House with character

This house was well located within an easy walk to old Aix. It is charming with beautiful antiques and classic French style. The parking spot for our rental car was also very convenient as we used Aix as our base for exploring the area. But some of the textiles and mattresses need to be replaced as they were uncomfortable, and some items were stained. The accommodation could have been cleaner and we would have preferred newer bed linens / towels -- what we got was old and rough. Also, we are not used to having previously used food within the unit -- the cupboard in the kitchen really needs to be cleaned out and the cleaning supplies put away. In addition, the home needs professional cleaning, particularly in the bathroom, and we would have loved an adequate amount of toilet paper -- we got two rolls for our week rental. Lastly, the unit is not fully air conditioned (only the master bedroom is) and it was very uncomfortable during August; we appreciated the fans though and we were able to get some sleep. Martine was super friendly and helpful in providing suggestions for our stay, and she gave us maps and resources that really helped us during our week there. I hope the suggestions are helpful to make the rental better for future guests.

We were made very welcome by Martine the owner who lives below the apartment. 2 large bedrooms and one small one with large sitting/dining room and separate kitchen. 2 large patios suitable for eating/drinking outside with one at the front and one at the back so that the sun is on the back in the morning and on the front in the evening. Easy walking distance to all the Aix shops, festival events and restaurants. Highly recommended.

This is a beautifully presented, spotlessly clean and well-equipped apartment in a really pleasant neighbourhood, a short walk from the centre of Aix. It is bright and airy, and with two terraces, each getting the sun at different times of the day, there is always somewhere to sit and enjoy the beautiful garden, in the sunshine or the shade.

The owner, Martine, is a lovely lady who lives downstairs and she couldn't have been more welcoming or helpful. She provided us with a lovely little starter pack on our arrival, including apricots from her garden and home-made jam. She made great recommendations for excursions and even wrote out directions for us. When we mentioned we were interested in the festival, not only did she provide us with a full programme of events she also gave us tips on getting cheap tickets. She really went out of her way to hep us make the most of our stay.

When I became ill, she made an appointment for me with her own doctor. She then drove us to the doctor and also to the hospital where she waited at least three hours in the waiting room with my husband. She even drove back to the apartment to get our phones. We are so grateful for everything she did for us. She really was fantastic!

This is a great holiday home with the ideal host. We are already making plans to go back.

It was a privilege to live in this lovely Provençal home for six weeks and watch spring unfold in the beautiful garden below. Martine HONORAT is the consummate host, attending to every need we expressed, making accommodations for unanticipated situations, ensuring that everything functioned optimally throughout our stay. We were there to work rather than to vacation, but when we had moments to see the sights we found her a wellspring of information that she graciously shared. Our one regret is that we didn’t get to spend as much time with her as we would have liked to!

The flat is indeed spacious and very comfy with antique furnishings but newer mattresses and fine linens. We had family visiting at various times during our stay, with up to four adults sharing the house quite comfortably. There is a double bed (not a queen) in the back (east) bedroom, a twin in the small room just next to that, and two twin beds in the front (west) bedroom that can be made into a king. The arched windows and doorways throughout are very attractive, and the heavy wooden front door with its 1930s iron work is just exquisite. We enjoyed the flat screen television and its 3 HDMI inputs. Our ROKU brought from the States worked flawlessly, and if you are a subscriber, Netflix offers a nice selection of French movies and television shows. The WiFi is strongest in the living room, making streaming on various devices unproblematic.

The parking space outside the garage is shared, so if you are going to have a car, be prepared to coordinate comings and goings with Martine. She made this a perfectly painless process for us, for which we were most grateful. Also, be aware that the gate is sized for smaller cars. We switched from a rather wide Peugeot 2008 to a smaller 308 partway through our stay and found the later much easier to maneuver. Except for those days when you want to go out of town, a car is really not necessary. Most everything one could want to see or do is within a 10-20 minute walk, and there is very regular bus service for getting from one side of town to the other. There are two car rental agencies (Sixt and Europcar) just a few minutes’ walk from the house on the Boulevard de la République.

Just to clarify one little thing we were expecting to find because of the earlier reviews: There is now no dryer. Laundry must be hung on the folding enameled metal rack which can be moved from one terrace to the other to follow the sun.

Merci infiniment, Martine!

The home in Aix is beautiful with lots of room to spread out. It is decorated in classic French style with antiques and most amenities a visitor would need. Washing machine, drying rack, iron and ironing board. The kitchen was very complete, so cooking was easy. Cookware, tableware and even some spices. The large terraces were pleasant to sit on or for drying clothes. The gardens are beautifully cared for with blooming plants to lend color. Martine the owner is a charming cultured lady. She is available but not intrusive. We even went on an afternoon adventure to the Luberon one day. Center Ville is about 15 min walk, some of it through a beautiful garden. Two girlfriends stayed with me for 2 weeks. There's plenty of room for 3 but I would suggest a mirror in each bedroom so the 'girls' could put on makeup or blow dry hair and not need to be in the bathroom for these things. Over all I would strongly recommend Martine's home for a peaceful stay. I would go back again. Thanks Martine.