We are a small family run business specialising in rentals of beautiful, high-quality properties in the Languedoc, Provence and the Côte d’Azur. Although the company is based in England we spend much of our time in France and know the area very well.
We love the region and pride ourselves on our knowledge of its geography, its cultural sites, its beach resorts and especially its food and wine.
All of these we enjoy sharing with our clients and whether it’s your first visit to these regions or if you are a returning customer, we hope to provide you with a professional and inspired service.
Ben and Alissa Knight, having worked for two large UK tour operators decided to set up www.southfrancevillas.com and go it alone in 2000.
 |
The South France Villas team. |
Having had professional careers in tourism for over 10 years they have plenty of experience in assessing the properties and writing descriptions - which should include the weak points as well as the strong!
It is terribly important that holiday makers do not end up holidaying at a property which is not right for them. We understand both the needs of the Holiday Maker and the Property Owner alike, and we aim to satisfy both.
 |
Ben would have been really proud of the new site which was very much his ‘brainchild’ and which unfortunately he didn’ t see completed. We will run and cherish it with him in mind. |
South France Villas Ltd - we are a UK registered company (# 4334670) – in accordance with EU regulations we are insured for professional indemnity cover by Status Insurance Ltd.
In accordance with the Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992 all passengers booking with South France Villas Ltd are fully protected against the loss of all monies paid to us for the holiday (and repatriation if required) due to insolvency, by way of an Insurance Policy with AmTrust Europe Ltd, Market Square House, St James's Street, Nottingham, NG1 6FG. The cover excludes money paid for flights which must be protected separately.
In the event of claim you should contact the administrators of the scheme. They are: Status Insurance Management Ltd, PO Box 2256, Billericay, Essex CM12 0DH.
Email: info@statusinsurance.com
Telephone: 01277637580
Status Insurance Management Ltd and AmTrust Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Compliments from 2006:
"Just to let you know we had a great holiday, Mr Bertrand could not have been more helpful and it was good to meet Michelle on our last day, both were very accomodating, thanks, we'll be back!" June 2006, Domaine de l'ile H7
"Thanks again - it was a lovely trip in beautiful gites!"
- Alexander Doll (Germany), 2006 "La Paisseiro" A5
"Staying at 'Parc de la Masque' ref VU3 was very relaxing and pleasant for us. We found the house charming, picturesque and comfortable; the location made it easy to visit other areas, and all the information you provided enabled us to see many interesting and beautiful sites and villages. Our whole time in Provence was a wonderful experience and was just as we hoped it would be. Having a wonderful house to return to every night helped make our dream vacation come true. And your kindness and hospitality made our time better than anything we could have hoped for.
- Suzanne Mahoney (USA), 'Parc de la Masque' VU3
"Thank you for putting us in touch with such a marvellous place to stay and making it so easy to book. Greatly appreciated. We loved the house and our stay there was the best ever. Many thanks."
- Adele Cherrill 2006 'Portiragnes Plage' H3
"My wife and I have just returned from our trip to France (rented Maison du Jas through your agency). The villa was a great place to stay and certainly met our expectations. It has been a pleasure dealing with your agency and, not only would we recommend your service to others, but hope to use your agency ourselves again in the future."
- Bill Mann 'Maison du Jas' G06
"With this email I would like to thank you for the excellent holiday which my family and myself had for the past two weeks."
- Guus Mas de Boussagues H34
This is just a short note to say that I had a great holiday, the villa exceeded my expectations, and the owner couldn't have been more helpful. This is a stunning villa with wonderful views in a good position for exploring the area. Pat, 2006. Mas de Boussagues H34
I recently rented your property Mas Madeleine, VU12 in Caromb, France. Wanted to say that the property exceeded our expectations, was in pristine condition, and our stay was fabulous. The area is so quaint & very charming. The landlords may definitely use me as a reference if they need to. By the way, I do plan to return!
- Elaine, September 2006 Mas Madelein VU12
Compliments from previous years:
“Have just returned from our EXCELLENT holiday. Obviously the villa was as excellent as you said and the 40 degree temp did help! Thanks again for your excellent service and website.”
