| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 46 positive, 0 negative]
|
| 05/04/09 |
Positive
|
Dear Betsy,
We are so late in writing to tell you what an incredible time we had at your fabulous house in Carces...somehow we thought it was further out in the countryside. But when we discovered that the house is right in the middle of Carces, we were estatic. We drove into the garage and really felt like we were residents of the town. It took an hour to explore the house from the wine cellar to the third floor. We wished that our friends who had travelled down the Nievernais Canal with could join us. What a perfect house for a group. We loved the bright colors, completely supplied kitchen and fireplace. Did not get to enjoy the pool, but took walks in every direction. Loved the waterfall in the back of the house, through the garden, past grapes and olives growing. The view from the terrace is one that is burned in our memories...a picture of what we expected Provence to be. Merci Beaucoup. We will return someday. |
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Jack and Jane, Hilo, Hawaii, USA |
|
| 04/22/09 |
Positive
|
| Where do I start to explain the pleasant experience of staying within the four walls known as Betsy & Ken's place in Provence? We were there January, February & March 2009. The house is extremely livable and comfortable, with a wonderful kitchen, and there was room to entertain guests. My favorite aspect, though, had to be the sunrises that we experienced most mornings through the master bedroom window. That alone, for me, was worth the rental price. And I would be remiss if I did not mention the bookshelves---many gems to enjoy and we read several while we were there. The village is charming & the locals extremely friendly and welcoming and not one made us feel inadequate because we spoke no French. This doesn't mean we didn't try with help from Google translate to, at least, use written notes. Another plus is that there are numerous wonderful day trips within range of the house. We have already recommended this rental to friends. It was a memorable experience to stay in this home and my husband can't stop talking about it. Thank you for sharing your lovely home. |
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Sharon Reed-Miller, San Marcos TX
512 392 2773 |
|
| 11/07/08 |
Positive
|
What a lovely house! It was so refreshing to turn up somewhere that looks better than the pictures! And all the little homely touches, like tea bags, basic food and every spice imaginable in the kitchen, made life so much easier from the minute we got there. Having the towels provided and the beds pre-made was also great for us as we travelled with three children, so it saved bags of time when we got there. House was beautiful - we all fell in love with it.
It was great to explore, decorated simlar to my own house(!) and had useful things like novels, French phrase books and games to play.
Garden was great too. Only prob was the pool was unheated. Probably not a problem in the summer but very, very cold when we tried it out on on one unseasonably warm day during our stay in late October. Never mind, we weren't expecting the weather to be warm enough for us to use it anyway. |
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Nik O'Flynn, London, UK
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|
| 10/25/08 |
Positive
|
We had a wonderful time at your Carces home. it had everything we needed to make it our home away from home.Not to mention the view off the back porch was wonderful especially in the morning. One that I will not soon forget. the village was charming and so close to many wineries and other charming villages like Cotignac which we also loved. All I can say is thank you for helping us make this a trip of a life time.
juli |
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juli davis, erie p[a
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|
| 09/24/08 |
Positive
|
| Wow, what a wonderful two weeks! Where to begin? My son (11) and I found this delightful house to be the perfect location for pleasures near and very near. It's around the corner from Carces' quaint main street, where you can shop for all your produce and baked goods. (We even got our hair cut there, tout en francais!) The local residents are helpful and friendly. There's so much to see and do on foot in this quiet, charming village -- visit wineries and medieval castles, watch or play boule (petanque), enjoy street markets (and even a street carnival while we were there). It's a short pleasant drive to tour castles and abbeys, paddleboat and swim at the Gorge du Verdon, go hiking and kayaking, explore scenic waterfalls, and so much more. Don't miss the street markets and splendor of neighboring towns (Contignac, Entrecasteaux, Mustier). You're centrally located between the amazing cities of Aix and Nice (each a day trip), and we managed to squeeze in the port city of Marseilles (world's best bouillabaisse), and the fabled town and exquisite beach of St. Tropez (where my son got his first opportunity to observe how men and women air their differences). And still we had time for leisurely strolls, and lounging in cafes while sipping citroen presses or eating glacees, and soaking up the entire incomparable Var experience. We are grateful that we had such an amazing house to come home to every day -- big and spacious and centrally located. It is beautifully decorated, extremely comfortable, and completely equipped with all modern conveniences. We especially loved dining in the afternoons on the lovely backyard terrace next to the canal, and evenings on the balcony with an incredible view. All in all, an extraordinary experience and magnificent vacation. We're sorry we didn't have time to visit Arles -- but we had to leave something for next trip! |
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Jerry Lazar, Los Angeles, CA |
|
| 09/12/08 |
Positive
|
Betsy,
A belated write-up of our wonderful time at your house. As you know we enjoyed staying there so much that extended our stay by four days when we found there was an ”opening.” The house and garden were magical. The month we spent was occupied with trips to the surrounding villages all around, including some longer excursions. We found your house a perfect base of operations and when we did not feel like venturing forth, we had the lovely sitting areas inside and outside of the house to relax in. All in all, we would return in a minute and recommend the house to others.
|
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Mark Spiegel and Faith Rafkind, Cambridge, MA |
|
| 09/09/08 |
Positive
|
Our complicated family group, ranging in age from
12 to 83, converged from London, Dublin and
Barcelona: the beautiful house, garden, village and
pool suited each one of us to perfection, after a
summer when only the Barcelona Two had seen a
glimmer of sunshine.
