Run by Anna and Simon Davey, 2 award winning critically acclaimed ex- restaurateurs, Honeysuckle cottage is set on a complex of gites set in a 4 acre oasis of tranquillity within the French countryside yet only a couple of miles from 2 well equipped villages.
The cottage is newly renovated, well equipped and furnished to a high standard. Your hosts are on site to ensure that you have a great holiday and offer such services as pamper days, home-cooked meals, host BBQ, high teas, baby sitting and baby equipment. Within the grounds there is a nicely decked solar heated pool, children’s play area, childrens play-barn, bikes of all shapes and sizes, various sports equipment and plenty of quiet shady spots to chill out, read a book or have a glass of wine. The surrounding area has something for everyone, excellent cycling and walks, golf, historical buildings, animal parks, theme parks, fishing, go-kart, quad bikes, shopping in Poitiers, thalassotherapy in La Rochelle, lake beaches locally and main beaches just over 1 ½ hours drive.
Honeysuckle has electric heating and a wood burner. Anti-allergy pillows and duvets provided. All twin beds can be made up as a double on request. The gite can be child proofed on request, including safety locks, bed guards, stair gates. Baby equipment can be provided on request, we have cots, stroller, bumbo, potty, high chair, steriliser, cutlery, baby monitor, changing mat, baby bath, baby den – please let us know what you require when you book. We can also provided baby sitting services. Complimentary welcome pack included in the price (butter, milk, tea, sugar, bread, cheese and wine).
Size:
Sleeps up to 8, 4 bedrooms
Nearest beach:
La Rochelle, 122km
Access:
Car essential Nearest amenities: 3km
Family friendly?
Suitable for children of all ages Suitable for people with restricted mobility
Notes:
No pets allowed No smoking at this property
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, Internet access, DVD player, Staffed Property
Pool:
Shared outdoor pool (heated)
General:
CD player, Pool / Snooker table, Table tennis, Games room, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available
Further details indoors: Honeysuckle - 4 bedrooms (sleeps 8 + cots) Spacious modernised two storey farmhouse. Large hall way. Bathroom - bath with shower over, WC, basin, cupboards. Bedroom 4 - twin bed room with bedside table and lighting, wardrobe, mirror, chest of drawers. Large well equipped kitchen/diner with seating for 8, sofa area, kitchen with washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster, crockery, glasses, cooking pans, cooking utensils. Large cooker/range. Large lounge with 2 x sofas for 3, comfy chair, wooden chair and beanbag, TV with English satellite, DVD player, music system, books games. Coffee table, Wood-burner. Upstairs: Bedroom 1 - large room with kingsize bed, built in wardrobe, 2 chest of drawers, mirror, bedside tables with side lights. Bedroom 2 - double room with wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside tables with lighting and mirror. Bedroom 3 - large twin bed room with bedside table and lighting, wardrobe, mirror, chest of drawers. Shower room- large shower, WC and basin.
Further details outdoors: Large communal gardens, the gite has it's own semi - private area with garden furniture and BBQ. We have 4 adult bikes and 6 children's bikes on site, a football goal, badminton, swingball, boules, giant Jenga, Twister, trampoline, Swing/slide set, table tennis, table football and hammocks. Shared solar heated pool (5 metres by 10 metres). Covered paddling pool. Various outdoor toys Sandpit.
The city of Poitiers is less than half an hour away with its stunning architecture, cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants, and great shopping. Slightly further afield the chic seaside resort of La Rochelle is only an hour and a half’s drive, with its interesting Medieval and Renaissance architecture in the fortified old town.
To entertain the children, a trip to Futuroscope at Poitiers is a must. It is an amazing cinema park dedicated to the moving image. Futuroscope has over twenty theme-based attraction areas spread across 60 hectares. Another great theme park - Puy du Fou - offers a voyage through history, featuring gladiators, Vikings, medieval city, market town, & biggest stage in the world with extravagant technical effects and 1,000 actors. Animal parks are also a great hit with children and adults alike. There are several in the area, including Monkey Valley, Le Planete des Crocodiles, Ile de Serpents and La Vallée des Cerfs.
For the more active visitors, there is no shortage of activities including walking and cycling, fishing and go karting.