- Brian Heath, Villa Moliere H19
“Just a short note to thank you for the wonderful holiday that my family and I had recently. The organisation and simplicity it was to use your company was exemplary, the house and hospitality of the owners was outstanding. We had a wonderful time and would have no hestitation, whatsoever, in recommending your company or the house.” - Derek Gamble, Domaine Ile H 7
“Thank you for your service, everything at the villa went really well. The Villa was magnificent and the surroundings excellent, we had a wonderful time, thank you.” - Phil Clucas, La Roseliere A2
“Wonderful house!! The best we have had in five visits to France over the last decade. The kids loved the pool and the garden, their grandmother enjoyed the cool of the house. We all enjoyed the local restaurents, the excellent facilities in the house and the friendly welcome from the family and from others in the village!”
- Andy Carver, La Roseliere A2
“A fantastic two weeks – it was very hot of course, but having the house with all it’s space, and it’s own pool meant we could do whatever we wanted! We would have no hesitation in recommending South of France Villas to anyone else.” - Paul, Villa Moliere H19
“We had a wonderful time in France, thank you for your help arranging this vacation.” - Kirk McGlashan
"Just to let you know, we enjoyed our stay very much. The Les Truquets villa was homely, very comfortable with wonderful gardens and views. We are indeed recommending this villa and your website to work colleagues, friends and family." - Adrian Wood Les Truquets H32
"We have now returned from a splendid week in France. The Villa was absolutely fantastic, the surroundings marvellous and top service. We would like to recommend this to our Norwegian friends." - Trygve Haye (Norway) Domaine du Golf H38
"I would like to express my appreciation for a great holiday, which was extremely easy to organise! We had a marvellous time which was very relaxing. Mme. Gaillard and her staff were extremely welcoming and helpful throughout our weeks stay. We hope to return again and would be grateful if you could pass on my thanks to Mme Gailard." - Tim Jarrett La Terrasse H20a
"Just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at Mas De La Cabreto!! Everything was great, house wonderful, pool just what we needed, Avignon entertaining and Roger and Nathalie really helpful. Weather could not have been more perfect!! David and Natasha definately have a wonderful place in the sun! We will be looking to visit again soon.... Thanks again for all the help this year..." - Andy Astbury Mas Cabreto G07
"We were very impressed with your service and have already recommended you to several friends and hope to use you again the next time we are coming to France." - Kathryn Doley Bastide Belle Vue VU6
We had an excellent week, thank you, and found the villa perfect for filming as it provided lots of different locations. Mme de Reilhan was very warm and welcoming & helped with things like booking restaurants, which was much appreciated. We left feeling very tempted to have our holidays at the villa next summer! BBC Sept 2006 Beausejours le Haut H28
I recently rented your property VU12 (Mas Madline) in Caromb, France. Wanted to say that the property exceeded our expectations, was in pristine condition, and our stay was fabulous. The area is so quaint & very charming. The landlords may definitely use me as a reference if they need to. By the way, I do plan to return! I forgot to mention that I plan to use www.SOUTHFRANCEVILLAS.COM whenever I can. The service levels were supreme. Elaine Sept 2006
Kirk and I had a wonderful time at our villa. The villa itself was spendid. Our hosts had put out vases of fresh flowers. What a great touch. We had a problem when we arrived at the villa and our hosts Simone and Remi were so kind and helpful. We cannot thank them enough. We have already recommended them and www.southfrancevillas.com to a number of people. La Maniere H 1 Catheren and Kirk Sept 2006
"We had a terrific time at the villa last week. This has been by far the nicest villa we have ever stayed in. The property and views exceeded our expectations and we really enjoyed our stay, so much we didn't want to leave! I would like you to also pass on our thanks to your keyholder who was charming and considerate and really made us feel welcome."
