Vacation Rentals by Owner

Could have been marvelous, but....

Guest: Esanjay (California, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 09/18/11

The location is excellent for getting to so many wonderful things to do and see in this area. The gites are all in converted old farm buildings. The grounds are large and quiet with unheated swimming pool.The gite was clean, with modern bathroom, adequately provisioned in the kitchen, and the bed was sufficiently comfortable, if small. However, the lighting is totally inadequate for reading, of which we do a lot.The furniture is very flimsy, definitely not adequate for a 200 pound man. Oh, and do be advised, you have to buy your own toilet tissue! Too bad; since the owners seemed so generous upon our arrival. Nevertheless, we did manage to have a good time visiting the region.

Owner response:Our gites here at Le Jardin des Amis are stone buildings which were converted from the original farmhouse (Chene Vert & Eucalyptus) stables and hayloft(Magnolia/Orchard View/Tilleul. The Magnolia gite is both our smallest gite and also our only gite suitable for the less mobile and as such is usually rented by couples on a budget or those seeking accommodation which is without steps and stairs. We provide a 'welcome pack' with tea/coffee/milk/jam & wine + an initial supply of toilet paper, soap & shower products, however as the definition of a 'gite' is self-catering accommodation, in common with other owners we do not supply these commodities for the whole holiday. Since May 2011, the lights in our 'Magnolia' gite (reviewed above) have been upgraded and now comprise 2 x 3 bulb fittings in the living area, whilst the bedroom has a central light fitting and bedside reading lamps. The bedroom has a standard European double bed, which has usually proved comfortable for our guests and we have had no previous comments about its size. We can provide a range of bedding depending on the season. The dining furniture is solid wood, whilst the sofa is of a heavy construction with leather upholstery. The 'flimsy' furniture referred to in the review was one brand new wicker chair which has now been replaced by a sturdier version.

Recommended for:Pet owners, sightseeing.

Delightful Discovery in Dordogne

Guest: Virginia 3 (Salem, Oregon, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/24/11

It always requires a leap of faith to book accommodations while sitting at a computer thousands of miles and months away from one's destination. But, we make the leap and hope for the best. And, with Le Jardin des Amis the best is what we got. We arrived late on April 30, 2011, after a long day's driving and were met with smiling hosts, Sue and Jon, and a lovely bottle of wine, all of which were greatly appreciated. We stayed in Eucalyptus Cottage and it was perfect for the two of us. The main floor comprises a large, complete kitchen, small dining area and a large, comfortable sitting area. The upper floor contains the bedroom and a compact, but more than adequate, shower room. Just outside the entry door and down a few steps is an outdoor sitting area, which, at the time we were there, was dripping with wisteria. The scent was heavenly. The pool is gorgeous but, having failed to pack bathing costumes, we were restricted to gazing at it longingly as the temperatures rose into the seventies and eighties! Sue and Jon are wonderful hosts, very generous in sharing their time and familiarity with the area. We had many wonderful excursions from this perfectly situated base. We arrived at Le Jardin just after the school holidays ended and we were the only guests present, which gave us the feeling of having this wonderful place all to ourselves. It was quiet and peaceful and Jon repeatedly told us that a nightingale was singing its heart out up in the trees . . . every evening. We have never heard a nightingale. Sadly, the one night that we went out to listen for it, the concert had ended. In an email received a few days after we had departed, Jon said that the nightingale song had resumed the night after we left. We refuse to take this personally and are determined to return to check on the veracity of Jon's statement. We couldn't recommend Le Jardin des Amis more highly. I suggest you go and check on the veracity of my statement; you won't be disappointed.

Owner response:Some of our cottages, including the one bedroom Eucalyptus cottage where Virginia stayed, have sloping roofed bedrooms, which does make the available space slightly tighter than it might seem in a modern building. Most of our guests are happy to forgo a little space in order to experience the character of a 300 year old property, but if you are are of a larger build, do please contact us with your requirements so that we can accommodate you in comfort!

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

High praise for Le Jardin des Amis

Guest: Joe & Judy (Sydney, Australia)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

Far exceeded our expectations in terms of the quality of the accommodation & the beauty of the area. Sue & Jon were excellent hosts & provided friendly & helpful advice to assist us in exploring the beautiful Dordogne area.

Owner response:We are lucky to have so much to see and do in this area, but that can also make the choice of what to do in a limited period, more difficult- so we are always pleased to be able to advise, if we can, on different activities. It is also lovely to hear about where our guests have visited and their thoughts on favourite sights so that we can pass their point of view onto future visitors!

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

Guest: Gemma & Simon
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

Great place to stay - thank you for all your help! We would recommend canoeing, squirrels forest, caves & chateaux.......

Recommended for:

Guest: Margaret & Rory
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

..You have a truly fantastic place - facilities great, location superb - lots to see and do. We'll be telling lots of our Irish friends about you!

Recommended for:

Guest: Brian, Gabi, Sophie & Anna
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

Thank you for the most relaxing and fun-filled week we have had for a long time. We hope to visit you again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jeff & Terrie (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 05/28/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

We can't begin to say enough good things about our stay here!This gite is fabulous: owners of gite and their guests even better! and then their are the historical sites & beautiful bike routes. We hope to return!

Recommended for:

Relaxing, well located, kindly hosted cottage

Guest: Olivia and Family (Brighton South Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/24/10 Review Submitted: 04/28/10

My husband adult daughter and I spent a week staying in Chene vert in (cold) March and loved every minute of it. Jon and Sue were very kind and gave us helpful advice about sight seeing and local walks in the area, even lending us maps. The cottage was very clean, full of character, very comfortable and the closed combustion wood fire was a treat in the evenings. Sunny decks were available and the local village pub was great- didn't get a chance to try the other options. There is so much o see nearby and not so nearby that we could have stayed 3 weeks rather than one. Highly recommended. I hope we can go back, perhaps when it is a little warmer. -

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

Guest: Sylvia & Bob (Winnipeg, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/16/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/10

We had a wonderful time here! The perfect location for getting around to the 'sights'. loved our cottage - cosy, quaint...Thank you, Sue & Jon for your warm, helpful hospitality. Hope to return soon!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Shirley & Chris
Date of Stay: 02/16/10 Review Submitted: 02/15/10

A fabulous time - we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in 'Magnolia'. great company & hospitality from Sue & Jon. We will be back! Loved the pool and chats around the bar. Many thanks, Shirl & Chris

Recommended for:

Guest: Scott, Shirley & Gabriella
Date of Stay: 02/16/10 Review Submitted: 02/15/10

A lovely base from which to explore this enchanting area of the beautiful Dordogne! A very relaxing 5 days, thank you! (+ fun table tennis and pool)

Recommended for:

Guest: Paul & Ruth (Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/19/09 Review Submitted: 03/19/09

We would like to thank you for going out of your way to make our stay with you so enjoyable and for your kindness in taking us around. Le Jardin des Amis has a very peaceful, welcoming atmosphere and the accommodation very comfortable. We enjoyed being able to walk to the nearby bar and the food at L'Auberge was incredible.

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