Holiday Cottage in Saint-Seurin-de-Palenne, Near Saintes, Charente-Maritime - Pâquerette Reviews

These really are super gites - well-equipped, clean and in a beautiful area of France. We returned for a second visit and were not disappointed! Tim & Vanessa are great hosts - we will definitely be returning!

We chose these beautiful gites for a family holiday after a lot of detailed research – and having just returned to the UK after two super weeks there, are very glad that we did! The properties are spotless, spacious, very well-equipped and well-located for exploring the beaches of the Charente coast and the cities of Bordeaux and La Rochelle, as well as local sightseeing around Pons, Saintes and Angoulême. Our children loved the pool (securely fenced and gated), trampoline, swings, slide, covered play area, boules court and games room and we could relax in the well-kept gardens while they had fun. Friendly hosts Tim and Vanessa were always on hand should we need anything (Vanessa also runs a French/English language school on site), but unobtrusively so, which made for a peaceful break where we could really unwind. A great holiday in a fabulous property in a lovely part of France - highly recommended!
Alison B.

Over the years I have spent numerous happy holidays in France in many different gites, each with its own unique charm. Yet one gite stands out above all others - Paquerette!

Les Gites du Vigneron are simply beautiful. To say they are a “home from home” is an understatement. The gites retain their original character but have been enhanced to create a modern feel. They are immaculate with everything you could possibly wish for to make a perfect holiday. If you can tear yourself away from the heated pool, there is plenty to do in the garden or games room, including table tennis , boules and trampolining.

The gites are located in the lovely region of Charente Maritime. There are so many interesting places to visit that you are spoilt for choice.

Vanessa and Tim are wonderful hosts. Thank you for our second special holiday - we shall definitely return soon!
Rebecca L.

This was our fourth trip to Les Gites du Vigneron and our third stay in La Paquerette! When we first visited, we were one of the very first guests and of course, everything was beautifully modern, new and clean! Three years on, I am happy to report that nothing has changed. La Paquerette continues to be a ‘home from home’ (or better than!) experience - very well maintained and equipped, fresh and clean! Everything has been thought of and additional items are supplied, if required. I always love looking at the gite's very useful ‘folder of info’ on the surrounding area, and we are slowly working our way round the recommended locations and restaurants listed therein! There is also, of course, the option of taking some French lessons with Vanessa Westacott in her well equipped classroom – within the main house. She is a fantastic language teacher (French and English at Papillon Ecole de Langue) – whose fluency, ability and teaching skills are second to none – and she can tailor lessons to suit students following a syllabus (CE/GCSE/IGCSE/Pre U/A’level etc) or just wanting to brush up their conversational French/English or grammar for a holiday or work trip. In the summer, of course, there is also the added attraction of the swimming pool, barbeque, boules area and children’s covered play zone and trampoline. There really is something here for everyone! We can’t leave without planning our next trip back again!
Louise R. Winchester

We stayed in Paquerette with our two grown up sons (20 & 22 yrs) and found the accommodation, facilities (excellent swimming pool), location and situation made for a very relaxing and enjoyable gite holiday in this beautiful and interesting area of Charente Maritime.

Tim and Vanessa are excellent hosts ensuring a warm welcome and assisting in making sure our holiday stay was perfect, down to the smallest detail.

The gites are recently and completely newly converted to a very high standard and specification through out, spotlessly clean and very tastefully and comfortably furnished.

The location is an ideal base to explore the Charente Maritime region (and beyond) and visit the many attractions and coast with a good choice of local facilities and supermarkets in Pons, Saintes and Cognac.

In summary, we all had a lovely and relaxing holiday at Les Gites du Vigneron and all thanks to Tim and Vanessa.
Anthony L.

Hôtes sympas et disponibles. Superbes gites, tout pour les enfants et très bien équipés, nous sommes ravis du weekend passé. Je pense y retourner pour un prochain weekend et vous le recommande !

We (2 adults and 2 teenagers) have just returned from the most relaxing fortnight at the gîtes du vigneron. The gîtes are beautifully renovated, spotlessly clean and very comfortably furnished. Great consideration has been given to what people want during a holiday and the gîte was fully equipped with everything we could need. The showers were powerful, the beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space for us all.

The grounds are immaculate, yet you can still play football. The play barn is full of games and toys for all ages, including table tennis, darts and table football.

The pool area is stunning, with a large, shaded area as well as plenty loungers around the pool. The pool was clean, warm and available from early in the morning til late at night every day.

The property is around 15 mins drive from two large supermarkets in Pons. Saintes, Cognac and the coast are all within easy driving distance. The local boulangerie is a couple of minutes drive away.

Tim and Vanessa are the perfect hosts. They are always available, yet never intrusive.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our time at the gîtes du vigneron and were very sad to leave. We cannot rate it highly enough - an outstanding property.

Thank you Tim and Vanessa for a wonderful holiday.
Sam B.

We wished we had booked a longer stay at this excellent gite which has recently been refurbished to a very high specification. The spacious rooms were ensuite, kitchen fully equipped for self catering, with a very comfortable lounge plus good internet connection. The rural country location was so peaceful and relaxing but at the same time close enough to act as a great base for visiting very contrasting places from the old town of Bordeaux, exploring the coast at La Rochelle, sampling the delights of Cognac or sightseeing at local towns like Pons. Our hosts, Tim and Vanessa were very attentive and knowledgeable ensuring that our stay was one to remember. Their super swimming pool set in well maintained gardens was also a real treat!!
Don F.

We had the most fantastic week at the Paquerette - combining a week of sight-seeing and comfort at the gite with a week of french lessons for myself and my two teenage children. The gite is exceptionally well kitted out and nothing has been forgotten. It is all new, modern, fresh and clean! If you are not lying by the pool or swimming in it, you can play boule, or retreat to the cool of the gite where a flat screen tv and reliable wifi keeps teenagers happy during the heat of the day! Tim and Vanessa are wonderful hosts and they have answers to all your questions - be it logistical or linguistic! Vanessa's language school was a definite bonus for us as finding a place to brush up and practise our french had been key and it is a great USP for their collection of gites, if others want to have the same facility on the doorstep - literally! Around Paquerette (St Seurin de Palenne) there are many wonderful places to explore and we particularly enjoyed our day trips to the coast, Pons, Saintes and Jonzac. So much to do - and in such comfort! We will definitely be back!

Gîte entièrement neuf, réaménagé avec beaucoup de goût dans une ancienne bâtisse de vigneron. Très bien équipé, confortable, calme, et composé de 3 chambres à coucher (6 couchages en tout) avec 2 salles de bains, dont une parentale. La piscine des gîtes, toujours chauffée à 29°est un plus ! Bains de soleil à l'ombre ou au soleil. Les propriétaires Tim et Vanessa sont très accueillants, et disponibles, prêts à rendre service et conseiller leurs hôtes pour les visites touristiques. Salle de jeux disponible pour les enfants/ados, et buanderie avec machines à laver. Saint-Seurin-de-Palenne est un petit village facilement accessible en voiture et à 5-10 min des commerces de Pons. Très bonne boulangerie à 5 min dans le village voisin. Prévoir 40 min pour les trajets vers les plages, Royan, Zoo de la Palmyre et 20 min pour la découverte de Saintes, Jonzac, Cognac. A découvrir absolument ! Nous y retournerons avec grand plaisir, nos ados ont beaucoup aimé ! Très belle découverte pour nous !