La Grange
Review Submitted: September 2, 2008
Date of Stay: August 2008
Not as expected. The farmhouse is actually on a road and there is no off road parking. The arrangement of apartments is chaotic and a bit cramped. I expected a view of the pool or lawned garden as shown online but our terrace overlooked another two apartments gardens area so little privacy. Very strong smell of cats. The apartment was a bit dark. There was no double bed, just twin beds (which had slatted base which kept collapsing) and sofa beds. Not impressed to arrive and find absolutely nothing in the apartment (no loo roll, washing up liquid, soap or basics which people must buy and leave behind like salt and pepper. Even a charge for every use of the washing machine. The owner was around every day.
Pool was very good, nice and clean and safe. Gardens in need of tidying up. Good table tennis table and one positive factor was that there were other nice families around.
The advertised river not part of the property as expected, it is accessible only by leaving the property and walking down a rough path.
On the whole, disappointing.
Owner's Response: La Grange - a converted stone barn - is the smallest and least expensive of all the apartments at Mas Pallares. It is set up for 2 people on a limited budget but can accommodate 1 or 2 children on the mezannine. Obviously this creates a more cramped environment but choices need to be made. There are some very large 2 & 3 bedroom apartments at Mas Pallares sleeping up to 8 guests. However, La Grange is spacious for a studio apartment and care has been taken (as with all the apartments) to ensure a good standard of accommodation, For example, this year La Grange has benefitted from a new gas cooker, new fridge, as well as new, good quality twin beds (or kingsize) in the main living area. Whilst no view is advertised for the apartment, one can actually see the pool and garden from the kitchen window. La Grange's small terrace, as advertised, is at the top of the original stone steps and is for 2 people only. There are 2 other larger apartments of differing style and character on the same side of the house as La Grange, the terraces/patios of which can be seen from La Grange's elevated terrace, as can the meandering garden path. The considerable charm of Mas Pallares, with its originality of feature, romantic, rambling, tree-filled gardens with old pigsties & pigonier etc is one of the reasons so many guests return year after year. The 7 apartments occupy different aspects of the house & in order to give a good overview, photos used in advertising are of the various aspects showing terraces, balconies, south & east facing views etc. Nothing is regular or part of a pattern, rather it is a place where shape and style have grown in tune with the natural shape and design of this old house & the land. A gardener comes twice weekly to ensure that borders are kept clear of weeds, and fallen leaves are raked and taken away regularly. There are through choice no regulation lawns and straight lines, rather the emphasis is on a natural, flowing charm. The small, child friendly river is advertised as being near, not part, of the property, and the path giving access to it is pretty and easy to walk along being cared for by neighbours who have lined the path with stones and planted flowers along one sides. There is, thankfully, no tarmac in sight! A toilet roll is usually left for incoming guests but soaps and all foodstuffs are the responsibility of self-catering guests. There are no cats on the premises, not now, nor at any time during the last 8 years.
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