LaVendange Child Friendly Gites : HomePage
"Brilliant gites for children as they can go off and play safely. This are is beautiful, with stunning countryside and quiet roads. Play barn is invaluable during wetter weather and when it's really hot. The staff are so friendly and helpful. Pizza night is not to be missed ! MERRIMAN FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"A childrens' paradise ! Thank you for a super holiday made more memorable by the wonderful hospitality - whether it be the welcome drinks, the attention to detail (buying us some fruit sparkle - the kids loved it) or the great communal make-your-own pizza evening. A real sucess. Thank you so much. we will be coming again." Minty (9) says: "It is really fun collecting eggs from the chickens and playing with the quails". Toby (3) says: " I want to stay all day. I don't want to go ! PRAUD FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Clairette is THE most beautiful holiday house we have ever stayed in. The "Zen Garden" in particular gives the invaluable quiet space during a hectic family holiday. Richard is very helpful, friendly and chilled out" BEATON FAMILY (SKYE 1), CLAIRETTE
"Great Location and site setup. Pool was excellent and good hosts really added to our stay." LIVERAGE FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Another fantastic holiday. This time here for 2 weeks as one week wasn't enough last year. All he extra perks for returning guests were appreciated, especially the champagne ! Columbard is a great family gite and our kids (9, 6 and 4) especially loved the pool, communal BBQs and found lots of friends to play with while the adults really appreciated the relaxing atmosphere. La Vendange is in a beautiful setting with lots to do in the area. Richard again was a great host." TRAINER FAMILY, CLAIRETTE
"Had a fantastic stay at La Vendange. Thanks to the managers for looking after us so well. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Pizza nights are particulalrly good fun and definatly recommended. Kids loved the pottery painting too. Best French holiday for a long time. We'll be back ! DUNN FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"We had a wonderful time. Lovely safe garden with lots of activities for the children (7 and 3yrs). Beautiful kitchen and main bedroom in Clairette. Very comfortable beds. Beautiful pool. Really great service from the managers> lots of things to do locally that are child friendly. Could go on and on ! We'll be coming back ! FORBES FAMILY, CLAIRETTE
"A really nice, child friendly place to chill out (if you can manage this with the children screeching in excitement over the quail) ! Perfect for children aged around 10 and under. Our 2YO loved making house and playing in the sandpit" TAYLOR FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Another Lovely week spent relaxing in a child friendly environment. Kids had great fun." O'CONNOR FAMILY, SYRAH
"We liked the privicy of Columbards' gardens and the pool very much. The children had a lot of freedom to wander around and we felt that they were safe. A vey relaxing environment". DICKSON FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"The best thing for us was how happy our children were. They wanted to stay at the gîtes rather than go anywhere because they had so much fun playing with the other children". VINCENT FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Our 7 year old boy had the time of his life !" PRING FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"La Vendange is a good location to visit the sites of the Charente area and the beaches too. There are lots of family activities within an hours drive. Kids loved the enclosed play area and the chickens" HAILES FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"We had a lovely week at La Vendange. Clairette is beautiful house - perfect for our group of 4 adults and 3 children. The pool area is a fantastic facility and the children loved the chickens, swings, playhouse etc." RITCHIE FAMILY, (LEILA, 4, ANDREW 2) CLAIRETTE
"A very relaxing environment where the children can play safely. Love the hens, quails and the herbs - a really great touch." PETER, MARINA, TOM (4), WILL(2) and KATIE (5 weeks), CHASSELAS,
"La Vendange is THE most amazing place to holiday with small children. Well kitted out and plenty to keep the children amused. Also exceptionally nice evenings to be had wine tasting !" CHARLOTTE and OSCAR (4), "VERDHELLO"
"The layout of La Vendange was perfect for us - totally secure for the children and they adored the pool ! There was plenty to do in the surrounding area which was great when we experienced some dull weather. Richard was superb: any minor "tweaks" were delt with immediatly with a smile and his local knowlege is fantastic. Thanks for a brilliant holiday! CLAPHAM FAMILY (TEGAN 4, MIA 1) COLUMBARD
Having two outdoor eating areas was great as we caught both the morning and the evening sun. Eating outside in the Zen garden was lovely: private and peaceful. Our two boys <aged 6 and 3> liked playing with the other childfren and feeding the chickens. The accommodation is wonderful: sweet and unpretencious with a good few treats !" CLAIR, MATT,JACOB (3) and ZAC (1), "CLAIRETTE"
"We love the rustic charm of the gîtes. The way the whole garden is enclosed is fabulous for keeping the children safe and also protects from the wind that sometimes blows across the fields. Everyone should go to the Bar St Pierre in Néré ! " BELL FAMILY, "VERDHELLO"
"Thank you very much. We have had a lovely time. This is a wonderful environment for children and our boys (8 and 10) have really enjoyed the pool, the hammock, swings and especially the chickens." COLLINS FAMILY, SYRAH