Golfers are also very well catered for as there are many great golf courses in the area, most notably Chateau des Forges just a couple of miles down the road!!
A wide variety of activities can be found at the Golf Club Château des Forges, leading to a warm, friendly and relaxing atmosphere for all the family.
The Benassay area
The nearby villages of Benassay and Vasles have great facilities with restaurant, café bar, cinema, chemist, hairdressers, general store, butchers, weekly market and an excellent boulangerie for your fresh croissant and bread for breakfast.
How to get there
What's nearby:
Attractions
Restaurants
Click map icons for more information
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Poitiers: 35 km
Railway:
Poitiers: 35 km
Ferry:
Caen: 350 km
Lac de Maison is situated a short distance from the village of Benassay on the edge of the Vienne region and within a mile of Deux Sevres.
The information below is provided for your information. Full travel details will be provided at the time of booking.
“Wonderfully Relaxing Family Holiday - yes you can have such a thing!!”
For our third year running we made our way through the Eurotunnel to visit Anna and Simon at Lac-de-Maison. "It's a long journey but definitely worth it" said our 13 year old son as the familar green barn came into sight. We stayed in the 2 bed Buttercup cottage this year which as always was sparkling clean and fully equipped with everything you could need. The weather was fabulously hot for the whole 2 weeks so of course the swimming pool was put to good use. The new play barn with the air-hockey, pool table and table football was a hit with our 13 year old as were the dressing up clothes and Wii Sing with our 2 girls age 6 and 4. The girls also love collecting the eggs in the morning, riding and grooming the ponies and of course playing with Honey the dog. A bike ride to lunch at the local golf club is a great way to sepnd a few hours. And yes, I did get to spend a couple of hours on my own reading a book in the hammock whilst husband played golf and the girls played with their new friends - now how many family holidays can you do that on? We tried a couple of new day trips out this year. Puy du Fou is a theme park but with live shows including a Bird of Prey ballet with 150 birds and a full size Roman Coloseum with charioteers and 8 lions- quiet a spectacle! Green Venice was our second trip which was absolutely beautiful. Spend the day discovering the waterways with an English speaking gondalier and then relax in one of the many restaurants. Then of course you come home to one of Anna and Simon's delicious restaurant quality meals and relax at your gite under the most amazing stars you will ever see! The bbq's on a Monday evening are a great way to meet your fellow guests and of course to enjoy Anna and Simon's food. If you're lucky Simon might even add in a little after-dinner amusment - not sure who enjoyed the space hopper race the most - the children or the adults! We absolutely love our holidays at Lac de Maison so much so that we are going again next year for 3 weeks! I guarantee that you will leave feeling fully relaxed and batteries recharged.
15 Jun 2012
“Something to keep all ages occupied! Baby to teens and Adults alike!”
Fantastic accommodation! Great facilities! We have an 8 month baby and two teenagers who were all keep fully occupied during our stay! From pool in the games room and boules, table tennis outside to... more
16 May 2012
“Perfect Easter at Lac De Maison”
We arrived, exhausted at beautiful Lac De Maison after an epic trip - the overnight ferry and minor roads down through La Belle France - and were met with relaxed kindly smiles and warm greetings... more
Although I am about to repeat what many of the previous reviews have said, I still felt motivated to make my first tripadvisor contribution in several years (and I travel a lot). My wife & I stayed... more
11 Oct 2011
“Superb - Highly recommended”
Lac de Maison is a fantastic place for a holiday with a young family. Anna and Simon have thought of everything that you might need, including toys, story books, bath toys, pushchairs etc etc. The gites are all lovely and very well equipped and the grounds are just great for the children to run around in. We didn't stray far as we were so happy relaxing by the pool or in the garden, or going for a walk to catch butterflies, or a family cycle ride. There is lots to do in the surrounding area if you want to explore. The play barn just opened while we were there and it is a great place for the children to get out of the heat or odd bit of drizzle if needed. Anna and Simon's cooking is excellent, the meals are restaurant standard with the vegetables picked from the garden that day. The group BBQ was also superb. Needless to say, we booked for 2012 when we departed.
18 Aug 2011
“What a gem of a place!”
