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provence: testimonials |
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"I've so much enjoyed renting from you for the past eleven years. Ever since I’ve been widowed, I’m concerned about my safety. Your apartment is perfectly situated for that, with the full time guardian, the digicodes, and the location within the complex. I sleep very easily at night for that! Speaking of sleeping easily, it’s incredible that the apt is so quiet, with its location so near the Cours Mirabeau. It’s a soundless as a tomb at night, something very important to me. The bed is comfortable and I know you are particular about the mattress; so am I. I sleep like a baby. I don’t need to rent a car, since the apt is so wonderfully located in the heart of town, so I save money that way, although I know you have a spot in the building's garage if I suddenly changed my mind. I walk to everything, love to do my grocery shopping at the market, can find anything and everything in town. If I need to go somewhere outside of Aix, the taxis are stationed right outside on the Cours Mirabeau, and the Tourist Office offers delightful side trips for a very reasonable fee when I feel like getting out and seeing the countryside. The guides, I might add, are excellent. The apartment is extremely comfortable, just the right size, with every possible amenity. The decorating is done with taste and comfort in mind, and I’ve enjoyed the upgrades you’ve made over the years. The kitchen is well equipped for the meals I make at home; the linen closet is nicely supplied; the television has the right channels to occupy my evenings when I’m not otherwise out with my friends. I’m always working on my French, and it helps that the townspeople are helpful and friendly in this regard. They allow me to try out my French and encourage me to speak it. I even like when they correct me. There are a couple of language schools nearby, too, for the occasional conversation class that I like to take. I like to keep in touch with my family, so I appreciate your “free phone call” telephone system to America. Not many rental apartments are as generous as you are with your telephone. I’m not very computer literate, but if I were, I’m sure I’d like your offer of free wifi as well. I like knowing that if the plumbing goes off or should anything go wrong in the apartment, Sandrine is just a phone call away. She’s an excellent housekeeper, very thorough. That second bedroom comes in handy when my occasional guests come to stay. My granddaughter came for two weeks last year and loved it. Good for storage, too, when I’m alone. I like walking to the movies for entertainment. Imagine, three movie theatres within a minute’s walk of the apartment, and all the movies are in original language. Sometimes I see two a day! The plethora of restaurants in the town is a pleasure, all within walking distance. Each year I find a new one I like. I often eat a big lunch, then cook a light supper in your kitchen. I love sitting outside on the patio in the morning to have my café au lait and croissant. It makes me feel terribly French. I cut my finger one day slicing tomatoes and was grateful to find your excellent little first aid kit in the kitchen. Ditto for the light bulb box. You’ve made everything so easy for us. I intend to keep staying at your place for the month of September for the near future, so unless some disaster befalls me (God forbid), please pencil me in for the next couple of years." "We're veteran travelers, and before finding your place, we had rented many times before in extended-stay hotels (Adagio, Citadines, etc) with small kitchenettes. When we walked into a room into one of those hotels, it looked and felt like a hotel. When we walked into your apartment, it looked and felt like a home. That's why we have rented your apartment in Aix for the past ten years. We love the roomy size. Two bedrooms, a bathroom with a shower and full-sized tub, a kitchen, and a large room that is both a living room and a dining room make for a comfortable living space. The furniture in this last room is very comfortable for reading, watching TV, chatting, etc. We are thankful for the plentiful supply of linens and towels for the bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen. We very much enjoy going to the market and buy fresh products there and even have our favorite vendors, so we get a lot of use out of the kitchen with its numerous pots, pans, dishes, glasses, and utensils. The convenience of the dishwasher appreciated…we only needed to run it every couple of days because of the large quantity of dishes you have.is We especially like the apartment’s location off a courtyard, which makes the area very safe and secure; in addition, we can picnic in our own "yard". We were surprised (and pleased!) with the quiet – virtually no street noise is heard from inside the apartment. And yet the apartment complex, on the main street of the city, is very close to everything in Aix. Museums, restaurants, shops, and markets are within easy walking distance of the apartment. Likewise, both the train and the bus stations are within walking distance. We never felt we needed the added expense of renting a car. We are looking forward to our next visit. We are so pleased to have found your place and made the change from hotel to home." "We're packing up and getting ready for our departure tomorrow morning. The four of us have had an absolutely wonderful time here and your apartment is perfect. I've enjoyed your terrace/garden very much, and I've learned to get up early every morning (while it's still cool) and have breakfast outside. Also a good time to visit the wonderful local markets and the boulangerie. We're usually gone by later afternoon - there's so much to do and see, both here and in the surrounding area (the festival at Avignon was so much fun!). I make dinner around 8 or 9 when we get back, then it's more reading or a game of cards, and then off to bed. The days have gone by much too quickly! All your instructions for the appliances, the cookbooks, the guest book and the box of pamphlets and maps helped us to quickly adapt to the apartment and feel like we lived here. Your neighbors are quiet and polite. We all loved your beds and got a terrific night’s sleep each night. The washing machine and dishwasher were great boons to our existence; we found all the linens we needed in your generously stocked linen closet in the living room. Having the internet and the free calling to check on my parents back home in Canada were very convenient. We’re hoping that we'll be able to come back for another vacation here one day!"
"The four of us are now back from our travels and I placed the key to your apartment in Aix in the mail to you yesterday. We very much enjoyed our travels in Spain and France and found your apartment a wonderful way to visit Aix and Provence in general. The apartment is located perfectly in Aix. We spent two full days in Aix, visiting the markets, taking the “petit train”, visiting the Granet Museum, and just generally enjoying the city, cafes, boulangeries and patisseries, etc. We had our breakfasts and often our evening meal (baguettes, cheese, fruit and wine) on your wonderful patio. The apartment was also a great location from which to take day trips out into other areas of Provence. During our stay we visited Cassis, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, Avignon, Pont du Gard, Apt, Rousillon, Gordes, Bonneaux, Menerbes, Oppede-le-Vieux --- a good mix of cities, sea ports as well as small Provence villages. We dead headed the petunias, watered the plants while we were there and left your apartment in good order. Thank you for offering it for our enjoyment."
"We had a wonderful two weeks in Provence, thanks in large part to your place in Aix and the house in Bar-sur-Loup. This was our second visit to each place, and this time we brought friends. We weren’t disappointed. One couldn't ask for a better location in Aix. The apartment is very comfortable, and our friends had a wonderful time discovering the town and surrounding areas. We ate in several good restaurants, notably L'Amphitryon and La Brocherie which are both quite good. The view from the living room and kitchen in Bar took our breath away. I liked it best at twilight. Your places at Aix and Bar really helped to make our vacation. They were particularly convenient for our party of four. Although we didn't see the gardien while we were in Aix, we did meet your housekeeper in Bar, Mme Mamonti. She is a delight. Thanks again for contributing to our very delightful French vacation."
"Your apartment is a dream. I can’t imagine a better location at the top of the Cours Mirabeau so very near the markets and the high life. And because the apartment is located in the Quartier Mazarin south of the Cours, it was easy negotiating those streets that are in grid formation rather than the ones to the north of the Cours which, although charming, are a driver’s nightmare. We all fit very comfortably there and although we ate out most nights, my wife was very happy in your kitchen making the few meals we cooked up after shopping at the marché." |