"We had a lovely holiday: we felt very welcomed by Richard. It was very peaceful and La Vendange was perfect for our children. They loved feeding the chickens and cycling the quiet lanes around the village. We will be back next year !" SUSAN, ROGER, JENNY (6) and TOM (4), VERDHELLO
"Thoroughly enjoyed our realxing family break here. The enclosed garden proved an excellent facilitly for our children to make new friends. Beautiful setting, peaceful location.Recommended for families with young children:they will love it, especially the pool and garden and the stars at night - they are dazzling !" CLEARY FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"We and our two young boys really enjoyed the set-up here. They quickly felt very comfortable and we felt happy for them to enjoy the facilities without having to worry about them. It was also nice to have a friendly and well informed host to tap for ideas. The football match was good too." ARMSTRONG FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"The kids really enjoyed exploring the area, from the electric boats at St Savinien to the chateau des Enigmas to the lighthouse on the Isle de Ré. Table football was also useful for the boys". HAMMOND FAMILY, SYRAH
"Lovely cottage. The children really enjoyed the holiday. *A mop would be useful, particuarly as our children are older and messier. Great to have an enclosed garden and separate enclosed pool area. Very safe for younger children. Ours enjoyed collecting eggs every day and we have a soft spot for "Treasure" <one of the tame poulets born at La Vendange> HUNTER FAMILY, VERDHELLO, AUG 2009 (*note. mops are supplied as standard but this families' had been borrowed by Richard, who'd forgotten to return it. Oops)
"The best thing about our holiday was just relaxing at La Vendange: either by the pool or in the garden. We didn't venture far from here. The place has a great atmosphere and the kids had a ball so we had one of our most relaxed family holidays ever." HEMSTEDT FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Great family vaction:the kids absolutly loved having the run of the place". TIEFENBRUN FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Good range of kitchen equipment for all ages. Great environment for children to make new friends. Liked BBQ evening."SIBLEY FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"A very relaxing holiday. Happy kids = happy parents. Felt very safe to let the kids do what they wanted." ARCHER FAMILY,"SYRAH"
"We were a little apprehensive before we arrived, having never stayed in a gîte with communal facilities before. However, we needn't have worried - Richard was always on hand without being intrusive and our fellow guests were all very friendly". PRICE FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Fantastic time enjoyed by all: great beds, warm pool, stunning area. My son learnt to swim in the two weeks: went from doing less than 1/2width to 5 lengths ! You can't put a price on that". CULLINANE FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"This is a particulalrly child friendly site: the play area is totally secure so we could leave the children to play, knowing that they were safe. We found Richard extremely friendly and helpful. Our two girls loved having little friends to play with and also loved collecting the eggs. We've had an extremely enjoyable and relaxing week!" EBSWORTH FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"What a fantastic two weeks - our three girls had a ball with all their new friends and were happy to entertain themselves in the safe environment. Chickens and heated pool were a hit with them and the freedom to chill out with a book and a glass of wine were a hit with us !" HANNON FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"We loved our gîte "Columbard" as it has so much character ! Loved the bath ! The enclosed garden is excellent and our 21month old son thought that the chickens were fab- it was an obsession ! The bread van each morning sells fantastic bread and pastries. Richard really made us feel at home". SQUIRES FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Children loved the freedom - parents loved the safe boundaries. Chickens a hit !" WOOD FAMILY, SYRAH
"We had a fantastic week here. Our children aged 7 and 2 loved the garden, the pool, all the toys, trampoline and especially feeding the chickens and collecting eggs! The adults were able to relax and enjoy our holiday too, as the children were always so happy". STOTT FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Very relaxed, friendly, well laid out accommodation, play area and pool. Richard is almost always on hand, so any problems can be resolved easily." De SILVA FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Excellent clean heated swimming pool and Tomas really enjoyed the garden. The babysitting service was great and we had a lovely meal at L'Escorlion in St Jean. The use of the bikes was also of great benefit to the holiday. We really enjoyed our stay." McENTEE FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Great atmosphere. Very homely. Kids loved it and lots to keep them happy. Very relaxing. One week was not enough !" TRAINER FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Syrah was great accommodation, with plenty of space and all the facilities for a family holiday. I liked the cottage because we had a private patio but were also on the edge of the garden where the children played: Excellent. Will recommend to our friends.
