Le Repos des Hiboux

L'Athena Guest Feedback over the last couple of years

Further feedback available in the guest book of each gite

30th October 2011 - 31st March 2012
Long term rental
The Edlinger family from Canada

30th July - 13th August 2011
We have had a great holiday. We recommend the following excursions (with boys aged 5&6yrs old):Ile de Ré - we got there about 10am & stopped at the 2nd beach if arriving clockwise onto the island. There was a toilet and a restaurant but no other facilities however - it was very quiet! We then moved to St Martin de Ré which was pretty but very expensive to eat a decent meal.Ilé D'Oleron - we went out on a wet & windy day with the hope that once we got there it would cheer up - it did but not until 3pm! We did however have a great day. Ate at a fantastic restaurant in St Trojan les Bains called "Jardin de Romaines" near the tourist information office - lovely food, atmosphere a staff. Very reasonably priced. Went on a saturday morning and the traffic going on & off the island was horrendous. Definately go on a weekday!St Savinien - mini boats for children to drive. Good fun but expensive - 20€ for 2 adults & 2 children for 15 mins!
Marais Poitevin - an area of canals. We drove to Coulon & hired bikes bikes for half a day (40€ for 2 adults & 2 children) then cycled to Arcais for lunch in a pizzeria by the water. We had fun but it was quite a long way for our fit children (about 6 miles each way). You can also hire boats with or without a guide. Bikes in Coulon can be hired from the cafe in the centre.St Jean D'Angely - good supermarkets & good park in the west of the town.La Rochelle - Went to Aquarium which is fantastic but a mixed response from the children. Allow 2-3hrs. Can only get food in cafe when you leave so take snacks in with you! The city is beautiful although we didn't get to explore very much due to rain & moody children.La Grande Côte, Royan - traffic was terrible round Royan. We'd been recommended Bonne Anse beach but took a wrong turning! La Grand Côte was very busy but had lots of facilities on hand so a successful day!
Chateau Dampierre - This is in Dampierre sur Boutonne, only a 5 min drive. Definately worth a visit on a fine day (cost 15€ for 2 adults & 1 child - under 5's are free). The main attraction are the gardens - perfect for our age children. Maze, merlin garden, chess set, picnic area with small play area for under 8's. The chateau does not have a huge amount in it (15-30 mins worth). You can buy drinks. We stayed about 2 1/2hrs.
Having said all of the above the boys favourite days were spent in the pool or at the park!! We wish anybody reading this a fabulous holiday & hope you found this useful.
The Bruzas family (St Albans)

16th - 30th July 2011
Despite mixed weather at the start, the welcome, the gite and the surroundings were lovely. Gite lovely and the special touches provided - immeasurable, such as a step for the bathroom for our little girl which gave her independance and us freedom! The fact the whole area is enclosed and safe is a massive plus and although we didn't know the other families, everyone enjoyed mixing together and it worked very well.
Days out:-Fouras - boat trip round Fort Boyard (depart Pointe La Fumée) then onto the beach (park at Fort Vauban). Safe beach with lido, shops and restaurants.Marennes - Cité de la Huitres, hire bikes to cycle around the area. Things to do and watch, cafes & restuarants en route. Don't worry if you don't like oysters it's still fun!!Isle D'Oleron - great waves for 'boogy boarding'. Don't get put off when you see the length of car parking at Grand Village Plage, there's space on the beach & well worth it.Zoodysée at Chizé - great fun!Chateau Dampierre - picnic & enjoy!St Savinien - picnics & boats after 2pm, play areaOr just enjoy the pool here!!
Thank you
The Eatley Family (Bury St Edmunds)

4th June - 9th July 2011
(Between L'Athena and The Wheatfields)
The Allington family have provided us with a special holiday: all 14 of us in dribs and drabs!! The facilities are much more than adequate and provide a base for exploration of the Charente Maritime. Their friendship and local knowledge made for a very happy family gathering & trips out.
We recommend:Zoodyssey, ChizéRestaurant Petit Bouton at St JeanPizzeria at LoulayAuberge des Voyagers at Beauvoir sur NiortCafe Hardie at Mauzé sur le MignonLes Colombiers at AulnayColmadis at La RochelleThe PMU restaurant at Beauvoir sur Niort
 
Don't miss the local churches.
Our grateful thanks
The Wintrip Clan (Prue & Bill), Dorset

28th May - 4th June 2011
by email
We had a great holiday at Le Repos des Hiboux. The gite was comfortable and the kitchen was equipped with everything we needed (which is not always the case). The weather was great most of the time so we made full use of the pool which was a perfect temperature. We loved the beaches at Bonne Anse and I'le D'Oleron, the boats at Port Miniature and the market and park at St Jean D'Angely. A week is never long enough to do everything we hoped to do but we wouldn't hesitate to book the gite again if/when we can make a return trip. Many thanks,
Jeremy, Emma, Thomas & Luke
(The Searle family, Norwich)

16th - 23rd April 2011
Hello, We had such a nice holiday, it was really fantastic!
Thanks a lot.
Best wishes
Pascal, Sara, Mauro and Bas Van Laeke (Gent, Belgium)
ps. You're living the dream ....

