Anne White review 3 Mar 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Apart from the excellent food and the warm reception from Liz and Mel the scenery and fresh mountain air was fantastic. Walking in the beautiful natural habitat with the chamois and finding out about the fauna and flora of the mountains was excellent.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A decent level of fitness is recommended. Although the walks were chosen according to the group abilities and weather conditions some sections proved harder than others for me. Despite lagging behind on occasions Mel the walk leader was sympathetic and supportive to my abilities and encouraged me through it! Take hill walking appropriate clothing and layers!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Where possible local suppliers were used and care and understanding for the environment was an obvious concern.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The company was great, the days well structured and organised and Liz and Mel great hosts so that made the holiday one to remember. Great!
Helen Moody review 26 Feb 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The amazing walks and views and great company.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be fit - snow-shoeing is a great workout.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
This holiday is run by a British couple who have lived in the Mercantour since 2003 and are now part of the local community. 'Overspill' guests who can't be accommodated in the owners' gite are offered accommodation in nearby hotels run by French hoteliers. Food was sourced locally. Walking and snowshoeing as activities have a relatively low impact on the environment compared to some other outdoor sports.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent holiday. Mel and Liz are great hosts and the itinerary was adapted according to the weather/snow conditions to ensure that the guests enjoyed a well-balanced programme of winter walking/snow-shoeing.
Sue Rushfirth review 22 Feb 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many memorable parts to the holiday. We were made very welcome by Mel and Liz who are superb and generous hosts. The walks were all well planned with care and thought to be both challenging but varied each day. The group we were with for the week were like minded people who were both supportive and very good company. And last but not least the accommodation was good and a welcome retreat at the end of a physically demanding day.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go for it. Winter walking is such good fun and gives you a fantastic sense of achievement.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The mini bus held 9 people who travelled together so individuals did not need cars. The use of local transport was also encouraged. Local produce was used in the preparation of meals and the local economy supported through responsible tourism.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Some excellent experiences, good food and accommodation which represented very good value for money.
Adrian Porter review 18 Feb 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Spending a day walking in superb mountains in the snow with a like-minded small group, and then on the way back managing to spot five wolves (in a reserve, but it is huge so rare to see them!) and hearing them howl - which reverberated across the valley - spine-chilling and totally amazing!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go if you want to spend time in amazing nature with few other distractions and get away from it all. If you want to hang out in cafes, walk out to shops etc, it is probably not for you!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We stayed with our hosts, and went to local cafes and bars, and obviously all our food came from the local area. I guess nature walking holidays are not very consumerist, so they probably do not add much to the local economy but then also leave little but footprints and happy customers!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good experience. Good food, nice hosts, comfortable lodgings, knowledgeable and appropriately chatty guide, wonderful walks that were pretty energizing but well targeted at the group, amazing and little explored mountain area.
Rachel Spencer review 4 Jan 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It is a little difficult to say as there were so many 'wow' moments, but I guess the snow-shoe walking was the best, closely followed by the fabulously sunny winter walking, the great hosts, the fantastic accommodation, great locally sourced food, etc. etc. ......
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just go for it! But seriously, make sure your fitness level is ok as if they do get snow (seriously lacking when I visited but the wall to wall sunshine and blue skies more than made up for it) then the snowshoe walking is hard work, but they don't rush you so no-one would feel left out.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. They used a local Chambre Dhote as the overflow accommodation as well as a nearby gite thereby sharing the money around. Much of the delicious food was sourced locally. The small groups (maximum 8) also minimised any impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was probably one of the best I have had - and I am already in the process of booking again for next year. The hosts were fantastic, the weather amazing, the food delicious and plentiful, and the whole experience was one that I will always treasure.
Rosemary Dooley review 30 Dec 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The food.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take plenty of very warm clothes.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Too much driving - not all guests in one place - then further miles for activity
each day.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Disappointing, apart from wonderful cooking. Gite was incredibly cold until lots
of extra heat used - heating went off early in evening - and too much time spent
in minibus rather than outdoors.
Read the operator's response here:
After several months of e mailing activity to ensure that the holiday was suitable for this particular client, it is disappointing to receive such a negative review.
The guest did in fact choose to leave the holiday early, to visit Australian friends in Nice – her departure was made without complaint and after our trying to address point one of the issues raised.
1) TOO MUCH DRIVING – we attempt to vary our walks to show the diversity of this lovely part of the world, as well as to gain height so that walk starts are out of the tree line and afford splendid views. This necessitates driving (through lovely countryside) for between 30 minutes and an hour each way, which still allows 5/6 hours on the hill, a length of day which our guest found to be excessive.
2) GUESTS IN DIFFERENT VENUES – we offer our guests the choice between catered gîte accommodation, and chambre d’hote. In a quiet rural location our partners (able to provide “wonderful food” also) are based 25 minutes from us in Berthemont. We do however take it upon ourselves to minimise the “to-ing and fro-ing”, taking the extra driving duties upon ourselves, ensuring that our guests are not inconvenienced.
3) COLD ACCOMMODATION – the gîte in question was thoroughly cleaned and aired before this guest’s arrival. It would have been around 10-15 degrees in the gîte, and warming again while our guests enjoyed their additional complimentary lunch, during which the guests could get to know each other. The accommodation is equipped with central heating – and four large radiators – the heating is on from 06.30 to 22.30 to 20 degrees. Realising that we had a guest who felt the cold, the use of an additional plug in electric heater was suggested. The client took to sleeping in a single bed with two thick duvets, and a blanket in a room which never falls below 12 degrees – even over night. Subsequently the offer of a further radiator was refused. Dining together was in a room with two large radiators and a roaring fire with an estimated temperature of 25 degrees – pleasant enough for wearing a single layer.
