Salies de Bearn holiday home rental, Carresse with private pool, walking, beach/lake nearby, balcony/terrace, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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Maison Mailhes (house)

Home description

Maison Mailhes easily accommodates 10 people in 2 double (both with en suites) and 3 twin bedrooms, with space for cots if required. Inside and outside dining tables seat up to 12, and two comfortable sitting rooms mean there is no shortage of space to relax indoors. Thick stone walls and modern insulation make the house cool in summer, warm in winter.

With its fabulous private pool and easy access to the stylish resort of Biarritz and the famous Atlantic surfing beaches, Maison Mailhes is an obvious summer destination, but having full gas-fired central heating and double glazing it provides a comfortable base for a memorable holiday at any time of year.

The surrounding countryside is perfect for walking and cycling enthusiasts, whilst a relaxing interlude at the thermal spa, a round of golf or a game of tennis in Salies-de-Béarn is just 10 minutes away. There are numerous activities, sights and attractions close by, and in winter skiing in the Pyrénées makes an outstanding day trip.

The private pool and garden	Maison Mailhes
Dinner for 10 in the beamed kitchen/dining room	Comfort and space in the large sitting room

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/83869

The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Pyrenees Atlantiques region

The Pyrénées Atlantiques offers a fascinating mix including Basque villages, historic medieval towns, lush countryside, rushing rivers, beautiful beaches, vineyards, fantastic restaurants, chic cities, and the rugged mountains of the Pyrénées.

This diversity produces a huge range of activities – from surfing to bird watching to walking to cycling to golf to tennis to fishing to white water rafting to skiing to gastronomy. There is truly something for everyone, and so you will never be short of relaxation and fun.

The beaches on the Atlantic coast are 45 minutes away, and offer a wonderful choice including stylish Biarritz, enchanting and family-perfect Bidart, surfers’ paradise Hossegor, and famous Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This region of France, Aquitaine, has the longest stretch of sandy coastline in Europe. It's easy to combine a trip to the beach with a visit to Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque region, and origin of wonderful food ranging from traditional chocolate to dry cured ham.

Even closer (18km) is Lac de Sames which has a sandy beach, water slides and pedalos. Lac d'Orthez (25km) has all this plus "bumper" boats. Or try Aqua Béarn, a charming water park in the village of Estialescq between Pau and Oloron-Sainte-Marie, which is great fun and suitable for all ages.

In less than an hour you can drive to San Sebastián, a cosmopolitan Spanish city with a strong Basque character and fabulous beach. Or why not cross the mountains to spend a day in Pamplona, a city full of history and deep-rooted traditions, and see its famous bullring? Venture a little further into Spain to visit the amazing Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Do a little shopping in Spain – the tax on alcohol and other purchases is even lower than in France.

Guests of all ages will enjoy the nearby Grottes d'Isturitz et d’Oxocelhaya, but for real excitement visit the Grottes du Betharram, which are considered some of the most beautiful, and definitely amongst the most interesting, in France.

Lourdes, celebrated as the holy shrine of St. Bernadette and visited by many thousands of pilgrims each year, is just one hour away,

Ski-resorts such as Le Pierre St. Martin are 100 km or a mere one hour's drive, and make Maison Mailhes a great destination for families looking for variety during a winter break.

Those who love to shop should visit Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, Tarbes, Lourdes and Pau which are all full of small and fascinating shops.

La Rhune, the highest peak in the Pays Basque and the westernmost peak of the Pyrénées before they meet the sea, can be climbed on Le Petit Train de la Rhune, a cogwheel train built in 1924. The views from the peak along the northern coast of Spain and the Atlantic beaches of France towards Bordeaux are truly spectacular.

Many of the greatest French wines are produced in Aquitane, and no visit to France is complete without sampling the local wines. A day visiting the local vineyards, which produce Jurançon and Madiran, is a lovely way to see some beautiful landscapes and sleepy villages.

There is much more in this wonderful region – visit Maison Mailhes and make your own discoveries.

Salies de Bearn / Carresse area

Carresse is a flourishing village. People come from several miles around to the excellent bakery, just 200 metres from Maison Mailhes. There is also a hotel-restaurant, two cafés, a post office and a pharmacy all within 400 metres.

As well as Hotel-Restaurant Tissier in Carresse, there is an excellent Michelin recommended restaurant, La Belle Auberge, 4 km away in the small village of Castagnède and a variety of restaurants in nearby Salies-de- Béarn.