We alternated days of travelling and sight seeing -
only the 13 year old and the 54 year old climbed
up inside the cliff to visit the caves at Cotignac, but
found it thrillingly terrifying, particularly the day
after a spectacular firework display had caused lots
of new crumbly rock patches - with days of doing
almost nothing except trotting around the local
shops, and lazing in the garden.
We didn't read the visitor's book before eating on
the first night in the only place open, le Tex Mex.
We should have. Every paradise has to have a
serpent to make you appreciate the rest. |
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Maev Kennedy, London
|
|
| 05/05/08 |
Positive
|
The smells of wood smoke and bread baking in the
morning. Hints of the med. in the evenings...a four
dollar bottle of Cote du Rhone (tasted amazing)
painting at the large table in the afternoons,
shopping for food, gifts, shoes, etc. in the
mornings, chatting it up with the woman with pink
hair at the bar, duck fondue in the village, local
hikes, a drive here and there to Marseille, Provence,
Le Val...
Nah...I didn't have a good time at all. (Yeah right)...
More like, I almost cried while packing to get on the
plane.
--Niya Sisk |
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Niya Christine, Sonoma, California
|
|
| 05/03/08 |
Positive
|
We had a wonderful week. Your home is perfect – just what a French village house should be. It is also a perfect location from which to explore Provence. Thank you for sharing.
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Mike Doyle, Portsmouth, RI
401-683-3444 |
|
| 04/28/08 |
Positive
|
We had a lovely stay and enjoyed the house, location, and the people of the villages all around. Your garden is wonderful -- the purple irises were in full bloom and have spread such that the little gate on the garden will not close. When we arrived all the trees were starting to flower, the vines just sprouting, and when we left the trees and grape vines and roses were in full leaf. We did experience the Mistral -- cold and windy for 3 days and then up in the seventies with sunshine. Everything in the house was fine. Our cell phones worked well, your kitchen was great, and the beds most comfortable. What you say in your handbook was very useful and helpful. We did not have the TV on and did not miss it. All the shop keepers were great, and while painting around town it was the villagers now in their 80s and the children who stopped and talked-fun! My French is not fluent and French Canadian to boot as I grew up in Montreal and am still a Canadian at heart! But given more time I was beginning to be able to hold a conversation. So Betsy we were 100% satisfied with your artistic house in Provence and cannot wait to return to France.
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Sandra Keller, Bedford, New Hampshire
603-472-3641 |
|
| 11/30/07 |
Positive
|
Betsy:
Just wanted to write to let you know how wonderful our stay at your house in Carces was. Along with three other couples, we enjoyed our oasis as our home-base for day trips throughout Provence. Whether we visited bigger cities, little villages, wineries, beach towns, or the Saturday market right in Carces, the highlight of every day was coming 'home' to our friends, enjoying a bottle of wine (well, four or five!), wonderful cheese with delicious fresh bread, and local olives and sundried tomatoes while cooking dinner and sharing stories from our day's adventures. |
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Stacey Wulkan, San Jose CA |
|
| 11/23/07 |
Positive
|
Dear Betsy,
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed
our visit to your
wonderful house. We had a ball and hope we left
everything in good
order. We prepared some delicious meals by
shopping at the lovely
local markets and also enjoyed some good food at
restaurants in the
area. We did avoid the Tex-Mex, as advised. It was
great to shop at
the market in Carces because it was practically at
the door. What a
treat!
We were all intrigued by the fact that some of the
furniture
belonged to Grandma and wondered if it was your
Grandma or Ken's.
Just being nosy, of course.
Thank you so much for letting us have a vacation
in paradise
otherwise known as Provence.
LIz |
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Liz Wenzl, Eugene,OR
541-343-7416 |
|
| 11/07/07 |
Positive
|
Dear Betsy,
I just wanted to touch bases with you and let you know that our trip to Carces was incroyable...magnifique.....superbe....did I mention incroyable!!!!!!!!!
For reasons beyond my control (a little drama in the family) our group dwindled to five: my two sisters, my Mum and Dad, and of course myself. Needless to say we found your house to be extremely comfortable. The location is great and the view from your terrace is priceless!! We had a truly wonderful time and I can honestly say that I don't think my parents have ever enjoyed themselves so much.
We all felt that one week was not enough. We visited Aix-en-Provence, Cotignac, Lorgues and Draguignan, but really feel that we only touched the tip of the iceberg!! I did have a couple of days in England after France and the Autumn damp was settling in. I feel quite guilty here by my pool with 89 degrees!!!
Thankyou for sharing your house with us. We will have some wonderful memories for years to come. If you are ever passing through Miami please feel free to give me a call.
A bientot!
Kathy Vera
|
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Kathy Vera, Miami Florida |
|
| 04/24/07 |
Positive
|
We took the house for the month of April and it
turned out to be a wonderful time of year in Carces.
