Two lovely weeks at Le Cheval Blanc
Review Submitted: July 15, 2009
Date of Stay: June 2008
Trying to find a villa that would appeal to three separate families with children aged from 1 to 10 was a tall order, but Le Cheval Blanc was the perfect holiday home for us all. The house is big enough not to feel cluttered, with plenty of bedrooms, bathrooms and living space. We were two families with three children for the first week and three families with six children for the second week and, even then, it felt spacious and comfortable at all times.
The villa is very well thought out - from the playroom and outside play area for the kids, to the huge gas barbeque, table-tennis table, bar area, and plentiful books and DVDs for the adults. There is also a bar area and a book of cocktails for you to experiment with. Outside, there is ample seating and a wonderful "swing" seat in the corner, perfect for enjoying the last of the sunshine (so idyllic was this spot that I've installed a similar seat in my own garden). My only criticism of the layout, and it's minor, is that the kitchen is tucked away at the back of the house - all the more reason to use that barbeque! For small children, there's a high chair, blender, beakers, plastic plates, bath mat, etc., etc. Everything has been thought of.
The pool is separate from the main house - good if you have small children - and there are pool toys, fridge, and seating in that area. The baby monitor also works from here. Pool towels are provided too.
The villa is isolated, but there are good supermarkets within easy driving distance. And, of course, there are good bakeries in all the nearby villages - the nearest about a two-minute drive away. Riberac has a great weekly (biweekly?) market.
What separates Le Cheval Blanc from other holiday homes I looked at, however, are the extras that are available. While we were there, we had a masseuse come to the house and give us all massages and a chef cook for us on a number of occasions - she even provided a birthday cake for my husband. Gourmet meals, sitting outside by candlelight, will be rembered for a very long time.
You won't want to leave Le Cheval Blanc. We fully intended to explore the Dordogne but found it terribly hard to drag ourselves away from the pool and garden.
Would we go back to Le Cheval Blanc? Definitely.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
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Helpful votes: 2/2