- June 2006, 'Roquessels' H45
The holiday went very well. Michel and his wife were very hospitable and (although this sounds trite it’s true) couldn’t do more to make our stay more comfortable. For anyone with young children, this villa is perfect. JULY 2006 Mougins AM10
Just want to thank you all for the excellent service you gave to us when we booked the villa. Your first class commitment was much appreciated. After a long day of travelling we finally reached the villa. We opened the shutters to reveal what we thought was paradise. Thank you all for making our holiday one to remember for many years to come, it was just so special. Kathleen July 2006 Rochelongue H05
"I just thought i would drop you a quick note to say my friends and i had a fantastic holiday in France. We were very pleased with the villa and the pool area was lovely to sit around during the glorious weather we had whilest there. The location was just right, far enough to feel secluded and near enough for amenities. We also took a day out to Sete which we just loved. Please pass on our thanks to Mr Benzi who was very helpful when we arrived, and came out to us late at night when we had a power cut on the second night due to a storm. I also send my thanks to you, for helping me through each stage of the booking and keeping the lines of communication open." - Nichola Wealan Artist’s House G2
"Just a quick email to let you know that we had a wonderful time in the villa. The owners were very polite and helpful and keep the villa spotlessly clean. We bought them some flowers when we left for their great hospitality. Highly recommended." - Bob Walker, La Garenne H29
"Thanks lots for your help on finding our holiday we had an amazing time and will deffo recommend the villa to friends too." - Zoe Wright Maureilhan H15
"We have been back in the 'real' world for a week and I feel the need to write and congratulate you on the excellent Villas and service provided. Our Villa, 'La Garenne' ref H29, was fabulous, well equipped, nicely furnished, properly maintained, clean, tidy, with plenty of hot water. The location was perfect for us, rural, quiet, and pretty, with good road links. Full marks. Simone and Remy were very smiley which was handy as it was our main source of communication. Our French and their English is limited!" - Lesley Henderson La Garenne H29
"Thanks for everything. You have made this so easy!"
- Salina Berry, Portiragnes Plage H 3
"Just a quick note to say that we thought this villa was really excellent, and the owner very helpful. We had a very good time."
- Chris Hall Les Mas Cypress H27
"I just wanted to say thank you from all of us for an incredibly lovely stay at Domaine de Beausejour. We appreciated all your extra help beforehand (our friends felt very well cared for and we enjoyed our dinner that was waiting for us on the dining room table) and Mme's help during our stay ..... she was a lovely hostess and we had a perfect trip. We even came home with some of her ceramics as a souvenir. Again, thank you for making the trip so wonderful." - Silvia Hughes Domaine Beausejours H16
"Just wanted to let you know we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Monseret with the Rivieres. The premises are as described and very generous in space, especially outdoors, with the wonderful barbecue and seating area, lounge chairs and above all, the pool. Our grandchildren seemed to spend all their waking hours soaking wet and grinning! Altogether, a great success! Thanks for your extensive help and correspondence on the way to rental." - Margaret Kurzman (USA) Les Cigalous A1
"Just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our two weeks at Les Truquets - the villa, pool & gardens were all beautiful, and Andre & Bernadette were most helpful and friendly - a lovely couple - they made us feel so welcome. Please pass on our thanks to Mr & Mrs Roy, we all thoroughly relaxed and had a wonderful couple of weeks in the sun!" - Teresa Scarff Les Truquets H32
"If we are planning a holiday in the South of France area, we would definitely consider booking through your agency again. Everyone concerned with our booking was professional, efficient and informative. We wish you all the best in the future. Thanks again. Barbara." - Ken and Barbara Rochelongue H05
"Firstly I would wish to record what an excellent two weeks my wife and I enjoyed at Les Cigales des Crillons near Bedoin in Provence (your reference VU2) between 21st August and 2nd September. The villa fully lived up to expectations in every respect and the weather could not have been better. Sandrine met us on arrival – she was most helpful and charming. I must record my thanks to you for making the process of arranging the holiday straight forward and trouble free. " - Jim Waldron Les Cigales des Crillons VU2
"First of all I have to tell you that we had a wonderful time at
Beauséjour! It was a perfect holiday. " - Annette Krauter (Germany) Domaine Beausejour H16
What the press has to say...