We have just returned from a wonderful weeks stay in Rose cottage. We have stayed at a number of gites in France in the last few years and this was by far the best. Every detail has been thought of to make a stay at Lac de Maison a very enjoyable one, an unending list of toys and equipment in the huge garden and new "play barn" to keep the children busy (ours are 9&6), The highlights for us were the great bikes that were available to borrow (free of charge) and we spent a lovely morning cycling to the local golf club along the deserted roads, and the children loved meeting the animals (they especially enjoyed collecting the eggs and their ride on the ponies around the garden). The gite was very pretty from the outside and tastefully/comfortably furnished on the inside. The option of a 3 course gourmet meal once the kids are in bed is a huge plus (Anna & Simon used to run a great restaurant in Bristol that we have eaten at, so we were expecting good food & we weren't disappointed!) Anna and Simon are great hosts and we all thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Hope to return next year.
“Better than home away from home - you'll never want to leave!”
What a fabulous place, everything you could ever want and more. The children are well catered for with lots to keep them busy, so much so that you have to go and find them and tear them away from whatever activity they have found to do. Great place to relax and unwind, so very peaceful. Honeysuckle gite was very clean and well appointed and spacious. Lovely pool and sunbathing area. Childrens playroom is a delight and we look forward to returning in the future to see the completed renovation of the teenage games room. Very sad to leave and can' wait to go back.
15 Aug 2011
“perfect relaxing holiday even with three boys age 5 and under!”
This really is the most fantastic holiday accommodation. The gites are incredibly well equipped enabling you to pack much more lightly. Great range of books and toys in the gites as well as... more
13 Aug 2011
“Fantastic family holiday!”
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Lac de Maison. 10 of us stayed in Honeysuckle Cottage (4 adults, 4 children and 2 babies) with plenty of space. It was very clean and extremely comfortable and well equipped.
The children had a fantastic time making use of the excellent facilities - the swimming pool, sandpit, trampoline, play area, giant Jenga and the indoor playroom and loved the dressing up outfits!
The hosts are great too - there if you need them but otherwise leave you to enjoy your stay. The meals they offer are a must!
“A fantastic welcome, beautiful gites and, in particular, great food on offer.”
We stayed in Rose Cottage during 2010. The gite had hardly been used so was in excellent condition and the owners had gone to great lengths to ensure that it was kitted out with everything that a... more
18 Jun 2011
“Fantastic - Very highly recommended for travelling with small children.”
We have just returned from 2 weeks at Lac de Maison and had a fantastic time, the owners Anna & Simon have thought of everything to make holidaying with 2 very young children as relaxing as possible. We knew from the web that the accommodation was very child friendly and could provide lots of the items you need for travelling with a baby, but they had gone the extra mile and provided so much more. Check with them in advance and ask what they provide, it will help cut down on your luggage! The location is very quiet and you do have to drive for most things, however we just loved being away from it all. The 3 gites are lovely, very well equipped and are set in pretty gardens with a swimming pool and plenty of outdoor childrens toys. The family animals - horses, chickens, rabbit, quinea pig, cats and especially Honey, their dog were a really hit with our toddler. Anna & Simon are fantastic hosts and really helped to make our holiday. The delicious restaurant quality food they provide was a real treat. It is not easy going out for meals with a young family and being able to have a freshly prepared and truly scrumptious dinner with wine brought to our table after the children had gone to bed was brilliant.
14 Jun 2011
“Perfect family holiday for three generations.”