We were greeted by Betsy's garden of irises but not
much else in the area had bloomed. Then, as the
month moved on, the grapevines on the way to
Cotignac and Entrecasteaux began getting greener
each day and the red poppies appeared along the
roadsides. In town, all the trees leafed out and the
starlings flew their crazy patterns every night.
We were surprised that there were big events in
town during April, including a footrace around the
Lake and a 100K bike race with 1800 riders going
right past the house.
Carces has been hopping on Friday and Saturday
nights. Friday is the Oie Qui Boit for jazz and
whatever and Saturday is the Creperie for usual
guitars and whatever. We've become part of the
regulars each night and get waves and smiles.
During the month, we had up to seven
houseguests at a time. They all loved the house and
it was quite comfortable. The house is also cozy for
two people and we also enjoyed having it to
ourselves
We will especially miss the terrace, the trees, the
birds and the sound of the waterfall.
|
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John Hewitt and Annette Blanchard
|
|
| 03/25/07 |
Positive
|
We are two Canadian couples who stayed at Chez Kobre in Carces for the month of March 2007. The house is warm, homey and eclecticly decorated and furnished. It is spacious and comfortable. The back door leads to a balcony suitable for leisurely lunches while overlooking the gardens, goldfish pond and pool. A waterfall can be heard in the Caramy River just steps away. The front door opens to the village with the Saturday market around the corner. The village folks of Carces are friendly and hospitable. The Carces location is ideally centrally situated enabling day trips to Monaco, Nice, Cannes, St Tropez to the east, Toulon and Hyeres to the south, Marseilles, Aix, Avignon, Arles to the west and the fantastic Gorges Verdon to the north. Many smaller Provencal villages are within just a few kilometers.
We highly recommend this venue to anyone wishing to experience the region of Provence from the comfort of a well equipped and welcoming house.
Betsy is a most gracious and helpful absentee hostess.
Feel free to email us with any questions or elaboration on the house or the area.
Derek & Julie Hall
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Derek & Julie Hall, Castleton, Ontario
905 344-7057 |
|
| 02/15/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Letter received from one of 4 guests who stayed for one month in fall 2006.
Hi Betsy,
We have been meaning to email since we returned, but somehow the time
slipped away.
We had such a wonderful and interesting time in your village of Carcès and
your home! We spent many mornings and evenings on your back deck
solving the problems of the world.
First I would like to say that the French people in Carcès were so kind and
helpful to us and went out of their way to try and understand our English and
bad French. In fact all the people, in all the places we went, were very
accomodating. The tourism offices were the best we have seen anywhere.
We so enjoyed outdoor market day and bought much to eat for our meals.
We also purchased much fresh fish from the ice truck that arrived twice a
week. Your herb garden came in handy for our grilled fish. And the grapes
were deliciously ripe and ready to eat.
We bought Foies Gras from the shop near Carcès and managed to bring some
home to give as gifts.
Your guest book was great, especially the directions for the washing machine.
We took advantage of the restaurant suggestions. We loved Le Pressoir with
their mussels and pizza and their friendliness. We had dinner several times
in Cotignac at La Terrasse and found it superb!
Other ones we liked were La Fourchette in Avignon and for our last meal in
Provence we ate at Chateau Rasque in Ampus. Would you believe that the
chef's wife had written in English the menu for that evening and apologized
to us for her bad English. Needless to say we also apologized for our bad
French and the meal was fantastic!
We found a wonderful restaurant in Maseille on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
We ate a delicious Bouillabaisse at the hotel restaurant Le Rhul with a view of
the Mediterranean Sea that was spectacular.
As you can tell we thought all the foods were excellant and we also learned
to appreciate Rosé wine.
The four of us did much hiking all over Provence and Bob did leave extensive
writings in the guest book at the house. The scenery on these hikes was
unsurpassed. This is how we tried to keep in shape with all that food we ate.
We even hiked up Cezannne's Mount St. Victoire. Fabulous!
Now that I am writing about France I am missing being there. Jill was so good
about keeping in touch to see if we needed anything. She did help us out
when we wanted to telephone a restaurant for dinner and had a problem with
the language, so we would call her and she would call to make the
reservation.
As far as photos we have many, but will try at a later time to send some.
Maybe Bob can make that a project.
We will be leaving for Mexico to see friends for two weeks. Hope I have not
bored you too much!
Lola Haddow
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Lola Haddow
Reston, Virgina
|
|
| 09/11/06 |
Positive
|
Betsy, just a quick note to thank you for the loan of your property for
our recent holiday, the accommodation is superb and hopefully soon we
shall be returning. It is not very often that you find a property of
that calibre and the description understated the quality and
facilities, it was absolutely wonderful and our time spent was enjoyed by
all. Can honestly say that we did not want to go home.