4) PLENTY OF WARM CLOTHES – we would suggest that a temperature of 20/25 degrees within the accommodation would be satisfactory for the majority of guests. Outside; of course we are in the South of France but up in the mountains; temperatures varied from 0 degrees in the early mornings to a balmy 15 degrees as we were enjoying a mild spell.
I am sure that browsers of the RT site reading this review will be able to take a balanced judgement. For this particular holiday our only previous poor review was made on the basis of inadequate truly vegetarian food at our chambre d’hote partners; this is a problem that is very prevalent in France as travellers here will know, and has now been improved. There has certainly been no subsequent complaint about the quality of our partner’s food. We are also pleased to offer most of the Mercantour holidays on RT, where other reviews may be seen.
It is very rare that we receive any negative feedback and we of course take any comments very seriously. We will be contacting the guest directly to address other matters raised during the course of our dialogue. Please note that other (returning RT) clients and a non RT guest, thoroughly enjoyed their time with us.
Nicholas Greer review 26 Apr 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Stunning views from high up in the Parc National de Mercantour, well worth the effort of climbing 1000 metres. Also Liz's home cooking, delish!!!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a factor 40 sun cream, I’ve never burnt so badly!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Very much so, Liz and Mel have set up a home from home and I made a large donation to the local chemist after my sunburn.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful, would like do it all again and probably will before too long.
Geoffrey Cunningham review 2 Mar 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The hill walking was all great, but really the times to remember were just swapping stories with Liz and Mel, and the other guests Nick and Martha.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are teaming up with other people you don’t know, you are going to need to be flexible. Maybe they are more, or less, athletic than you, or like different things. Liz and Mel do their best to make it work, but it's up to everyone. This is a beautiful place, ace accommodation and good food all at a reasonable price.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes I do - I travelled by train from UK which is pretty demanding and not cheap, but kind of fun - may not be so much fun with small children!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An easy going and healthy week in the sun and the mountains, just what I needed in the middle of the UK winter.
John Dixie review 21 Feb 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The snowshoeing on the sunny days.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make full use of Mel's extensive knowledge of the area.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. We rented a car and shopped in the area, and didn't drive around aimlessly while we were there.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday was everything we expected and hoped it would be, except for the weather which was brilliant some days and not so good on others.
John Vose review 29 Dec 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snow shoeing in beautiful scenery and great weather.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
None.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Ok.
Read the operator's response here:
Sorry that we had to cut short the day due to several of the party not feeling able to complete a larger circuit. Glad that you understood that splitting a party in winter conditions is not admissible. Trust that the tea and aperos later made up for it. Hope that you managed to buy your snow shoes and winter gear the day after so you can get back out there.
Jennifer Steward review 21 Apr 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Following wolf tracks along an icy river through a snow covered forest and, at last, finding the remains of a wolf kill. The views over the snow capped mountains after a hard snowshoe walk through the forest. The welcoming home and great company of our trip leaders Mel and Liz and the fantastic food and friendly welcome at the Les Grandes Chalets.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A reasonable level of fitness is required as snowshoe walking can quite challenging.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Local businesses were used and we left only tracks in the forest.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A good balance of challenging physical activity in a beautiful environment with fantastic food, wine and company.
Paul Smyth review 7 Apr 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was exciting and memorable because each day we had a different activity and went to a different place. Our guides tailor made and adapted the holiday to suit us. We spent two days snowshoeing, two days skiing, a day hillwalking and a day sightseeing. Brilliant!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear for whatever activities you're planning to do.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. Our guides encouraged us to 'leave no trace' on the environment and our hosts in Le Grand Chalet benefited from our custom and they were over generous with their wonderful home cooking.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent!
Yvonne DSouza review 3 Jan 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Breath-taking views of the Mercantour National Park. The accommodation was great - oodles of delicious home-cooked food. The French people I met were all very friendly.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's worth doing some walking beforehand if you get the chance, though not essential. It can get quite chilly in winter once the sun has gone, so take a few warm layers with you.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We stayed at a locally run guest house which used local produce where possible, so I would say yes. The main activity is walking so this has minimal effect on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - the company was great and the views were stunning.
Elaine Axby review 2 Jan 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The fantastic views on the walks. The welcome from Christine and Luc at Le Grand Chalet, and of course the fantastic food. The personal attention from Mel and Liz to ensure everything ran smoothly, and their welcoming attitude.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Snowshoeing is hard work!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It benefited local people in that it used local resources.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall, it was a great holiday.
Vicki Brown review 10 Jan 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snow-shoeing across a ski slope and drinking mulled wine on the mountainside.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure if you're vegetarian or don't meat eat, that you clairfy this and get it accepted so that you don't have to then pick the meat out of meals or go without and that lardons, (small bacon pieces) and chicken count as meat!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
Read the operator's response here:
Sorry Vicki that the "meat" experience down graded your break to a mere "okay". We usually find that Christine's generous 5 course dinners do have enough content to satisfy even picky eaters like ourselves. We'll certainly try to ensure that there are more options for future veggies - the French are peculiar in their understanding (or lack of) of the needs of vegetarians, as you know up there in Paris.