21st August - 3rd September 2010
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us - we've had a fantastic, relaxing time - and the children have really enjoyed themselves. Weather has been great, entertainment brilliant and the pool superb. Endless evening cricket, frisbee and snail house building - what can we say!
All the very best
Dave, Claire, Thomas & Ellie (Shrewsbury)

31st July - 14th August 2010
To Nicki, Paul, Georgina, Claudia & zinzi
THANKS GUYS ..... for yet another wonderful holiday - where does the time go? 2 weeks just isn't enough. The welcome BBQ was a great start to the holiday & seems so long ago. We've done so much: horse riding 3 times, Saintes market, Vallée de Singes (ask for a family tarif if you have lots of children). The brocantes were good, fun but not big, 9am arrival was OK.
We loved the heated pool - great to relax in after a days sightseeing. The weathers been lovely, not too hot, but didn't need the wetsuits either - just perfect.
We're going to miss you so much that we're going to have to book for October & next summer !!
The Sharpe family (Harrogate)
Coming again next year for the 6th year running!
 
17th - 24th July 2010
To Nicky, Paul, Georgina & Claudia
Thank you all so much for making our holiday really special.
You have been fantastic hosts and the boys have fallen in love with the girls resulting in a marriage proposal from Matthew (4).
Thanks again, we hope to come back one day.
Love
Mark, Mandy, Aaron & Matthew
(Watters family, Cumbria)

3rd - 17th July 2010
Paul, Nicky, Georgina & Claudia
Have had a lovely relaxing break in this part of France. Fab weather and other guests helped kids really enjoy 1st week. Found 2nd week very quiet which was great for us parents but the kids missed the company.
Pool lovely and have managed a swim every day but one. Saintes definately worth a visit. Great 'traiteur' in Surgeres - 'Patrice et Nadine Girard' & lovely meals in Le Bon Etape in Dampierre. Dampierre castle & grounds well worth a visit - kids had great time in the gardens. Horse riding brilliant for Elena.
Henry, Carol Ann, Elena & Dennis
(Sheehy family, Tipperary, Ireland)
ps. To Georgina & Claudia - I have had a great time playing with you. Zinzi was the best. Hope to see you soon. Elena

26th June - 3rd July 2010
Thanks for a lovely week. We have had great weather and the children have loved the pool and playing with 'the big children'. The boats at Marais Poitevin were a big hit as was the market at Jean D'Angely.
Thanks also for being so hospitable and plying us with wine and telling us your experiences with restoration and the locals! Only wish we had booked 2 weeks instead of one, and think there will be tears when we leave. Claudia & Georgina have been great with Arthur and Flossie. Hope to see you again in the future.
Clare, Brian, Arthur & Flossie (The Rainey Family, Brighton)
ps. Would also recommend le Grand Plage on Ile D'Oleron
 
19th - 26th June 2010
Thank you for all your helpfulness in our first visit to this part of France and your lovely gite. The weather has been wonderful and we have been able to tour the area. Would recommend Saintes, Oleron, Coulon & La Rochelle. Well equipped gite & very comfortable bed - we slept like logs & woke later each morning than we intended! Local supermarket is excellent & their petrol a very good price.
All in all a great way to celebrate our Ruby wedding. Our only regret that we didn't get round to trying out your lovely pool. Thanks for a super holiday.
David & Margaret Barter (Reading)
 
7th November 2009 - 14th March 2010
Having decided to spend the winter in France we came to L'Athena not knowing what to expect. Following a warm welcome on arrival late on a dark evening we settled in and found ourselves to be comfortable and very quickly relaxed into a leisurely routine. The gite has everything needed to live comfortably and snugly. The woodburner has been excellent and has kept the gite really warm despite some really cold weather at times including snow!! There is always plenty of hot water available and what with UK TV and broadband access, all essentials are available.
Then of course there were Nicki, Paul and the girls who really 'went the extra mile' to make us 'feel at home' without at any time being intrusive. Add to that zinzi, the cats and 'my friends' the chickens and we can truly say that we have had a great and enjoyable relaxed winter in France. Thank you all for a great time. We may well be back next year all being well.
Phil & Rose Collings