"A Home away from home in a rural, traditional setting with plenty of child-friendly facilities: Bikes+carriers, trampoline, chickens, climbing frame + pool. Approachable friendly owner. A real hit + a fantastic french country experience. Thank you !" PARTRIDGE FAMILY, VERDHELLO/COLUMBARD
"The location is fantastic. We particulalrly enjoyed the pool area and feeding the chickens. The beds were extemely comfortable. The set up of the gites is very sociable and it is great to allow the children to explore in an enclosed area. The bikes are a lovely addition, as is the table tennis and badminton. We also loved the pottery painting." HARVEY FAMILY, SYRAH
"We've had a really enjoyable stay. The cottage and complex are very well equipped and theres loads to see and do in the area. Richard was very welcoming and knowledgable about the area and was always keen to give tips for days out. Ella greatly enjoyed the swimming pool and trampoline and meeting new friends. We all enjoyed some delicious omlettes courtesy of the La Vendange Child Friendly Gites chickens." TERSIGNI FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Had a wonderful time. The girls loved the pool, swings, chickens and especially the trampoline. Mummy and Daddy loved that they were having such a good time ! The peace and quiet, Richards' excellent hosting and the general cameraderie of the place. We loved it here last year and loved it this year too and It is so child friendly !" RICH FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"We love it here and shall be returning again next year. We have had, once again the best family holiday we could have wished for." Mc DOWELL FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"We have had a fantastic week at La Vendange. Our only regret was that we didn't book for two weeks ! The gîtes are lovely. the kids loved the garden and pools and our fellow guests were all very pleasent to socialise with. The hospitality extended by Richard was also appreciated ! " EAST FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Talia (21months) loved everything, but especially the trampoline and the lovely heated pool. I like the way waste food gets used up by feeding the chickens. It was lovely to pick up fresh eggs each day. The zoo at La Palmeyre was excellent, especially hand feeding the giraffes and elephants ! Talia loved petting the baby goats. Richard was very friendly and chatty and we really enjoyed the communal BBQ that he organised with the other families. Very peaceful location." NEEDHAM FAMILY, SYRAH
"We've had a wonderful relaxing stay, knowing that our son (2) had lots of fun things to play with in a very safe environment, allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves too. There are lots of child friendly places to visit in the surrounding area, ideal for the rainy first part of the week. We are already planning a return visit for next year " PEARCE FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"We loved the cottage: spacious bathroom, very comfortable main bedroom, black out blind in childs' bedroom and equipment such as the stairgate made life much easier. Benjamin also loved the Meg and Mog DVD ! Lovely to have 2 swimming pools incl. one for toddlers and lots of toys + the trampoline in the garden". SMITH FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Richard is very welcoming and friendly with lots of local knowlege and recommendations. The property is great: huge garden and separate pool area. G îtes are clean and safe with some good features. Totally safe for little ones so relaxing is easy." PERKINS FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"We had a wonderful stay here. Everyone was so friendly and the cottage was perfect in size and layout. It was great to have both our own garden and the communal area for play + games + social. It is great to have the two pools !" ROBERTS FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Service from Richard and family was exceptional. Everything we asked for or enquired about was provided. 5 star service level with a smile. We enjoyed the added advantage of the teddy bear picnic and pottery painting. Our children loved their holiday home and all the facilities were used and enjoyed. It was great to get the kids out with us on the bikes and the Wifi Internet was an additional advantage". FARRELLY/SWEENY FAMILY COLUMBARD
"The service provided was first class and nothing was too much trouble. There are many things which separate La Vendange from other Gites: the shopping service, the toys for kids, the potty and stool in the bathroom for toddlers, the eggs from the hens and the general cleanliness of the gîtes. It was so child friendly it was exactly what we needed..." MURPHY FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"La Vendange is perfect for the <5 and unders> who can stroll the grounds in complete safety, be entertained and entertain each other. It gives a glimpse of country life where the pace of life is slow enough to allow you to appreciate your suroundings and each other. Thomas loved meeting Rebecca <the village donkey> but she does not like cucumber !" JACKSON FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"We had a great time - and what a difference a heated pool makes ! Loved the big bed and crisp while linen in the main bedroom" PRICE FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Lovely cottage. The perfect holiday for young families. Pool area very safe, as is the garden. Lots to see and do. Our 2+ 3 year olds loved it, as did we !" PERRY FAMILY
"We've never been on holiday before where there are lots of other people but this year we did it so that Noah would be entertained with other children. The layout and security of garden was fantastic; having a happy 3yo made sure that we had happy parents! This is what made it such a sucessful holiday even with the rain we had. We really liked the privicy of Syrah' patio and it was handy to have a freezer so we could just do one big shop at the start of the holiday." WELLS FAMILY, SYRAH
"Despite some poor weather we had a terrific holiday in a splendid environment. The whole place is a testament to the energy and thought that has been ploughed into the property. Friendly atmosphere from the outset : welcoming and relaxing. We would whole heartedly recommend to any young family who would value the chance to chill out ! " HARVEY FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Well catered and managed cottage. Very child friendly. Lovely pool and surroundings. Would certainly recommend. BILLINGSLY FAMILY
"We have had a fantastic time though we have hardly seen our children as they've been playing with all their new friends in the very child friendly garden. The set up is great and Richard is often around and approachable for queries, information or a chat ! Lovely pool - usually warm. Thanks for a great holiday ! GOODWIN FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Peaceful location and a good, relaxing holiday. We all enjoyed feeding the chickens and collecting our eggs !"
