A big thank you to all of our guests this Spring / Summer ... this has been our 1st year of renting and we can genuinely say that it has been a pleasure - not a chore ! Thanks also to Gavin Plant and the team (not least Marty and Sharon) in Argeles for looking after Villa Failte and our guests so well.
Surprisingly ALL our bookings came from HomeAway and related sites such as OwnersAbroad and Abritel. We didn't get any bookings via HolidayLettings / TripAdvisor. To be honest this suited us as we find the HomeAway system easier to use ... would be interested in hearing guest views ... ?
We have had lots of good positive feedback particularly for the pool, the summer kitchen, the villa cleanliness and equipment and the location. But as ever we can always do better and so thanks as well for the various improvement suggestions. As a result, we have added the following :
A few of you suggested different coloured towels so as to avoid confusion in large groups. This is something we will do when we replace the current towels which were all bought new at the start of the season.
We are thinking of buying 2 or 3 bikes but this comes with added legal responsibilities and difficulties in keeping the bikes in order throughout the year so no quick decision !
Currently the Villa has Orange Internet enabled TV which provides most freeview French channels as well as a few in English (albeit mainly news related). There is also an internet enabled smart LG TV which allows access to the various web providers of entertainment. However, as with most of France, English programming is difficult to access due to French broadcasting restrictions. Filmon.com is available with UK programs but can be patchy at times. We have looked into French FreeSat with a satellite dish but due to how far South we are decent reception would require an exceptionally large dish (almost 2m) ... we may return to that solution in the future though. March 2016 Update : Please see the TV update posted March 2016 ... looks like good news !
Notwithstanding the above all of our guests this year appear to have been very happy with the entertainment on offer within the villa - Orange TV, internet enabled Smart TV, music system, wi-fi throughout and of course several board games, swimming pool and table tennis !
And lastly ... we are considering having a proper boules court (slightly smaller than official size) installed in the back garden which would be ready for Spring 2016. More on this later in the year.
Best Wishes to all
Stewart & Donna Rough
Surprisingly ALL our bookings came from HomeAway and related sites such as OwnersAbroad and Abritel. We didn't get any bookings via HolidayLettings / TripAdvisor. To be honest this suited us as we find the HomeAway system easier to use ... would be interested in hearing guest views ... ?
We have had lots of good positive feedback particularly for the pool, the summer kitchen, the villa cleanliness and equipment and the location. But as ever we can always do better and so thanks as well for the various improvement suggestions. As a result, we have added the following :
- Villa instructions in French and German (we will add other languages if required)
- A full length mirror plus a couple of additional mirrors in bedrooms
- a wash basket to take clothes from washing machine to washing line
- A teapot !
- Map / directions to village
- More practical place mats for the Summer kitchen
- Heavier wine glasses for Summer kitchen
- Oyster knife and melon baller
- Salad spinner
- Oil brush
- Plastic bin bags for bathroom bins
- Selection of trays in kitchen
A few of you suggested different coloured towels so as to avoid confusion in large groups. This is something we will do when we replace the current towels which were all bought new at the start of the season.
We are thinking of buying 2 or 3 bikes but this comes with added legal responsibilities and difficulties in keeping the bikes in order throughout the year so no quick decision !
Currently the Villa has Orange Internet enabled TV which provides most freeview French channels as well as a few in English (albeit mainly news related). There is also an internet enabled smart LG TV which allows access to the various web providers of entertainment. However, as with most of France, English programming is difficult to access due to French broadcasting restrictions. Filmon.com is available with UK programs but can be patchy at times. We have looked into French FreeSat with a satellite dish but due to how far South we are decent reception would require an exceptionally large dish (almost 2m) ... we may return to that solution in the future though. March 2016 Update : Please see the TV update posted March 2016 ... looks like good news !
Notwithstanding the above all of our guests this year appear to have been very happy with the entertainment on offer within the villa - Orange TV, internet enabled Smart TV, music system, wi-fi throughout and of course several board games, swimming pool and table tennis !
And lastly ... we are considering having a proper boules court (slightly smaller than official size) installed in the back garden which would be ready for Spring 2016. More on this later in the year.
Best Wishes to all
Stewart & Donna Rough