Chateau Olivier

The backyard really made the place for us, with a big pool, outdoor kitchen and huge covered deck leading to a waterfront park and walking paths. We had a magician and an Ice Cream and waffle trolley outdoors, which worked perfectly. It was clean, cool and chic, and everything we needed was there. For my father's 70th birthday, everyone had a spacious room and private bathroom, while the shared rooms felt cozy and practical. We had an amazing stay and I'd love to go back.

We had great BBQ dinners nearly every day, and the kids spent lots of time in the pool. The house is cozy and unusual, with large rooms where both children and adults had a good time. I especially liked the second living room, with its classic furniture and decor and no TV. Glad our plans to travel south fell through, since that let us discover such a beautiful place in Canada.

The property itself felt unsafe and badly neglected. There were large holes in the concrete around the pool, the exterior patio leaked and was coming apart near the stairs, and the front steps were also crumbling. The pool was green and left guests with rashes, and its gate wouldn't close, which was dangerous for children. Inside, the kitchen cabinets were held together with rubber bands, light bulbs hung out of their sockets, and there was a black clump of hair in the master bathroom drain. I can't recommend staying here. We rented it for our wedding weekend after originally booking through Airbnb. When COVID hit, the hosts kept our deposit and made us rent privately. We had explained that we'd get ready there and host a large family BBQ the next day, and they charged a $500 party fee before check-in. On our wedding morning, they texted my husband demanding another meeting about more money. I was trying to enjoy the biggest day of my life and ended up having a panic attack because they were demanding $1,000 that day. They threatened to kick us out and stop the events if we didn't pay. While I was getting ready, a host came in and warned the professional makeup artists not to wipe makeup on her already stained couches. They kept turning up every day, all three days.

With 12 adults and five children, we found this place ideal for a big family reunion. The owners were kind and attentive, and the house is both beautiful and huge. We spent hours on the terrace enjoying the surrounding nature, large pool and BBQ. It's a unique spot for a large group, and we'll definitely return.