that was recently renovated to have all modern amenities one would ever need. Everything we need could be found in the apartment, including the list of major attractions and the atlas of the region, which made it really easy to figure out where to go and how to get there. Kelly and Byron were so welcoming, we felt like we met our lost family. We are definitely coming back and we are recommending this place to all our friends.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Abeautiful apartment and experience

Guest: Noel and Kathy (Fairfax VA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 09/23/10

The apartment was as charming as the owners. We have rented many apartments in France and always expected the unit to not be as nice as the pictures. This one was the exception. The unit turned out to be better than we expected and the owners are a two minute walk and dedicated to making your stay pleasant

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S & S Australia

Guest: S&S Australia (Perth Western Australia)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/04/10

We had a lovely time in La Charite and we stayed in the Lucarne suite. It was great as long as you watched your heads in the door ways and don't mind steps. We are quite short but still managed to hit our heads on the door frames. That said the suite was great with great modern facilities. We picked this suite because of the tower and its views, which we used every night. We sat up and had drinks and one time had our dinner up there. Be aware that you do have to climb up a ladder to get to the tower but we are 50plus an managed OK. The town was great a very beautiful country village. Make sure you hire a car as the country and towns around are well worth seeing. We traveled for 9 weeks and spent a week in La Charite and loved it and had time to relax and catch up on our washing. Byron and Kelly the hosts were very helpfull and picked us up from the train station and took us back. La Charite is a great town to sit down and relax even go fishing or canoeing or to use it as a base to look around the country side. There is plenty of supermarkets around including one small one within 100 meters.Wine and food is cheap and very nice. For non French speaking people we suggest you learn a few words and take French dictionary particularly when ordering food. We thoroughly recommend the town and the accommodation.

Owner response:We are happy to pick up our guests from the train station in town and take them back. Our Lucarne Suite is at the top of a medieval building and there is one door to the bedroom with the twin beds that is 'medieval height'. The view from the tower terrrace is outstanding. We live here full time so we are here to answer any questions or help in anyway. Byron and Kelly

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

Home Away From Home

Guest: Bon Voyage (Coquitlam, B.C., Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

The Sanet Suite exceeded our expectations on all accounts. It was a perfect place for our family of 4 (including 2 teenagers) to come home to after a full day of sightseeing, shopping, and exploring the beautiful surrounding regions of Burgundy and the Loire. The suite is roomy, comfortable, clean, and contains all of the amenities needed to make a vacation run smoothly. It is situated in a very convenient location in the centre of town, close to excellent bakeries, charcuteries, restaurants and great shops. The stunning view of the gothic cathedral from one of the bedrooms and the patio, was an added bonus. We enjoyed interesting visits to the hilltop town of Sancerre with its interesting wine museum, St. Fargeau, the market at Cosne, shopping in Nevers, the beautiful chateau of Chambord, Guedelon, a castle in the making, the Briare canal bridge and many other excellent sites. The bakeries, pastry shops, clothing and gift shops, and the crepe restaurant and pizza parlour across the bridge, were all well worth visiting. Our hosts, Kelly and Byron, were welcoming and helpful, and were a wealth of information regarding the history of La Charite and information on the surrounding region. Their gites offer a wonderful retreat and an excellent base from which to explore nearby areas. We are looking forward to a return visit!

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

..a history lesson

Guest: Jamtart (Lesmurdie Western Australia.)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

another 5 star rating. I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying their stay here or finding anything amiss. We stayed in the top apartment Lucerne in late April this year for a week. A week was not enough to explore the town and the surrounding area...there is so much of interest to discover. We only managed to explore to the west ..Bourge, La Borne, Sancerre, Apremont, Chaumont chateau, Briare..which leaves the east for another time Guedelon, Vezelay, Auxerre. However just to explore La Charite itself is so interesting especially when you have Byron as your guide ! The apartment was a delight, every mod con...which contrasted well with the view of the old church from the window and from the tower. The tower was the highlight for us...to be able to climb up there in the evenings and sit with the birds at sunset was very special. Highly recommended...I suggest that you look at the web site which will give you a very accurate description of all Byron and Kelly's apartments.

Owner response:Yes, Byron does enjoy 'playing' tour guide in La Charité-sur-Loire! The view from the top of the tower in our Lucarne Suite is splendid, as you can see the rooftops of town, the statues on the church as well as the ramparts and the Benedictine garden.

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

Guest: Kings & Queens (Wakefield, England)
Date of Stay: 11/10/09 Review Submitted: 11/10/09

We've just returned from another week in the Lucarne suite having already stayed there for a week at Easter earlier this year. Whilst the weather was not as good as then the warmth of the reception from Kelly and Byron, as well as that provided in the suite certainly was. The facilities are exactly as described which is a good thing. The town itself is small but has plenty of choice even off season for places to eat and shop. It is a great base for exploring the region and we ventured as far as the Loire Chateaux at Chambord to Chablis and to Beaune. Even with the strength of the Euro vs £ the Auberge across the road from the suite is great value at 12 Euro for a fixed lunch and good quality so get in early as its very popular with the locals. No night clubs or pubs which is good but untouristy, real French rural life from the safety of a small town with all that you'd reasonably need.

