Stone Cottage, 2 bedrooms up to 6, pool, in a XVIIth C Castle, Loire Valley

We were a family of four who booked the house for two weeks. The host was friendly and quick to respond to questions, and it was nice that bed linen, towels, etc., were included in the price. However, we felt the stay didn’t live up to the price, as the house showed signs of wear. The furniture in the living room was quite worn. The kitchen was small with an unstable gas stove and oven that required caution to prevent tipping. The kitchen was poorly equipped for cooking for four people, and while there was a grill, it was dirty and covered in bird droppings. The staircase to the first floor was steep and had loose steps, making it difficult to use. There is no internet, and the dishwasher broke after just two uses. The terrace was under tall trees, making it feel very enclosed, so we had to move the table and chairs to the front of the house. The pool is shared with the owner and other renters on the property. It’s a bit of a walk away and can get crowded, making it feel small relative to the number of users. Unfortunately, there are no bakeries or cafés/restaurants in the town. There is a small self-service shop, but it has a very limited selection. Overall, a disappointing experience.

A very nice place! We travelled with 2 teenagers so both the pool and tabletennis were perfect entertainment when not out exploring the surroundings. Location is great with a short drive to wineries, canoing and beautiful towns and castles. Marie was a very welcoming host with good suggestions for places to visit.

Host kind. Difficult to find location without internet. The steps upstairs were very steep and narrow - fine for us but could be tricky for children or those with mobility issues. No tv. Felt like the end of the season as flowers in the lovely pots outside were dead. Spacious property with large garden with interesting trees.

Marie our host made us welcome from the moment we arrived and offered up suggestions on places to visit and restaurants to eat at. The property was spacious, beautifully furnished and well equipped (the large fridge was particularly well appreciated). There were other guests staying but we had sufficient space and privacy. The grounds of the chateau are extensive and were great for our dog to explore. The swimming pool, just a 3 min walk in a secluded part of the grounds, was a great to use at the end of hot day. The village is pretty although sadly the boulangerie has shut down so we had to drive to the next town for our morning croissants and bread. Overall a great place to stay. Thank you!

My family & I had a lovely stay here in a gite on the site of a chateaux. There was another gite adjacent to ours and one shared pool 5 minutes walk through the vast gardens. Marie was very helpful, booking a table reservation in advance and meeting us on our arrival and showing us around. Outdoor table/chairs/loungers/bbq just for our gite and shared extensive gardens. Bournand is very quiet and only one boulangerie and one restaurant open. Everything else is a 10-20minute drive away. Chinon 20mins, great kayaking here & old town to explore. Montsoreau 20mins lovely town to visit. Thank you for a lovely stay.

We had a great family holiday in Bournand. There is lots to explore within a half hour drive - such as Chinon, Chenonceau, Fontevraud Abbey and, as recommended by Marie, the owner, the lovely Chateau de l'Islete, where you can picnic by candlelight during the summer. The gite itself is rustic, with pleasant garden and BBQ area and grounds, and despite some very warm temperatures during our stay, the bedrooms were still fairly comfortable at night. The local restaurant, open on Friday and Saturday nights, is also a handy place to try some of the fabulous wine from the region, without one of you having to drive and abstain! However, there are some things that I don't think are clear from the description of this accommodation: 1) The pool is a 5 minute walk away. My children are 10 and 13, and are competent swimmers, yet it is policy for all under 18's to be accompanied and supervised. This isn't a problem, as long as you don't mind walking back and forth for drinks, and being away from the WiFi! 2) There is no washing machine. Marie provides washing services for an additional charge, yet at present, HomeAwaylists amenities as including a washing machine. Having said that, we really did enjoy our stay here, I have actually already recommended the accommodation to friends (making them aware of the above).

This was a wonderful holiday, lovely property with everything you needed. Clean and tidy and very well equipped. Marie was an excellent host answered any questions and nothing was too much trouble for her. The local area was beautiful with so much to do and see. We would definitely go back and recommend this to others.