Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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France gite & B&B Mercantour National Park, independent reviews
 Reviewed 19 Sep 2006 by Jane Lloyd Francis |  |
Firstly I would like to tell you how very impressed I was with the service from Responsible Travel, the person who answered the phone knew exactly where the Mercantour Park was and was confident in choosing the right people to help with my varied and somewhat eccentric itinerary. I had a response from the operator within the hour and was with them in France within 24 hours, this was a last minute impulse trip.
The trip was 5 star born again, Liz and Mel were fantastically welcoming, extremely well informed on all aspects of the area and able to provide a very relaxing environment.
I packed so much in it's hard to say what was the most memorable, Climbing the sacred Mont Bago with thunder and lightening on the surrounding horizons, being eye to eye with a wolf in the inspiring Alpha wolf park, sharing lunch with a chamoix or scaring myself silly in the via ferrata. The Valle de Merveilles was all I had hoped for and more, because as well as the fascinating ancient engravings the extraordinary rock colours and formations were art in their own right.
As a single traveller without transport I am sure I was not the ideal client but Mel and Liz went out of their way to accommodate me and they were great fun!
Finally I attended an event with Mel and Liz about sensitive development of the area which is for the moment unspoilt and feel that they are committed to retaining the integrity of this very special area.
Thanks to all involved.
The trip was 5 star born again, Liz and Mel were fantastically welcoming, extremely well informed on all aspects of the area and able to provide a very relaxing environment.
I packed so much in it's hard to say what was the most memorable, Climbing the sacred Mont Bago with thunder and lightening on the surrounding horizons, being eye to eye with a wolf in the inspiring Alpha wolf park, sharing lunch with a chamoix or scaring myself silly in the via ferrata. The Valle de Merveilles was all I had hoped for and more, because as well as the fascinating ancient engravings the extraordinary rock colours and formations were art in their own right.
As a single traveller without transport I am sure I was not the ideal client but Mel and Liz went out of their way to accommodate me and they were great fun!
Finally I attended an event with Mel and Liz about sensitive development of the area which is for the moment unspoilt and feel that they are committed to retaining the integrity of this very special area.
Thanks to all involved.
| Reviewed 29 Jul 2009 by Dee Stephens | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting La Madonne d'Utelle, with views over the Bay of Nice and Antibes (glistening THAT Mediterranean blue) to south and the high peaks on the border with Italy to the north-east, partly covered with snow. We walked down to the little town of Utelle (don't miss the Knights Templar church) and found 48 species of butterfly between there and the top of La Madonne. And the Gordolasque Valley. And the Folon chapel at St Paul's (+ the Picassos in the little museum there). And sheltering from the hail with wild chamois in the Boreon. And the weather - apart from the one bit of hail!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Allow a week - there's so much to do and so many places to see. And do a bit of fitness training first. It's worth it to get up them thar hills! Listen to everything Mel and Liz tell you about the place - they know a such a lot and really helped us make the most of our stay.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We didn't feel a direct connection with the locals - maybe because we were staying with English people. Enjoyed buying the local food though and cooking it up on camping stove outside our gite. We drove around rather a lot (which wasn't great unless you really like bendy roads) but didn't arrive by plane.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Lovely. Mel (he's the mountain leader) and Liz (she's the hostess with the mostest - fantastic breakfasts) couldn't have been more kind and welcoming and the Mercantour is fantastic. Did rather feel we were in the best place (Vallee de La Vesubie) because it's very diverse and a bit more open than the rather claustrophobic Tinnee valley. And there's lots of good places to visit not far away.
| Reviewed 12 Jun 2009 by Susan Latham | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Climbing the Mercantour park hills and enjoying the wonderful views.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take your walking boots.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, we left the car on numerous occasions and just walked. We ate locally and enjoyed all the local facilities.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic.
| Reviewed 22 Jan 2009 by Ruth Benville | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful location, spectacular scenery. The gite itself is very pretty, very nicely decorated and spacious. The gite was immaculately clean on arrival, with a complementary bottle of wine which was a very thoughtful touch.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Car rental is essential.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, bringing tourism and business to a quieter rural area.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant, I would definitely go back again. There are lots of activities to choose from and Nice is within easy striking distance - something for all tastes.
| Reviewed 28 Feb 2008 by Rebecca Clark | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the mountains both below and above the snow line. For the children - the wolves!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It was very straight forward to book this holiday as Liz and Mel are so informative and friendly. I would say definitely go along with what Liz and Mel recommend as they really do know the area and what there is on offer there.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
As we drove there rather than flew, yes. We didn't but local produce rather shopped in a large Carrefour in Nice...Next time it would be good to investigate local producers further. We used downhill ski slopes which I understand aren’t the most green but through this contributed to the local economy and tourist industry. We also visited the wolf park Alpha.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was fantastic; we have already booked again for next year!
| Reviewed 27 Jun 2007 by Seamus Lynch | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walks. Our first was up the valley from Pont de Countet in thunder and lightening that soon turned to snow. The next day we were down around Utelle in lovely heat where we did a walk partly on GR 5 and then looping back to Utelle. The third walk was the high point (in every sense), on the 1st of June 2007 from Madonne de Fenestre to the Italian border at Col de Fenestre, with lots of snow up to 1 metre deep in places.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If walking be prepared for all types of weather and bring plenty of gear, including rain gear, gloves, fleece hats, etc., as well as the shorts, summer gear and sun tan lotion.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes to both. Local impact was in staying locally, buying provisions locally and eating in local restaurants in the evenings. Walking holidays generally make very little impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, made possible with a lot of assistance and recommendations from Liz and Mel at this placce in Berthemont. A return visit is on the agenda.
| Reviewed 6 Aug 2006 by Daniel Bernstein | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hiking in the Mercantour. Important: the flexibility in the use of space which enabled us to have at the accommodation, various configurations of the family, from nuclear to extended.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
When hiking ask for Mel's advice. If you are numerous book the BB as well. - excellent breakfast if you order it but you can also abstain!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Certainly, the local economy relies very much on tourism. Good points: no air conditioning, sewage treatment on site, vegetable garden.
| Reviewed 3 Jan 2005 by Mike Davies | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The opportunity of visiting the Alpes Maritime for the first time and having lunch on Christmas Day in a local restaurant without any other Brits in sight!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you do some shopping in Nice, it's easy to reach by car and we had no problem with traffic or parking even though it was the week before Christmas. If you like ski-ing Isola 2000 is only 45 minutes drive. A hire car is a must.
3. Any areas for improvement?
Not really.
4. Any other comments?
Nice excepted, the area is very French and we found the locals very hospitable.