Laroque des Alberes - Class 3 * Apartment with Pretty Private Garden

The accommodation consists of the ground floor of a large detached villa with private access and parking. It has its own secluded garden.
The apartment entrance leads to a good-sized lounge/dining room with comfortable seating for 4. It is equipped with a large flat screen TV, radio & CD player and DVD player. French television is available via an aerial, British television is available through our internet service and can be accessed with a wifi connection. We have now added a ceiling fan.

Outside,there is a patio with a large table, chairs, a barbecue and an electric 'plancha'.

The property is on the road linking Laroque and Sorede on one side of the village. There is some noise from passing traffic at certain times of the day.

The village has several excellent restaurants, including Le Côté Saisons with a Michelin bib. There is an Tapas bar, Le Comptoir, a family café bar le Café des Artistes and three quality restaurants to choose from: Le Refuge du Clocher and Le Catalan at the top of the old village and Les Enfants Terribles at the bottom. There is also a very good Crêperie in the old part near the church and a burger bar at the bottom.
All these restaurants are within a 5 to 10 minute walk from the apartment.

The fully-equipped kitchen features a gas hob, microwave, oven, washing machine, dishwasher and fridge/freezer. There is a round table with seating for 4 people.

The master bedroom has a double bed plus room for a travel cot. There is a ceiling fan and double built-in wardrobes in this bedroom. The twin bedroom has two single beds, double built-in wardrobes plus room for a travel cot. We have now added a ceiling fan.

The apartment also features a shower room with wash basin and a separate toilet and hand basin. Bed linen plus bath and hand towels are provided. Beach towels can be hired by prior arrangement.

UTILITIES - GAS (hot water and heating) is chargeable by meters between the months of October to April inclusive. Payable at time of departure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GUESTS' COMMENTS PRIOR TO 2011, APPLY TO OUR PREVIOUS PROPERTY WHICH FEATURED A POOL. THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE A POOL.


What to do in the area - 1: All along the coast there are resorts with promenades and long sandy beaches, or with coves and small harbours. Our favourite beach is Le Racou (Just south of Argelès). It also has an excellent tapas bar - Menj'Aqui - open during the season for lunch and dinner. The old coast road to Spain is quite exciting and provides really spectacular views. Dali's house at Port Lligat and the nearby fishing town of Cadaques are excellent destinations. There are many fascinating old towns and villages nearby including Ceret, Elne, Perpignan and Collioure, all of which have their historic buildings, traditional narrow streets, ancient monuments, quiet squares, local shops, weekly markets, restaurants and art galleries. Walking opportunities range from a relaxing evening stroll through Laroque to strenuous hikes in the mountains above the village. Guided walks are readily available. There are also Aquaparks, adventure parks, wild animal sanctuaries and many other outdoor activities for the family.

What to do in the area - 2: There are many riding stables in the area running hacks in the mountains, along the coast or on the plain. If you feel like a change from French life, Spain is only a twenty minute drive along the motorway. The historic centres of Figueres and Girona are well worth a visit, as is the Dali Museum at Figueres. We have also really enjoyed the Costa Brava coastline and the idyllic coves and fishing villages, such as Sa Riu, Tamariu and Palafrugell. And if you tire of the coast, you stiil have the mountains to visit. A lovely trip is west along the Tech valley (south of Canigou) and over the Pyrénées to St Laurent de Cerdagne, with lunch at the Can Mach in Tapis or La Quadra in Massenet. The journey home can be via Espolla and the Col de Banyuls or via Llanca and the old coast road. You can also go up the Tet valley (north of Canigou) via Villefranche to the beautiful Capcir and Cerdagne regions. You can return via the N152 & La Molina, Ripoll, Camprodon, Prats de Mollo and the Tech Valley.

Ski-ing in the Pyrennees: Our apartment makes a good low-cost base for a great choice of skiing and boarding in this area. There are 11 resorts on the French side of the Pyrenees. The nearest (Les Angles and Font Romeu) are only two hours drive away but all are within 3 hours. Les Angles, for example, is well run, with a fast cable car from 1600m up to 2400m. There is a chair lift to the mountain top at 2800m. The resort is great for beginners and intermediates and features 29 runs (many red and blue runs go from top to bottom); several green runs go from 2400 to 1600m. There are also 10 ski stations on the Spanish side of the mountains. The nearest again are about 2 hours drive, but all are within approximately 3 hours. If you want even more choice, then Andorra is about three hours drive from us.