Maison Mailhes is situated 6 km east of Sorde l'Abbaye, a UNESCO site with Roman mosaics on the Chemin de St Jacques (Way of St James), an ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella which is still followed today. Travelling 6km in the opposite direction will bring you to the beautiful and historic spa town of Salies-de-Béarn with its thermal baths, shops, restaurants and sporting facilities including golf and tennis.

There are fascinating medieval towns to explore close by, including Sauveterre-de-Béarn, Orthez, Navarrenx and St Jean Pied de Port. A 25 minute drive south brings you to Saint-Palais, a market town in the Basque region and so with a very different style and culture.

Each town has its weekly market day with local farmers and producers selling their goods. There are a number of supermarkets within a 10 or 15 minute drive for more routine shopping.

The Gave (river) d’Oloron is within 10 minutes walk of Maison Mailhes. It is one of only 2 rivers in France where the salmon still return naturally to their spawning grounds each year, and is reputedly one of the best fishing rivers in France. Our managers can organise fishing permits for our guests. The Gave is also good for swimming and kayaking, and there is white water rafting upstream.

Maison Mailhes is an ideal base for a cycling or walking holiday. Whether you bring your own bikes or hire them nearby, there is space in the shed to keep them safely locked away when not in use. Walkers of all abilities and aspirations are well catered for, with walks ranging from gentle strolls through the beautiful countryside to demanding mountain hikes in the Pyrénées.

Fêtes are a way of life in the Pyrénées Atlantiques – you will be unlucky if you don't encounter one during your stay. There are fêtes throughout the year, but every weekend in the summer sees Carresse or one of the neighbouring villages "en fête", with food, drink, games, music and dancing. Come prepared for a warm welcome!

How to get there

By Air
Maison Mailhes is a 40 minute drive from Biarritz and Pau airports, and around 1¾ hours from Bordeaux. All three airports have car hire desks and are served by scheduled (www.ba.com and www.airfrance.fr) and low cost airlines (www.ryanair.com, www.easyjet.com, www.flybe.com and www.bmibaby.com) from a number of London and regional UK airports, and from Dublin.

By Train
The journey from Paris to Puyoo (15 minutes) or Orthez (25 minutes) takes around 5 hours on the TGV. There are some direct trains; others involve a change in Bordeaux or Dax. Motor Rail operates between Calais and Toulouse (May to September) and Auto Train between Paris and Biarritz, Bordeaux and Toulouse.

By Car
Brittany Ferries sail to St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg, Roscoff and Santander; LD Lines sail from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Calais, and Newhaven to Dieppe; P & O Ferries sail from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Bilbao; and a number of ferry companies and Euro Tunnel will take you from Kent to the north-eastern ports of France. Condor Ferries provide a fast ferry from Weymouth or Poole to St Malo.

With over 30 years experience holidaying in this part of France we can advise on travel options wherever you plan to start your journey, and we will send you clear instructions on how to find your way to Maison Mailhes from any port, airport or train station in France.

Flexible start days mean that you avoid the higher prices of weekend ferries and flights. They also mean you avoid the very heavy Saturday traffic on "changeover day" together with the almost inevitable long traffic jams. Why not avoid the higher travel costs and a stressful beginning and end of your holiday and spend Saturday relaxing at Maison Mailhes?

Activities near Salies de Bearn

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Large sitting room – double aspect with 3 seat sofa, 2 seat sofa and 2 armchairs, other chairs and furnishings, 32" LCD TV (UK Freesat channels), DVD player and selection of DVDs, iPod dock (charger and speakers).
Small sitting room – 3 comfy chairs, a variety of games, books and toys.
WC with wash hand basin
Utility room with automatic washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board, vacuum cleaner.

Kitchen/dining room – Measuring over 6 m x 6 m, with exposed beams and fitted with stainless steel appliances and granite worktops, this is a truly stunning room. It is wonderfully light with three french doors, one leading straight on to the terrace for effortless al fresco dining. There is a wide range of equipment including a food processor, electric kettle, filter coffee machine, espresso pot and milk frother, together with an extensive selection of pots, pans and utensils, and plenty of crockery, cutlery and glassware. The hand-made solid oak dining tables were commissioned from a local craftsman, who designed them to join together to seat up to 12 or to be used singly to create a more intimate environment for a smaller group. For days out there is a large cool box together with picnic plates, bowls, tumblers and cutlery.