Thanks again
Colin Bird
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Colin Bird, London
0207 984 8699 |
|
| 07/19/06 |
Positive
|
| I was so sorry to leave such a wonderful house, in such a picturesque town. A week was not enough! It's the perfect place to soak up the magic of Provence. What a great house, it's both cozy and spacious at the same time. I miss the swimming pool and the beautiful garden already. And the town... if only Oslo had a local market as colorful as the one in Carces. I will definitely be back soon! |
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K Means, Oslo, Norway |
|
| 07/19/06 |
Positive
|
We fell in love with the south of France while staying at your beautiful home in Carces! I have been meaning to let you know that Provence and our experience at your lovely home made a marked change in us. Our family now appreciates the simple pleasures of waking up in a comfy bed while a fan cools you, going to the market one block away to get fresh fruit, veges, olives – and the most amazing cheeses on earth! One of the first things we did when we came back home was to buy a table and chairs for our backyard so that we could continue the outdoor dining experience that we grew to love at your house. We eat differently now, and we have an appreciation for the French people and their sweet demeanor.
The terrace was one of my favorite parts of the house. When our dining was complete, the pool beckoned us for a dip, which we did often. The size is perfectly manageable for children and for grown ups. Visually, the house is a delight with its eclectic décor. We really appreciated the view from all windows, as well as the bookshelves stocked with helpful traveling books and other interesting titles, one of which my husband read cover to cover.
We hope to visit Carces again, and next time to bring our extended family. Your house is perfect for groups of people because of its pleasant separation of space and its roominess. Carces is located perfectly for day trips that for us included St. Tropez, Nice, St. Maxim, AIX to name a few.
We can’t wait to return!
Jeff and Angela Lang
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Anonymous |
|
| 06/12/06 |
Positive
|
Where to begin a story that will continue for a lifetime to come!
The house was the setting for 4 girlfriends celebrating a birthday of a special woman turning "50" years young.
We started our journey in such a lovely home that felt like a warm blanket on a cold night. We were surrounded by personal touches everywhere in every room. The colors, the art, the french touches outside by the garden and koi pond, well it couldn't have been more picture perfect.
We began and ended each day in the home and as we inhaled the beautiful Provence and French Riviera I will not soon forget the frangrance of the flowers and beauty of the scenery that touched my heart each day and night.
Your home was right out of the book that could have been written into a movie. We were the characters that were playing all the parts, but the "star" of course was your home.
Thank you for such a lovely holiday and I only hope that I shall never forget the vision of the backyard each evening sipping French wine and sharing the thoughts of 4 women enjoying what will now be referred to as the "Holiday of 2006". We will attempt to repeat it again in the future.
The photos I took of the home will be a reminder that bliss is possible! :) |
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Marty Hagen, Las Vegas, NV USA
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|
| 05/04/06 |
Positive
|
Carcés is a beautiful village, with a rich, well-
preserved history, and The Winemaker's House
was simply wonderful for our stay.
This was a family Spring Break vacation, with
two 17-year olds and one 9-year old, and
against all predictions the kids were just as
taken with the history and culture of Carcés
and Provence as we were.
We used the House as a base to visit Cassis,
St. Tropez, and the Fortress of Les Baux—Dad
even went windsurfing in the Med just east of
Toulon. We canoed in the Gorge du Verdon,
explored Roman aqueducts, explored
underground in an ancient copper mine, and
generally raged around Provence, soaking it all
up.
The warmth and grace of the house—and,
obviously, the owners who made it that way—
made our stay just that much more
memorable. |
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Dexter Ford, Manhattan Beach, CA
|
|
| 01/23/05 |
Positive
|
We spent a wonderful fortnight in Carcès starting on Christmas day. We were three couples. We found the house perfect for such a holiday. We also found Carcès entirely delightful. It is wonderfully located for easy access to Nice, Marseille, Aix, Cassis, St. Tropez, the Gorge de Verdun, etc. But one could also happily be ensconsed in Carcès and go little further than a 10km radius and have a wonderful time.
The house was the best we have ever rented in the south of France. It is well outfitted and very comfortable. Given the time of year and some unseasonably cold weather, we were particuarly grateful for the central, hot-water heating. We have had some winter holidays in Provence in old stone houses with inadequate electric space heaters. This house was real comfort.
We very much enjoyed being right in the village, but yet at the back having views out to the surrounding country side.
Carcès is truly unspoiled and not at all a tourist trap. One could easily stay there indefinitely with all one's needs met locally in the boulangeries, boucheries, and other local shops.
We would all be delighted to rent this house again.
Walter Stewart
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Walter Stewart, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
| 11/01/04 |
Positive
|
My father wrote this on behalf of the family: Thank
you for the privilege of using your beautiful home
in Carces. The ambiance of Provence and your
home blend to produce an unforgettable holiday
experience. We were a family of nine. My wife and I
the two grandparents, my son and girlfriend, my
daughter Victoria and her husband with the three
grandchildren ranging from two years old to seven.
We are all originally from Johannesburg in South
Africa. My wife and I still live there whilst my
children and grandchildren live in England; we have
a daughter in Seattle but unfortunately she could
not make it. For us it was a unique chance to have a
family holiday together.