We had a wonderful week in May 2010 with our daughter and grandson. The setting was wonderful and the house beautiful and well prepared in advance for our grandson (who was 9 months) with a full range on baby equipment. Anna could not have been more helpful in advance in answering questions and both Simon and Anna were friendly and welcoming. Our stay could not have been better and the food we had ordered for our arrival and the meal we had prepared while there were wonderful. I am sure we will go back
We spent a week at the beginning of May at these properties. We were a mixed party of 9, including 2 teenagers and 3 OAPs. We were immediately impressed by the attractive setting of this tranquil location. I was a little unsure as to how we would occupy our teens, but the heated swimming pool, badminton, boulles and bikes gave them plenty to do while we were not out and about. The gites were beautifully clean and very well equipped. Lots of inside space and lovely bathrooms. We did opt for eating on site on most evenings and had no problem with the high quality cooking equipment and provision of bbqs. On 2 occasions we asked our hosts to cook for us and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food and wine provided. We found plenty to do and see in the surrounding area - lots we didn't have time for. A hire car is a must to get the best out of this holiday and the roads were delightfully quiet. Although we did not have any small children in our party, these gites are very well set up for young families with safety being obviously a matter of paramount importance. There was play equipment, ponies, trampoline and lots of inflatables for the pool. Indoors an impressive selection of dvds, games and books to keep everyone entertained in case of inclement weather. One of the nicest things about the site was the size of the grounds. Plenty of room for finding a quiet spot for reading in the shade or lazing about on a hammock (perfect for a teenage boy and ipod) We finished our holiday feeling relaxed, chilled and yearning for just a bit more time before returning to the bustle of everyday life.
12 Jun 2011
“Wonderful hospitality in a lovely location.”
This was our first family holiday in France and my wife,daughter and I feel very lucky to have chosen Anna and Simon`s home from home. The Gite was spacious,well appointed and very comfortable (watch out for the low oak beams) and the personal touches like the welcome pack etc made settling in a pleasure. A car is essential if you intend to explore the Towns and Villages in this lovely area and from historic Poitiers to La Rochelle on the coast there is something for everyone. On the other hand if you simply want to relax by the pool, enjoy a bike ride or walk through the amazingly peaceful countryside surrounding this oasis of calm then that has all been arranged and Anna and Simon are on hand to provide advice and tips on lots of other things to do and see . One of the other things they can provide is a wonderful dinner, ours was delicious, do'nt miss it. We enjoyed a great week and we'll do it again.
11 Jun 2011
“A fabulous family friendly place where a happy, relaxing holiday is guaranteed.”
We had a fantastic time when we stayed at Lac De Maison. Our gite was lovely and Anna and Simon had taken a lot of time and thought to furnish it with everything necessary for a hassle free holiday - from wine glasses to stair gates. The facilities for young children were excellent and the special touches for adults were a godsend, (such as the gorgeous 3 course meals on offer). Anna and Simon were great hosts and made sure we had a fabulous holiday.
This is a lovely property, comfortable, clean and well equipped. There were plenty of toys in the garden for the kids to enjoy as well as bikes for general use. Anna and Simon were friendly and helpful. There is the added bonus of being able to have a meal in your rental property - cooked by Anna and Simon - on request and payable separately. The food was lovely and plentiful. I would highly recommend this rental property.
10 Jun 2011
“Hidden gem in beautiful French countryside - the perfect place to unwind and explore traditional France”
Lac de Maison definitely has the wow factor - It is a small complex of beautiful French cottages in charming grounds with plenty of facilities. The owners have obviously put a lot of thought into the accommodation to make it welcoming to both adult and family holidaymakers. There are large grounds to relax in, with the added bonus of private swimming pool for guests and plenty to keep children entertained, such as a play area and a full games and dvd selection. Although the cottages were fully equipped for self-catering, we made full use of the catering services offered, including a full three course meal brought to our cottage and a fantastic barbecue night for all the guests! The owners were very friendly and helpful and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. Although we spent quite a lot of time at the cottages there seemed to be quite a few attractions to visit in the local area. I would say the prices are very fair considering the high level of accommodation and facilities. I would definitely recommend this place as a perfect holiday choice - you can do as much or as little as you want and for once I came back from a holiday feeling completely relaxed and de-stressed!
10 Jun 2011
“Great Family Holiday”
We had a lovely stay in this peaceful location. The hosts, Simon and Anna are very friendly and accomodating and happy to assist with any needs. The accomodation is one of the best we have been to for attention to detail in addressing the needs of young children and a lot of time and effort has been put into the equipping of the cottages. Cottages are very clean and well looked after. Great facilities on the site. Some lovely days out in the surrounding region. Would recommend and I am sure we will revist at some point in the future.
“A wonderful break especially for the children and amazing hosts.”
We stayed here in the second year of operation and were bowled over by the hospitality and easy comfort we experienced. We were two families with small children. They loved the outdoor heated pool,... more
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