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Guest: Lisa and Harry (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 11/10/09 Review Submitted: 11/10/09

We just spent a week in the Lucarne Suite and had the best time. Kelly and Byron seem to have thought of everything! It's nearly impossible to find air conditioning anywhere in France, but this place has it! The suite is huge and comfortably furnished, with 2 bathrooms. The shower is hot and the water pressure is great. We had our own private patio at the top of the tower and spent every evening up there having a glass (or three!) of wine, enjoying the view of the cathedral next door, and all the old rooftops. Very peaceful. The gites are located in a very convenient part of town... there is a great cheese shop next door (fresh eggs too), a butcher across the street, and a really good bakery a few doors away. Also, within a two block radius is a wine shop, specialty food shop, pharmacies, banks and a wonderful kitchen store, among other things. It's a few blocks to the river. The Saturday morning market is less than a block away-- I recommend the roasted chicken with potatoes and sauce! Kelly and Byron had great advice on what to see, how to get there, and where to eat. Babette's restaurant in town has great home cooking-- she makes what's fresh each day, and the menu changes accordingly. La Charite is a great base from which to explore the surrounding region. We had an amazing vacation, and we can't wait to go back!!

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Guest: Anonymous (Grimes, IA)
Date of Stay: 10/11/09 Review Submitted: 10/11/09

Byron & Kelly, our host, said we were the first cyclist to stay at their Lucerne Suite. We were fascinated to find the unbelievable way that Byron has kept the 16 century construction alive with 21 century convenience and comfort in a medieval town. We had looked over hundreds of sites to find lodging that was in a village, really had your own bathrooms and you didn't have unreasonable deposits. Not only did we find this lodging the best of our 22 trips to Europe but Byron and Kelly treated us to a history lesson and tour in construction that could not be found anywhere at any price. The cycling in the area was like riding on a bike paths every day in every direction we rode. We will be back.

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Guest: Julie and John2 (Springfield, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 09/20/09 Review Submitted: 09/20/09

We spent 5 days in the Benedictine Suite, and loved every minute of it! The gite was beautifully located and well furnished. The village of La Charité is an absolute delight. Kelly and Byron couldn't have been more accommodating in recommending restaurants, activities, even which cheese vendor to purchase the "best" cheeses at the local farmers' market. Our only complaint....five days wasn't enough! We'd come back in a heartbeat.

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Guest: Burt and Olga (-)
Date of Stay: 09/19/09 Review Submitted: 09/19/09

We rented the Benedictine Suite for a week,on the first of our four week tour of France, after which we stayed in two other Gites. The Benedicitine Suite was by far the best place we stayed in. It had the most fully equipped kitchen, the best furniture, was the cleanest, was very comfortable, and had internet as promised (others promised but didn't deliver). La Charite is a great town, with nary a tourist. And a big plus is Dominic's poultry and cheese shop, literally next door to the Gite. Kelly and Byron were great hosts and very attentive to our needs. We will definitely return. Very highly recommended.

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Guest: derek Good (-)
Date of Stay: 09/16/09 Review Submitted: 09/16/09

Our family of 8 adults spent a week at the gite and explored the French country side It was great and with two units we had more than enough room.The market,baker,butcher were are very convenient for our Continental breakfasts and more. The rooms were well kept,centrally located to the town center and we would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to explore this beautiful area.

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Guest: Gil and Bonnie (Vancouver, B.C. CAN.)
Date of Stay: 06/05/09 Review Submitted: 06/05/09

We spent three weeks (May '09) in the Sanet Suite. We found it to be excellent value for money, spacious, clean, and very comfortable. It is superbly situated in the charming medieval centre of La Charite-sur-Loire. The Harkers are most accommodating hosts and go out of their way to make your stay a pleasant one. We have returned three times in recent months to this accommodation and enthusiastically recommend it to friends.

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Guest: Joyce Rusch (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 05/12/09 Review Submitted: 05/12/09

My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in central France. It was a delight to stay in a charming restored 16th century home that was very thoughtfully furnished. Everyone in the town that we interacted with was welcoming and very soon we felt at home. The country roads led us away to other delightful villages with beautiful churches and markets. We enjoyed the rich history of this region as well as the delicious foods! Our hosts, Kelly and Byron Harker were most gracious.

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Guest: Jim and Nancy Donatelli (New Wilmington, Pa. USA)
Date of Stay: 03/08/09 Review Submitted: 03/08/09

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in the Benedictine Suite. The gite was warm, inviting, comfortable. The kitchen is well stocked for cooking in, it even had a salad spinner which made Nancy (the sous chef) very happy. The Harkers welcomed us as if we were old friends and were available for assistance and tips on where to tour. The town is charming with an excellent selection of food shops. The apartment is located right in the middle of everything but with the church on one side, the thick stone walls and the courtyard it was peaceful and quiet. While we have been exploring France through weekly stays in other regions, it will be hard not to return to this quaint little village and our wonderful hosts. We have already talked to friends about renting all 3 gites in this property for a return trip.

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