We spent time at the lake at Verdon, which we
loved, and had a day on the beach. But as it was
still quite hot, we limited our time at the sea. We
visited the cascade at Sillans and looked for the
canoeing at Correns. Your home formed a focal
point for our holiday. With the hot weather the pool
was a tremendous success for the children who
used it extensively. Being young children, lively and
boisterous, I hope the shouts of joy did not upset
your neighbours. My son is a keen fisherman so he
spent time at the river.
We thank you for the food left, some of which
we used and replaced. This enhanced the
enjoyment of our stay. We had a meal at the small
restaurant, Les Chineurs. The restaurant specialises
in Pizzas and Moules Marinere, which we found
excellent and good value for our money.
The write up you provided was outstanding and
essential for newcomers to the area. I had some
wonderful morning runs down to the lake, which
makes a good running route for those so inclined…
Now sadly we are back in England and I fly back to
South Africa next week, and our holiday in Provence
will have been a wonderful dream.
Many thanks again,
Bill and Fran Smith
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Victoria Levin & family, Berkshire, England
(0118) 969 0217 |
|
| 10/22/04 |
Positive
|
| What a wonderful Home and village! I spent 2 weeks with 6 other women artists and we all had a wonderful time. The house was big enough for all of us to enjoy and never feel as though we were too crowded. Not only is the size of it wonderful, but it is wonderfully decorated and filled with everything one could need. I truly felt at home. The town of Carces was beyond charming. The people were wonderful and seemed to enjoy us decending on thier little town. We had plenty of subject matter to sketch and paint. Going to the markets was a wonderful experience, and the food was incredible. The evenings on the back terrace were magical, we enjoyed the tapinades, the olives, the cheese, the wine, and more wine! We laughed and talked until late in the night. The region was so peaceful and charming and wonderful to explore, altho we were quite happy to stay just in the town of Carces and drink in its offerings. The pool was delightful, and refreshing when the day got too warm. The fresh croissants every morning are enough to make me want to go back again soon. In short, this was the perfect way to experience Provence, for a little while you felt as tho you belonged, and not so much like a tourist. |
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Jeanne Hammett, Saint Inigoes Maryland
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|
| 10/22/04 |
Positive
|
I stayed at Chez Kobre for the second time in late Aug-Sept. '04. Once again it was a positively delightful experience. This time I brought a group of women artists and we spent 2 weeks painting, eating, sightseeing, eating, shopping at the local markets,eating, and then just eating!
Everyone agreed that this is one of the only places they ever visited that far exceeds the photos than promote it. The house is so charming and the town is so picturesque. There was plenty of room for all seven of us for two weeks with no feeling of ever being crowded. Having three bathrooms, one on each floor is terrific!
The house is a marvelous combination of a city house (if you look out the front door) and a country estate (if you look out the back doors). What with the lovely garden, the cool and refreshing pool, the river and the waterfall nearby and the friendly townspeople it is tatally wonderful. We all decided we have to plan to do this again. (One of our artists has already sold 15 paintings she did there!)
Carces is very centrally located and easy to get to. We followed Betsy's directions and it was a breeze. |
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Karen Russell, Leonardtown, MD USA
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| 10/20/04 |
Positive
|
What a pleasure to wake up in the morning
to beautiful light and a sense of well being. .
It brought me closer to understanding what
the artists experienced and of their
appreciation of the luminescent quality in
which everything is bathed. the rooms are
decorated to enhance the vividness of all the
senses. I look forward to returning and after
all I 've only been back in the states for a
month and ahalf. I do miss shopping for
the fresh croissants at the local bakery and
the swimming in the pool and the Saturday
market a few steps from the villa.
Berenice Pliskin
. |
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Berenice Pliskin, White Plains, NY 10604
(914) 761-8915 |
|
| 10/20/04 |
Positive
|
Chez Kobre is a beautiful house. It has every comfort (expect an Australian shower) but without sacrificing its past. The staircase and tiled floors are as wonderful as they look in the photographs. There’s a strong sense that you’re staying in a house with a past – something a modern building can never provide.
It’s a wonderful home to return to each day – the back terrace is just made for late afternoon pastis drinking, as well as looking beautiful,the chairs and couches in the salon are very comfortable, and, although we had too many distractions to swim, the pool is cute. Practical features like a washing machine, a phone line that offered Internet access, and an extensive collection of guide books were also appreciated.
As much of our time was spent market foraging, we also did some cooking. The kitchen was very well equipped – even down to a collection of very sharp knives. Every utensil we looked for or could even think of was there. And the dining room is a delightful room for sharing a meal – with the shutters and windows open and the noises of the village below you can almost pretend you belong here.
Carcès is also well-situated for lots of types of exploring – for us it was restaurants. Some highlights were lunches at L’Oustaou in Flayosc and La Merenda in Nice. The latter has no phone so you need to get to Nice earlyish and call in to make a booking for that day’s lunch. If you’re a food lover, this tiny place, where the prices are extraordinarily low, is worthy of an annual pilgrimage from anywhere. On a previous visit to France, we’d also had an excellent meal at L'Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de la Celle, which is only 20 minutes from Carcès. In Carcès we had a satisfying, simple meal at L’Oie Qui Boit.
