Cleaning and general: The house will have been thoroughly prepared for your arrival, and Magalie will come in every Saturday (at our cost!) to do some cleaning during your stay. Please let us know if you want her to come in more often, and we can help make arrangements. The house is very easy to keep clean with stone floors throughout, and a Hoover, mops etc are all to be found in the utility room, behind the kitchen. Any phone numbers you may need (plumber, electrician etc) are to be found in the house book.
Two bath towels and two pool towels will be in each room on arrival. If you want to have a change of linen, there are two large washing machines, and the sheets are pretty well guaranteed to dry within the day.
Please do not arrive before 4pm on arrival, and leave by 10am on day of departure: Magalie and her team need the time to get the house just right.
Please try to leave the house as clean and tidy as possible, since there is a short time between departures and arrivals.
Pool and Garden: Magalie's husband, Patrick, looks after the pool and will visit the house once or twice a week during your stay, depending on weather conditions. He will do all the necessary to keep the pool looking sparkling, and if you wish to offer him a glass of Pastis, or Rose, he is always ready for a chat about Rugby, Politics or the heat! An infinity pool requires no additional attention. Patrick's number is in the house book and he will usually be able to come quickly if there is any type of pool problem....or indeed most other types of problem as well!
Heating is available at an extra charge of €350 per week, but is only really needed in the 'shoulder months'. Please let us know if you want it, so that we can put it on in time for your arrival.
Fiona, who is English but has lived in Claviers for several years may also visit you to mow the lawn or do some tidying up around the garden. She will do her best not to disturb your peace and quiet.
Food, wine and spirits: You will find on arrival a 5 litre box of the excellent local Rose in the fridge in the Utility room. Please enjoy this, as our welcoming gift.
You will also find some spirits and most of the basic food requirements ready for you (Oil, salt, pepper, etc), and we try to operate this on an 'honesty' basis, so if you find that for instance the Vodka has mysteriously 'evaporated' during your stay, please top it up when you leave. You will be amazed and delighted how cheap Spirits are compared to UK. In the House book, you will find pretty comprehensive details of restaurants, vineyards, supermarkets, markets, good local shops etc.
Ski:
Our sons, plus 'friends' often disappear for the day to ski, even aroung Easter. It is not Verbier, by any means, but the last few years we have had very good conditions, and they always reappear needing a swim in the evening sunshine!
Golf:
We are not golfers ourselves, but many of our friends and renters talk very positively about the courses nearby....varying from the two Championship courses at the Four Seasons resort in Fayence, to the excellent and somewhat cheaper, St Endreol, at the end of the Vallee d'Esclans.
Both of these are about 20 minutes away.
Full details of these and of Chateau de Taulane(about 30 minutes, designed by Gary Player) in the mountains, which apparently is also excellent if energetic with magnificent views, can be found in the House book on arrival.
The best golfing months are usually any time except July and August, when it can get pretty hot and the courses are full of seasonal visitors. Whilst it can of course rain a bit in almost any month, our golfing friends have so far had excellent golf in February, May, and October.
Out of season, we are also happy to help you take advantage of the cheaper flights, by renting out, if available, from midweek to midweek or for long weekends.
Other Activities:
Table tennis, Board and Pool games. Gliding at Fayence (20 mins), Skiing 1 hour.