"The warm welcome and chatty hospitality really made the holiday special. Our kids fell in love with the baby chickens and we all feel rested and relaxed" MALTMAN FAMILY
"Fantastic hot pool - we swam in all weather. The kids (8,5,2 yrs) loved it here. They were kept busy in the garden and pool the whole two weeks and made many new friends. The chickens were also a big hit with many eggs enjoyed for tea ! Richard was an excellent host and very accommodating. Thank you." FERNANDEZ FAMILY, SYRAH
"We had a great two weeks at La Vendange (Verdhello). With two very small children (8mths and 2yrs) it was really great to be able to let them play outside in the safety of the gardens and mix with the other children. The cottage layout was perfect for us and the stairgates meant that we had no worries about the steep stairs." CROOK FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"We really enjoyed our holiday and the kids loved the garden, pool and meeting new friends. Very well equipped cottages and Richard couldn't have been more welcoming" STOCKDALE FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"Zach (18months) loved the little wooden house and green swing. Sam (4.5) loved the trampoline and table football. Both boys loved the chickens ! Richard was welcoming and helpful and we really liked Erics' wine." DUCKWORTH FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Ideal layout for children and adults to enjoy a relaxing holiday" STEENBERG FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Once again we had a relaxing week and the children made lots of new friends. They loved playing in the garden and the pool. The new trampoline was also very popular !" KENNY FAMILY, SYRAH
"Excellent holiday. Very welcoming and helpful". CLOUGH FAMILY, SYRAH
"Another great holiday at La Vendange. The girls want to stay for the whole school holidays !" SMITH FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Richard was extremely helpful. Richard in particular was often available to answer questions (eg where to find the local wine merchant) ! Our kids loved La Vendange - very good family setup." De SILVA FAMILY, SYRAH
"We had a fantastic stay. The property suited our needs down to the ground. We all enjoyed the relaxed ambience the gites provided for our extended family. Many thanks for a great week." COOPER FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"We've had a wonderful time ! Richard has created a welcoming, friendly and very child friendly gite. The range of facilities appeals to all age including a lovely warm swimming pool that we found very hard to get out of. It was like a warm bath ! STEADHAM FAMILY
"Last year our group of families stayed at Pagel. Our holiday at La Vendange was not only more cost effective, it was so much easier. The toys and garden are all visible from the gîte garden allowing the parents to keep all the children in sight without having to follow them around the grounds. The pool was like a warm bath and the gîte was well stocked and had a great shower. " MADDOCKS FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"We've had a fantastic week and it's been perfect just to sit back and watch the kids play." BEECHING FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"Richard , you have been a charming host - always very helpful and we appreciate your help with Ellie who had Chicken Pox. We loved the pool and the great facilities for children of all ages. Ellie loved the lawn, all the toys and the sandpit etc. Our gîte was really well equipped. We'll definatley return when no. 2 arrives !! " Mc IVOR FAMILY, VERDHELLO
"With a 2 and a 4 year old, we really wanted to find somewhere that the children could play safely so we could have some time to relax. La Vendange exceeded our expectations: our children had an absolute ball ! We especially loved greeting the bread van each morning with a "bonjour" to collect our fresh baguette and chocolate bread." ELLISON FAMILY, COLUMBARD
"The garden worked exactly as we had hoped when we saw the photos on the website. Within minutes of our arrival, our children had teamed up with others, leaving us to relax and enjoy watching them. The chickens (and our 2 egg/day allowance) went down really well with the children: going into the run, picking up the warm eggs and then eating them for breakfast was great fun !" SHUTTLEWORTH FAMILY, CHASSELAS
"Very good setup - lots of space and activities for children. Richard very helpful. LAW FAMILY, SYRAH
"Excellent and well equipped gîte. Very child friendly accommodation and facilities" CROSBY FAMILY, SYRAH
"Have had a great time here - facilities for children geat and pool was great too once the sun came out!" TENNANT FAMILY, VERDHELLO