authentic cottage in the creeks

Sylvaine was the perfect hostess. She went beyond any expectations. Our flight arrived late evening and our route using the tunnel was closed, so we got lost yet she patiently waited until after midnight - and we later discovered had an hour journey home herself! Then two days later returned to fix up airconditioning as my husband was not very well. The place was clean and had copious hot water, everything worked and the cooking utensils were good - no actual oven but a microwave-grill heated rolls perfectly. Washing machine and dishwasher were somehow made space for. Every convenience to make an easy holiday. Parking is at a premium in every small village or town along the coast as far as Toulon at least, so a security guard at the village entrance and a parking place made the whole experience better. Sylvaine had the cottage upgraded from within the original buildings and it works well. What is not said is that the whole upstairs in one sleeping area with room for 4 people, downstairs,(the staircase is rather steep and awkward for elderly people,) is the shower and toilet, a sofa bed and table. Sofa bed folds away easily, and necessarily, as space is tight, but this is essentially a good summer retreat with eating and sitting area outside. It was a shock to find no view and that in fact there was another house - wall and kitchen window- looking onto our courtyard. In September the sun only arrived for a few hours, it would be more with the sun overhead in high summer. To be fair I think 6 adults would find it a little small, but its in a stunning location for walking. Don't come expecting a chintsy place, there are drawbacks and its a little basic, but I would still highly recommend it for its location and the desire of our hostess that we had a wonderful holiday, which we did. The village has a restaurant and coffee bar, the locals play petanque which is fun to watch and the harbour too. There is no shelving sandy turquoise blue beach as the other side of Marseille but swimming in the creek was OK from the slipway and very handy. Les Goudes can be reached on foot in 10 mins, and handier than taking the car with parking so difficult, to get morning bread - be warned closed on Wednesday. Very easy to get to Supermarket at Pointe Rouge, a mere 10/15 min drive but we were sad it was Lidl. But plenty of FRench ones nearby, just needed SatNav! This isn't in Les Goudes but Callelongue, far prettier & quieter. We are 71 & 85 Thankyou Sylvaine