Arc-En-Ciel Vacances

The mini-gîte was tidy, well kept, and laid out in a practical way. Arc-en-Ciel is a real gem for families: our boys loved the indoor and outdoor play spaces and the pool. Marouschka and Jürgen made us feel very welcome. We also really enjoyed the table d'hôtes, with a tasty three-course meal for adults and a separate menu for the children. There’s a clear map in the common area showing nearby sights and activities, along with brochures and travel times. We had a wonderful stay and highly recommend it.

We’ve already booked for next summer, which probably says enough. This was our fourth summer holiday with Marouschka and Jürgen, and their easygoing, spontaneous welcome is still a big part of why we love coming back. This time we tried the four-person gîte and really liked it. The family room has always been clean and comfortable, with lots of storage and good soundproofing. There’s plenty to explore nearby, and we still haven’t seen it all, so we have a good reason to return. The grounds are quiet and spacious, and the girls always find something to do, whatever the weather. There’s a big play area with books and board games, a football field, play caravan, swings, slide, petanque court, a warm pool, and a trampoline. Breakfast has a generous spread of meat, cheese, pastries, different breads, fruit, yogurt, eggs cooked how you like, and fresh-squeezed juice. Dinner is just as good, made with local ingredients. If you let them know about food allergies in advance, they happily take those into account.

We booked after seeing all the positive comments and the photos on the website, but left after four of our eight nights. We didn’t feel welcome or warmly received, and I’d only suggest this place as a stopover. I wouldn’t call it child-friendly for young kids. We were two adults and a toddler in the red double room. Our child still napped twice a day, so we knew we’d spend a lot of time at the B&B. The room was clean, the cot mattress was thick, and the pool was clean too. There was a sandbox, swing, slide, play area, and a board listing outings and travel times. But the wardrobe was too small, and the room couldn’t be fully darkened. The garden was overgrown with nettles and thistles; only a few paths and the football field had been mowed. The website photos weren’t recent, and the trampoline and “play caravan” were scrap. There were three toddlers staying, but only two highchairs. We were asked by email if we wanted to join dinner and told we only had to confirm for the first evening, then could decide on the other days once there. When we arrived, though, we were given a list of dates that were already full, and every room had dinner together on those nights. Everyone was having a pleasant meal while we were still there, but no extra table was put out for us. We also weren’t allowed to keep our own drinks in the fridge. At breakfast, the staff served tiny pieces of cheese and asked, “Will you manage to finish it?” Arriving in the room early meant paying for a full extra day.

We had a few small problems during our stay, and the owner went out of her way to sort them out. She and her family were incredibly attentive. The rooms are spacious and clean, in an old farmhouse with a very modernized design. There’s a big breakfast room, space for children, and a large playroom, so we didn’t even need to bring toys for our little one. With the pool, green space, ping pong, swings, and more, I’d highly recommend it for a family holiday.