Joe Sornberger, from The Ottawa Citizen
Living like a local:the sweet allure of villa life in France
We were staying in the Languedoc-Roussillon, an area that is less well-known than (but every bit as beautiful as) its next-door neighbouring region that Peter Mayle made hugely popular and ridiculously expensive with A Year in Provence and its sequels. Languedoc-Roussillon is a rolling, rich-soiled land of endless vineyards, hillside towns and villages, ancient ruins and Middle Ages monuments. We rented our villa based on the description and snapshots provided on the website of the villa rental agency that my wife found while reading The Daily Telegraph travel pages online. And off we went to France. It was a special occasion trip, marking a 50th birthday and a significant wedding anniversary, so we wanted something special. And we especially like villa life.
Staying in one place, making day trips to the surrounding countryside, cities and towns, spares us from the daily dilemmas of “Where will we stay tonight?” and “Where will we eat dinner?” that can rob a road trip of all the relaxation. We’ve found that if we have a home base, we can make ourselves right at home.
The English are very big on villa rentals, having coined the term “self-catered vacations”. Naturally then, the British own plenty of property throughout the south of France. Our place (and it is forever “our place” to me now) is owned by a charming British couple.Over more than 15 years, they rebuilt the cottage from the pile of bricks it was to the comfortable, charming and thoroughly mod-con home it now is (they live next door in an even nicer place).
The term “villa” sounds more expensive than it actually is. Our place in Le Pin cost 625€ for a week in May – the end of the low season. Convert that to Canadian and we paid about $900 for restored stone cottage that was tastefully decorated with fine antiques and nestled into a hillside village with a pretty church, clock tower and fountain. The private, walled-in backyard has a small pool surrounded by lush potted plants and exotic flowers. To stay at a good hotel could have cost twice as much. Or we could have stayed home and paid much more to be wedged in at a waterfront cottage filled with cast-off furniture in Anywhere, Ontario in July. And it wouldn’t have had a second-floor terrace to enjoy a quiet dinner, nurse a glass of rosé from the vineyards in nearby Lirac and watch the sun slowly slide behind the hills.
We bought our baguette from the Bread Lady or, if we missed her, the boulangerie down the road. We purchased meat and cheese at a supermarket in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, 10 minutes away by car. Breakfast was always leisurely and usually consumed on the terrace as we roughed out the day’s agenda. A tour of the Roman amphitheatre in Orange? A drive through wild horse country in the Camargue en route to the Mediterranean Coast? Lunch was often our biggest meal because that’s when the street side bistros and restaurants offer better prices on plat du jour dishes – and because we never quite got the hang of eating at 8.30 at night, the way the French do. Also, eating at bistros and cafés at midday while watching the people walk by is just such a civilised way to do lunch.
Southern France villa vacations allow for that kind of unstructured, unhurried travel experience. You can take what the day offers. If it was sunny, we headed for Nimes to tour the Roman ruins. Or we stopped in at nearby medieval Uzes to window shop on shaded streets or wander around at the old town square and its huge courtyard lined with bistros and shops, where we watched children chase puppies around the fountain. If it rained – we could take it easy and read and relax. Or do some inside sightseeing, touring the massive cathedrals of the Palais des Papes in Avignon – where the popes set up shop during the 14th century because they feared for their lives in Rome. Afterwards, we danced sur le pont d’Avignon. How could we not?
Then it was back home to the villa for a little dinner and a glass of rosé on the terrace. It was like we lived there. Almost.
Finding a villa: We used South France Villas, a smaller villa-rental agency specializing in properties in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. They were first-rate all the way. They’re at www.southfrancevillas.com.
Seasonal travel: Rates vary according to time of year with the lowest fare in winter and most expensive during summer vacation periods. The winter rate for Maison du Jas, our stone cottage in Le Pin, was 500€. It went for 1,125€ in high season. It sleeps four and has a pool. Last I checked, it was booked through mid-October.
|