If you decide to stay here don’t forget to water Betsy’s plants! |
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Sue Dyson, Hobart, Tasmania
|
|
| 09/17/04 |
Positive
|
| What a wonderful setting for our summer vacation! Your home is as beautiful as the photos on the Web site, and the furnishings, kitchen and pool were perfect. We had a wonderful time getting to know the town, and found the location to be perfect for day trips throughout Provence. Merci, Merci. |
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Heather & John Fitzsimmons, Los Altos, CA |
|
| 05/11/04 |
Positive
|
Hi Betsy and Ken,
A month in your home was a most satisfying experience. You have done an excellent job of decorating. The colors, the art. Very nice.
Yours is the 3rd home I have rented in France. The other two were not anywhere near as pleasant. Not enough hot water, lousy beds....but your place.
Excellent! Certainly to standards that Americans come to know and require. Would go back and perhaps will in the near future.
You have very happy customer and I will spread the word to my friends as they were all envious about our month in Carces. |
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Paul Oxman, Las Vegas NV
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| 05/01/04 |
Positive
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I've had the pleasure of staying at Chez Kobre
in Carces on two different occasions and both
times were just fantastic.
It's almost as if you are in two separate
worlds. The house is spacious, elegant, and
has a lot of room on different levels. I was
there with several other people but I always
felt like I could find my own space. Plus,
there's a wonderful pool in the backyard for
the lazy afternoons.
Once you walk out the front door, you're right
in the middle of a wonderful village.
Everything you wanted Provence to be. Just a
short walk to the bakery, the butcher, the olive
shop. The people couldn't be friendlier. Even
if you can only spit out a broken "Bonjour" and
a few other French words, you'll feel welcome
in Carces.
You can spend hours sitting outside the little
cafes watching people go by. Plus, on
weekend nights when they have concerts,
seems like the whole town turns out and it's
always a special evening.
If your'e looking for a great spot in Provence,
this is it. I can't wait to get back myself. |
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Mike Conway, Austin, TX |
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| 04/02/04 |
Positive
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Wow, what a wonderful place!
We adored Carces. The people couldn't be
any nicer. They were welcoming, friendly
and went out of their way to make us feel at
home. The whole experience surpassed our
expectations. Your place is lovely and filled
with all sorts of thoughtful touches that made
us feel at home.
Some of our favorite things:
* Watching the Lorgues market grow as the
weather got nicer each week.
*,Riding at Ranch Martine. 'LuLu," the
owner, was a wonderful character.
* People-watching from a cafe chair in Aix.
And shopping!
* The food. The food. The food. Not one
bad meal.
* L'Avenir bar at the top of your avenue. A
wonderful cast of characters… Henri (the
owner) was so kind to Alex and taught him
how to play 8-ball-billiards. By the end of the
month, Alex was beating the locals. Henri
gave him his pool cue that he had owned for
22 years: "un cadeau de mon coeur." On the
last night, I received a big round of applause
from the regulars when I announced we
were buying a round for everybody because
they had been so nice to us. These people
were the real Provence--a far cry from the
expensive shops of St. Remy, etc.
* Mary Magdalene's grotto. A steep climb but
incredible.
* Watching spring blossom. The flowers on
the almond tree at the back resembled big
starry fireworks.
* Falling asleep to the sound of the waterfall.
I usually have trouble sleeping but I slept
like a baby, with technicolor dreams in
French!
We had an amazing time. The trip
changed us all in so many little ways: all
positive.
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Leslie, Nigel and Alex, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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| 02/11/04 |
Positive
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Some houses that one can rent in France have charm, some have conveniences,
some have location. This one has it all. Located conveniently in the heart
of a bustling village, this house has plenty of room to move around in.
This is no left-bank, economy Paris hotel. This is space and comfort with
all the modern conveniences in kitchen and bathrooms, and a lovely veranda
from which to view the Provencal countryside. In five minutes, one can walk
to the stores including a mini-supermarket, a wine cellar, three bakeries,
a pharmacy a newsstand, and really everything one might need. With a car
you can drive in 25 minutes to two large towns or to a dozen other villages
to sample the cuisine and see the sights. Within an hour you can drive to
the great cities on the cote d'azur. This is a great place to relax, soak
up the French ambiance, and have fun.
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Marshall Windmiller, Alameda, California
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| 01/20/04 |
Positive
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Betsy & Ken,
What can I say about your home? It is hard to describe the absolute perfection of this wonderful home. The location is breathtaking with the beautiful landscape view from the terrace looking down to the crystal clear waters of the river below. The soothing hues of the jardin and the delightful sounds of the villagers as the work in the jardin in the early morning light.
Carces is a wonderful village and I felt at home almost immediately. The early morning strolls to the patissere for fresh baked bread and pastries became my daily ritual. Even though we were there during such a stressful time in the world I can truly say that I cannot remember being treated with such warmth and genuine enthusiasm by the locals.
What a place to get away from it all and relish the good life. Chez Kobre is a real delight and I cannot wait to return. |
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Dennis Alexander, Houston,Texas |
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| 08/26/03 |
Positive
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Written April 18, 2003
Submission didn't appear for some
reason.
