Dan Chase

Hi Guys & Gals, Does anyone out there have experience of these two areas?  I am considering buying in the region and am keen to look at either as I believe they are accessable but have good microclimates, rivers and countryside.  Can anyone confirm, deny or offer any must-see spots when visiting? Thanks,  Dan.

Gi Guys & Gals, Just got back from a most enjoyable holiday in the Perigord Noir - the house was excellent but there was just one thing that bothered me. On arrival, it seemed the pool had not been hovered - being a habitual holidayer in France for the last ten years this was a first for me.  The pool was very nicely built into a terrace surrounded by woodland, but with a bit of wind loads of stuff blew in - no cover was avalable to cover up overnight.  The detritus in the pool was mainly leaves and critters (including a dead mouse!) and was very dark, along with some very small green algae growing on the sides of the pool (it was tiled).  The pool cleaner showed up three days after our arrival and did a fine job of hovering - but for our two week stay that was the only time it was done and despite our best efforts with the net, it looked pretty crappy again after 4 days.  I should point out that the pool chap did return a couple of time to do tests but no cleaning.  The water was clear and although one member of my party did complain of stomach issues after using the pool I personally had no problems.   Is this cleaning regime ok?  on all of my previous holidays the cleaner has usually hovered, cleaned and checked at least twice a week.   Thanks,  Dan.

Thanks for the tips, Does anyone have opions on Southern Eure?  I have done a bit of research and its would appear to have attractive waterways, woodland and considerably less rain - as well as Monets house in Giverney. Thanks,  Dan.

Hi Guys and Gals, I am in need of help and advice from those who know this area better than me. Over many years my family and I have holidayed in the Perigord Noir and have decided we should take the plung.  However, the Perigord is a long way away - with planned monthly trips and a dislike for airlines on ecological reasons - we have decided to search around the Normandy/Brittany area and possibly just a litlle further South. Heres the question: 1.  Which area should I search in for : rivers, valleys, trees, hotter than England climate.  I appreciate this may be a long shot, but I did read that this area is very diverse. Thanks, Dan.

Hi All, Myself and friends are in the Perigord Noir for the last two weeks of July - A question: How is the weather?  As it is like some bizarre wet winter here in the UK I was hoping that the long wet spring had moved into a lovely summer? Fingers crossed, Dan.

For me, it was a villa just up in hills of Castlenaud in the Perigord Noir.  A fantastic villa, massive views of the Dordogne and Beynac, quality fittings and furniture and a general feeling of living like a millionare.  Unfortunatly it is now agent ownly - priced out of my reach.

Thanks for the tips, I guess it was the rude and dismissive responce from the owners which really got my back up.  The suggestion of the "reallity" website is, in my mind, a good one.  If the solicitor gives me the same advice (ie. I should have walked out and cut the holiday short) and that my responce was to late in coming I think I shall host a new website for them - detailing only comparrisons between advertised details and actual photo`s we took.  The whole reason for complaining was never about money - only that we felt we had been lied to and ripped off and the owner could have dealt with complaint in a much better way.  

Ok, I wrote the first letter about 8 days after my return - yes I wanted to ensure that the very least I got back was my security deposit.  The second letter went about two weeks after that, then a third about a month ago - I would love to get letters and comlaints out continuosly but like most of us, I am a busy man and have no experience of the do`s and don`ts of complaining. As far as I can tell they are only with Chez Nous which is unvetted - I did contact them but they showed no interest. I could have complained whilst there - however I was on holiday and as such did noy want to make a fuss in front of my guests.  The biggest issue was the road -  on the third way we contemplated moving to another villa or heading back completly - the only thing that stopped us, apart from the fact that we had already spent afortune on the place, as that we had travelled down by Motorail and as such, were stuck in the area for two weeks unless we wanted to drive back from Provence and waste even more money. Please note: I am not in anyway attacking private villa rentals and gite owners - as I have stated I have stayed in many excellent villas and have already booked one for next year - but I don`t see why I should let this bunch of charlatans off the hook.