Bedroom 1 – double aspect with King size bed, and en suite bath/shower room
Bedroom 2 – double aspect with double bed and en suite shower room
Bedroom 3 – twin beds, antique furniture
Bedroom 4 – twin beds with a light and airy feeling
Bedroom 5 – twin beds under original beams
Family bathroom – bath, shower, basin, bidet and wc
Attic – pool table (hot in summer and cold in winter)

Further details outdoors:
Off-street parking for up to 4 cars
Terrace with dining tables and chairs for 12 and large parasol.
10.5 x 6.5 metre swimming pool with sun loungers and parasols.
Large BBQ (charcoal supplied)
Folding garden chairs
Shed with storage space for bicycles, surf boards and skis
Grassy areas where children can play

Further details

The price includes:
Welcome pack
Bedding appropriate to the season
Bed linen
Extra pillows
Bathroom towels
Tea towels and hand towels in the kitchen
Hand towels in the WC
Swimming pool towels in summer
Electricity
Gas
Water
BBQ charcoal

There are no hidden extras. Two week bookings include a mid-stay change of bed linen and towels, a kitchen and bathroom clean, and essential pool cleaning and maintenance.

Our English-speaking managers live nearby and can easily be contacted.

Conditions

A 25% deposit is payable on booking.
The balance is due eight weeks before arrival.
A deposit of £500 is due with the final balance. This will be refunded, less the cost of any breakages or damage within two weeks of your departure.

Start days are flexible, please contact us.

In Low season further reductions are available for groups of 6 or fewer

Rental rates

Prices for group size 10
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
High Season	4 Jul 09	5 Sep 09	1600£ 1,600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	5 Sep 09	3 Oct 09	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	3 Oct 09	24 Oct 09	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	24 Oct 09	31 Oct 09	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	31 Oct 09	19 Dec 09	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	19 Dec 09	7 Jan 10	1600£ 1,600	300300	300300	4 Nights
Low Season	7 Jan 10	13 Feb 10	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	13 Feb 10	20 Feb 10	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	20 Feb 10	27 Mar 10	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	27 Mar 10	17 Apr 10	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	17 Apr 10	29 May 10	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	29 May 10	3 Jul 10	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	3 Jul 10	4 Sep 10	1600£ 1,600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	4 Sep 10	2 Oct 10	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	2 Oct 10	23 Oct 10	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	23 Oct 10	30 Oct 10	1300£ 1,300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	30 Oct 10	18 Dec 10	1000£ 1,000	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	18 Dec 10	8 Jan 11	1600£ 1,600	300300	300300	4 Nights

Prices for group size 6
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
High Season	4 Jul 09	5 Sep 09	1600£ 1,600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	5 Sep 09	3 Oct 09	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	3 Oct 09	24 Oct 09	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	24 Oct 09	31 Oct 09	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	31 Oct 09	19 Dec 09	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	19 Dec 09	7 Jan 10	1600£ 1,600	300300	300300	4 Nights
Low Season	7 Jan 10	13 Feb 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	13 Feb 10	20 Feb 10	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	20 Feb 10	27 Mar 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	27 Mar 10	17 Apr 10	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	17 Apr 10	29 May 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	29 May 10	3 Jul 10	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	3 Jul 10	4 Sep 10	1600£ 1,600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	4 Sep 10	2 Oct 10	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	2 Oct 10	23 Oct 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	23 Oct 10	30 Oct 10	1100£ 1,100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	30 Oct 10	18 Dec 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	18 Dec 10	8 Jan 11	1600£ 1,600	300300	300300	4 Nights

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Start days are flexible, please contact us with your requirements.

Rental rates for long lets are negotiable and will be considerably less than the quoted weekly rates.

We can accept payment by cheque or bank transfer in Sterling or in Euros.

A refundable security deposit of £500 is payable with the final balance.

Guestbook for Maison Mailhes

Your house is very comfortable, beautifully decorated and furnished, and the pool is lovely. Judy and Paul N, Oxford

We have had an amazing time and nobody wants to leave. The sun has shone and we were all relaxed and happy in this wonderful house and garden. I loved jumping off the bridge (am I the oldest one ever?) and the Bastille Day celebration fireworks. Hilary R, Sheffield

A really good stay. House very comfortable and to be recommended. Brigham family, Surrey

Lovely skiing and so warm in February. The thermes in Salies are a must. Hall family, London W12

What a lovely place to spend a holiday. The house is gorgeous (especially the kitchen!) & we appreciated the gift pack and extra touches – soap, pool towels, etc. Katie G, Rugby

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/83869

Contact details for the advertiser of home 83869
Name:	Debbie and Richard Lawrence-Wilson
Tel:	+44 (0)7816 835865
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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Advertiser joined: Mar 2009