Dear Ken and Betsy:
It's Friday morning, I think. I've never
had jet lag like this, can't get my
clock readjusted and I miss those
sweet "Bonjour, madame" greetings
like mad.
What can I say? The house was
wonderful. I thank you so much for
making my time there possible, for
your wonderful color schemes, for
the comfortable sheets and
generous towels, for a workable
kitchen, for Carces, for all the
helpful tips in the blue book and the
Trojan washing machine
-- our friend's son Willy called it a
giant cheese grater.
I hope Silviane discovered that I had
failed to turn on the dishwasher, as
I'd planned to do, before I left.
Otherwise, I think I accomplished all
my tasks: went to the recyclers, got
the trash ready, watered the lavender
plants and left more maps and tour
books for the next batch of guests.
It's a wonderful house in a wonderful
town. Art and appreciation of it in
all its forms emanates from that
house and all you've done there, the
mood of the place, and the
earnestness of your instructions.
Thanks, again and again. Or merci,
merci, merci.
Yvonne Daley
(Rented from March 15-April 15,
2003) |
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Yvonne Daley, Rutland, VT., San Francisco, CA
802-775-5326 |
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| 08/12/03 |
Positive
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Charmaine and I highly recommend the Kobre's house in Provence.
The house itself is old, therefore charming, but also very well-maintained--you
don't have to do anything but enjoy it.
This rental will put you where you want to be: in a beautiful small village in
the hills of Provence, sitting on a pleasant flower-filled veranda overlooking a
garden with a small swimming pool in the middle of it. The back gate opens out
onto community garden and the path from the house takes you a couple hundred
feet down to a picture-postcard river with tumbling small waterfalls.
One other thing I should mention: the owners are professional photographers and
they have produced for their guests' use a photo-filled how-to book which
explains the intricacies of European satellite tv, the French washing-machine
,etc. Thorough and reliable appraisals of nearby restaurants are also included.
Very thoughtful.
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Patrick Gleeson, Los Angeles, CA
323 224 6756 |
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| 08/01/03 |
Positive
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For a delightful holiday we heartily recommend Provence with its vibrant colors, colorful markets, and enchanting landscape. Its proximity to the Mediterrranean coast is also a plus. In particular we can testify that the house belonging to Ken Kobre & Betsy Brill is comfortable, informal and quite big enough for our family reunion which included nine people. Most of the time we gathered on the back balcony overlooking the charming swimming pool, where there was usually a breeze after a hot day. One thing I appreciated particularly was the presence of books in every room which, along with other special touches, made the time spent there quite pleasant. I will add, however, speaking as a person who is 74 years old, that the many stairs which linked the three floors of the house were difficult for me, although not for the younger members of our family. For a younger crowd it is a wonderful place to have a vacation!
Betsy Hobgood,
Penney Farms, FL
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Ben C. & Betsy B. Hobgood, Penney Farms, FL
(904)284-6843 |
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| 02/23/03 |
Positive
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| Searching for the perfect place to stay while in France? Well, you have certainly found the place. Chez Kobre is fantastic! Arriving in mid afternoon from Paris, we were delighted to be greeted so warmly by Christophe and given a tour of the house. Sylvianne came and gave us a tour and most importantly, the phone number for the pizza delivery. The house is the ideal location for touring around. We ventured to Cannes (best creme brulee at 72 Croissette!!! So much so, we went twice!), Nice, and even visited Monaco and Italy. We were there for a week and really got a feel for the village and the surrounding area. I would highly recommend Chateau Fontainbleu. The owners are lovely and the vineyard is amazing...the wine is great! I am very excited to return to the area again. There are still so many shops I need to visit! |
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Heather Fleming, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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| 02/18/03 |
Positive
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| What a wonderful and charming place to stay in Provence! I've already highly recommended this special home and the village to other friends who are planning a trip to Southern France. Carces is quaint and beautiful. The locals are very friendly and helpful in answering questions or offering up suggestions of places to see in the village and surrounding areas. It's not to be missed! |
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Sally Jefferson, New York, NY |
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| 02/17/03 |
Positive
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| I was part of the Thorsby group, and will be ever grateful for her friendship with Ken and Betsy because that led to our renting Chez Kobre. The other positive comments listed on this site accurately depict our experience (except the pool was closed b/c we were there in Dec. and Jan.!!) The weather was mild, the sky was a vivid blue, the air was fresh; it was a vacation in the truest sense of the word. The house was superb. The colors of the walls and fabrics in the home were so fresh and cheerful, and it was very comfortable. Everything was in good working order. The notebook the owners have made about the house and the area was invaluable; there were plenty of guidebooks, brochures and maps which were helpful too. I loved seeing the creches and santons in the churches, restaurants and stores for the Christmas season. Just wish we'd had more time for more day trips b/c there is so much to see and do, and it's a tough choice to make b/w enjoying Carces for itself and trying to see as much of the surrounding area as possible. From the mobile pizza truck that comes to town for the Saturday market to the little man in the little shop at the top of the hill who carves doll furniture, to the folks at the poolroom/cafe and Sylvianne and the Pauls next door, to enjoying early mornings on the veranda overlooking the river and the vineyards, the immersion in French culture was complete. Leave early for your day in the Gorges or plan 2 days for that area; we loved Cotignac and Hyeres and enjoyed seeing the cities of Aix and St. Tropez. Didn't make it to see the wild horses of Carmanque or Avignon, unfortunately. It helped to understand and speak some French, and to have had some folks who had travelled there before re: TGV schedules and car rental issues. Our group was larger than the house would hold (7 is an ideal #), and was successful in finding another property to rent in the same village, in case your group is larger. I can't say enough positive things about this experience. Bon voyage! |