Hi Guys & Gals, I had, for the first time ever, a dissapointing holiday this summer due to a poor house.  I feel I must point out I have had many years of superb holiday lets, some through agents, most through Chez Nous - I have indeed already booked through Chez Nous for next year.  Over these years I have never lost a penny in security deposit and have never complained before - this is a first for me. The Property in question is in Provence and is advertised as an old, charming house, ouzing with character etc. - this it was, no problems so far.  I feel you should know it slept up 12, 10 comfortably and cost £1500 a week - two weeks stay so £3000 total. Upon my return I received an e-mail saying how we were superb tennants, very clean and subsequently had my security deposit returned.  All good so far.... I Then wrote to the owners with details of several, very dissapointing shortcomings: 1.  There was a major road immediatly behind the house.  There had been a one liner in details about a road up behind the house which could get busy during festival periods (Fair enough, we all love a festival) - however, this road was a major road, immediatly behind the house and had constant traffic and endless hours of artics thundering past, worst of which were double bodied trucks loaded with timber and not a festival in site!  I took many photo`s of these, as, had I known of the extent of the traffic there is no way I would have booked my yearly holiday there. 2.  Provence in summer is V hot - not a problem as there was a lovely pool with shades in the literature.  Pool was lovely, no sign of any shades.  First thing we had to do was go out and buy some.  Apparently they had been damaged by previous guests and there was no local option (the owners were the previous guests to us and had been there for a month prior to our arrival) 3.  The house sported a lovely petanque court - we love a game in the early evening with an aperitif - however, three dogs from next door had been using the court as a litter tray for some time - I even got a photo of one doing so (I was getting a bit annoyed at this point).  The owner claims that this was due to wild boar and, anyway, we could have just raked it over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4.  The house, which sleeps 10+ had a kitchen approximatly 2 meters by 2 meters and was dirty, dirty, dirty, as were the bathrooms (I had to clean hair out of the blocked shower traps) and the electrics were shot - extention cables running from rooms with power, notes over broken sockets, sockets hanging out of walls, exposed wires, exposed choc block connectors over sinks etc. etc. I wrote to the owner twice, addressing these points, enclosing photo`s to back up each point and requesting a partial refund of £1000 (I felt that £3000 for two weeks is a way to much for a sub-standard villa) - I received two letters back, deniying all allegations and insulting me as someone who should "stay at a Marriot hotel so as to be hidden away from the nasty real world".  Obviously I am still a little fustrated.  I appreciate there are clients out there who do requests refunds as a mater of course, but I would stress I am not one of them and have never taken this course of action before.  I have informed the owner I will be taking further action - I will be seeing my solictor soon and taking advice, as well as possibly contacting the regional tourist office and is there such a thing as a French HSE department?  Any ideas on how to proceed would be appreciated.   Thanks,  Dan  

Thanks Chris, That picture is pretty much what I saw - I shall now try and kerb my adverse reaction to them. Dan. 

Hi there, I have read several posts on here about snakes - which are good, which arn`t and how to recognise them. A question - I have encounted several small snakes while snorkelling in rivers.  These snakes seem quite happy to sit the deeper parts close to big rocks, I must admit I have not hung around long enough to study them as I seem to a sudden desire to remove myself from the water and then start running.  Does anyone no what sort of water snakes there are in the South?  If so, is my heart start beeting like a drum and enough adrenaline to render me unable to speak an exeptable reaction?   Many Thanks,  Dan.

Hi there Tony, I`m guessing you must be somewhere around Belves? I have noticed that microclimates do seem to have a large effect - the area to the North of St Cyprien (Les Eyzies) on the Vesere seems to get less cloud and more Sun.   Thanks,  Dan.

-10?  Ok, thats cold. I guess my question is one more of the general comparison of the Dordogne to South East England and if a close region has better weather. Thanks, Dan.

Hi there, my first post on this forum so forgive me if a little clumsey. I have holidayed in the Perigord Noir for many years and am contemplating purchasing a property in the area - however, I have a concern - the area around the Dordogne river seems to get a lot more rainfall than other areas in the Aquitane region. Is there better (ie.more sunny) weather to be had a little further south perhaps around Cahor or should I look more toward the Tarn region?  I don`t fancy going to much further South as I like to drive there in a day. Many thanks, Dan. PS - those usefull little Climate Comparison boxes that show regional variations - are they any good and does anyone what Londons would be like for a comparison?