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Leslie Newman, Henderson, KY
2708271852 x 210 |
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| 02/17/03 |
Positive
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| The house was great, fire cozy and the town was very friendly. Our favorite day was in Moustiere (s?). It is only an hour and so incredible! Our favorite evening meal was either at Bruno's restaurant or La Fontaine! |
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Leigh Anne Preston, Louisville, KY USA
812/364-6123 |
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| 02/17/03 |
Positive
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| Our group of longtime friends from San Francisco, Louisville and Washington, DC, spent an amazing week at Chez Kobre -- enjoying the fun tiny town of Carces, every single winery within a 50-mile radius and, of course, the beautiful home of Betsy and Ken. From the time you walk in the door until you settle into the comfy couch or fun chairs with Betsy's house guide in hand -- complete with step-by-step photos of how to operate their French press coffee maker -- you know you've found the best place to hang out with friends in all of France. Everything worked perfectly, and we'd highly recommend Chez Kobre for anyone looking for a great place to stay with easy access to a million fun things to do. Guaranteed to improve your French accent, Chez Kobre is tres fantastique!!! |
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Mary Thorsby, San Francisco, CA
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| 11/22/02 |
Positive
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Dear Betsy,
I just want to say, belatedly, that we all really enjoyed our stay at your house! We were so comfortable that we felt ourselves "at home" from the word go. It is spacious, beautifully decorated, well-equipped, in a fantastic situation - it was perfect for us. We found that a townhouse was ideal for everyone - it meant that we could amble out to get the croissants or whatever, whenever. We have some old friends in between Carces and Cotignac who were very impressed (they may well be contacting you for various enormous family occasions when they run out of space themselves..!!). It was easy to plan days out: being so well-placed we were able to go to Monaco, St Tropez, les Gorges du Verdon, several markets - and also had time to sit around, paint, read, eat.... all the ingredients of a great holiday. I was worried about my aging mother, but she had a great time too. We hired a wheelchair for her so we were able to wander around at leisure. She found the stairs a bit difficult but there was always someone with her (but she did have problems with the bath) - but, once she was down in the mornings she was very happy indeed.
The keyholders were very nice people, and so was Sylvianne - very helpful.
So, thanks for letting it to us - it's a very happy house and we are very hopeful of being able to go there again in the future. Apologies for the delay in sending this - we've just had a party for 70 and guess who was doing the catering!!!
Best regards,
Anne Starling
(and on behalf of husband Gary, mother Nancy, brother David and great friend Pat who all had a wonderful time too!) |
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Anne Starling, Kent, UK |
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| 08/07/02 |
Positive
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This is a historic,story-book home with modern appointments that outdid anything we expected. Carcès proved to be the perfect setting for some much needed rest, and yet was invigorating, due to its unpretentious and honest nature.
We enjoyed ourselves with two other couples in the house, and always found plenty of room for both communal gatherings and moments of privacy. The private pool and three full bathrooms were nice luxuries as well!
Carcès was a solid location for our many day-trips and always a welcome place to come “home” to. I'm sure we'll be coming back very soon. |
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Barbara Oleksiw, San Francisco, CA
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| 06/20/02 |
Positive
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Penny and I stayed at Chez Kobre in late April 2002. The house is charming, the pool inviting, the gardens are magnificent. The house itself is large, with a wonderful kitchen, and a huge antique dining table that invites lingering over dinner far into the evening.
To stay in Carces is to step well off the beaten tourist track and into the daily life of a Provencal town. We shopped four our fruit, cheese, wine, pastries and vegatables every day. Some of our best memories are of meeting the merchants and farmers of Carces and the surrounding area.
We're hoping to return soon! |
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Mike and Penny Brozda, Aptos, California
(408) 721-3628 |
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| 06/18/02 |
Positive
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| The house is seductively pleasant. The rooms are flooded with light and the veranda in back, overlooking the nearby valley, was where we spent a lot of time eating, wine sampling, reading, and gabbing. Carces is pleasingly quiet but full of good shops and is centrally located for any tourist cities or villages. |
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John Hewitt, Mill Valley, California
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| 06/18/02 |
Positive
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| This home and village was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well as an adventure. It was a great contrast to the modern big city rapid lifestyle I usually lead. For those who need a change of pace and a long deserved sense of tranquility and harmony, this is the place for you. I found it enchanting and plan on returning. |
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Adrienne Rodgers, Houston, TX USA
(281) 449-6533 |
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