Aug 29, 2022 10:14:39 PM
Summary:
Good selection or rooms which can accommodate many people. With a lot of possible variations on room sizes and numbers in each room. Light switches are a bit confusing but eventually found how all operated. The host is very accommodating and welcoming. Excellent massages available if wanted. Pool is great. Plenty of room outside and loungers etc.
Paul S.
May 9, 2019 05:06:14 AM
Summary:
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Magali at her villa in the south of France.
She made us feel right at home in her beautiful villa by showing us around the garden and facilities. The place is clean and well looked after.
Plenty of lovely flowers and exotic scents.
A beautiful destination between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean sea. Only a 20 minutes drive to the Spanish border, truly a magical area !
The villa was in a private setup, with plenty of fun activities and space for the kids (swings, trampoline, table-football, ping pong...) and very relaxing for the adults. (swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, barbacue...) It is an ideal place in the sun for a family vacation!
Fully equipped kitchens and a stunning view from the patio, right by the swimming pool. Plenty of parking space in the villa (up to 5 cars), there is also a nearby supermarket.
We felt a great holiday vibe right from the start in this exceptional place.
Everything was perfect, thank you Magali!
We would strongly recommend booking this villa for a dreamlike holiday.
Aupy C.
Aug 28, 2018 06:54:24 PM
Summary:
We really enjoyed our stay here. The property is quirky but works well for a big group and the outdoor areas are exceptional, one of the best we've had in many years of renting villas. Magali is a great host and we can happily recommend this property.
Mike C.
Sep 27, 2017 06:28:13 AM
Summary:
We did have a lovely family holiday, but a lot of us were disappointed on first arrival. There was no welcome pack, not even the basics, so as soon as we arrived we had to go on the hunt for a supermarket.
The villa wasn't as clean as I think it should have been, there were a lot of cobwebs behind the TV unit and wardrobes etc.. a lot of the plates were dirty, the cookers weren't very clean at all and the fridges had an awful smell to them.
There were stains on one of the mattresses and a stain on one of the pillow cases.
There was a huge crack in one of the patio doors which was just covered over by clear tape, which we felt was not very safe with the young children around, and there was no mention or sign of it getting fixed over the holiday. There was also a loose tile around the swimming pool area, again dangerous for children.
There were a lot of light bulbs missing and not working throughout the whole villa, and even though I did mention to this to Magali I was told to mention it to the pool maintenance man when he turned up, which I don't think should have been down to me to tell him, they should have all been checked and working on arrival, and when I did see him we were on our way out and didn't want to spend all morning waiting around for him to change them all.
We did have one day of quite heavy rain and in the annexe that I was sleeping in, it flooded slightly in two areas, including on my bed, so drenched my sheets and I had no way of drying them in time for bed.
There were air conditioning units but only in a few of the rooms, the others just had fans.
A lot of the garden furniture was very tired, and I even had one of the chairs collapse underneath me, and I'm not exactly heavy, also one of the sunbeds had broken.
We were disappointed with Passa as a town because there were no places to eat or drink. On the owners direct website it does state there is a small shop, bar and restaurant 500 metres away, we found one very small bar but it was never open and we went numerous times of the day to see if it ever did open, this did come as a big disappointment as when booking a villa we all like to have somewhere to be able to walk to, and would not have booked the villa knowing this.
Finally whilst I think it is pretty standard in France to pay for cleaning on departure, we thought the rate charged was a bit steep, especially when I was not happy with the standard of cleanliness on arrival.
helen h.
Aug 30, 2016 04:47:59 PM
Summary:
Our big group - 8 adults and 11 children from 1 to 15 years old - comfortably settled in the villa. One family with small children had a whole area almost to itself. The back area accommodated another big family in 3 different rooms, granting both privacy and proximity. At the end of the garden, a wooden chalet offered a cozy shelter from noise to late sleepers. Beyond structure, the villa was very well equipped with everything you could reasonably need - washing machines, dishwasher, microwave, ovens, fridges, TVs, DVD players, BBQ set, ping-pong … Some extra stuff then (sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool) went a step forward. But what really made the difference was that the owner, living nearby, was very discreet, though always ready to answer our requests. Thanks Magali.
Our group of 4 families, living in different countries and meeting on holiday, did find a nice and comfortable place to share. The position of the villa then improved its value: Barcelona at 2-hour drive, Carcassonne 1, Narbonne half an hour, Perpignan close-by... With 4 mountain-bikers in the group, the eastern Pyrenees made the rest.
Andrea S.
Aug 22, 2016 06:41:43 AM
Summary:
We were a group of 13 friends/family sharing the house for two wonderful weeks! Nice owner who seemed to do everything to make our stay as nice as possible - even made us the best chocholate mousse we've ever had :-) The house had plenty of space for everyone - plenty of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen equiped with everything you need (and more!) to do cooking for a big group, huge living room and fantastic outdoor area. Garden looked lovely, and had several groups of furniture and even a little snug in the trees where you could have a quiet moment. Lots of proper sunbeds and more than enough tables and chairs for our big group. We had dinner together in the garden almost every night. Lovely pool was used by children and adults every day. One day was a bit cool so we made sure we kept up the temperature by enjoying fab sauna and jacuzzi. Recommended is also to get a massage from the owner who is a professional masseuse. It took our relaxing holiday to another level! Yu do need a car to get around, but that gives you the opportunity to explore what I think is the nicest area of France. Selection of amazing sandy or pebbled beaches where you can relax, swim and watch fishes. Beautiful towns, city of Perpignan, interesting markets, Catalan culture and dancing (we joined in once), beautiful nature with sea and mountains, lots of activities for children of all ages (super large go-cart track was fun!), and of course fantastic French food and wine. All of us loved it all and hope to come back!!
Elin S.
Sep 16, 2014 09:00:33 PM
Summary:
The villa did not disappoint. A great deal of thought has gone into its design and development. It's comfortable throughout, and our group enjoyed all the facilities - including the pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and table tennis etc. We also brought a lightweight badminton set which was fun.
It's an attractive area (easy to get to from Perpignan, and not too far from the sea), and we would particularly recommend Ceret and the river walk there. What did the kids enjoy most? Aqualand.....
Magali is a considerate and generous hostess, and we would recommend a massage - a real treat.
Highly recommended, and we hope to return.
Nov 5, 2013 04:00:00 PM
Summary:
We have tried to explain to our friends and family back home that Villa Magali is of a much higher standard than even what’s shown on the website. It is only when you actually arrived that you can fully appreciate the beautiful garden and its surroundings, as well as the spacious, open-plan accommodation.
Our party of three American families (6 adults and 5 children) had an exciting time exploring the region, even though we could have just stayed at the holiday home with all it has to offer!
The children had many things to occupy themselves with in the garden, which seemed to be a paradise for all ages with the pond, hammock, ping pong table and, of course, swimming pool. As for us adults, we were able to fully relax knowing our children were having a great time in safety.
All in all, we had a totally zen-like experience on our second visit to your beautiful home. And I had a massage from you as well! Wow! Could not have been more perfect. Our children adored you (and once again your chocolate mousse) and my husband actually relaxed! We are looking forward to visit number three; we are told there will be even more improvements, such as the jacuzzi being moved to the pool area to create the perfect poolside ambiance.
Callie M.
Oct 23, 2013 06:20:24 PM
Summary:
Thank you Magali for your warmth and hospitality while hosting the perfect holiday (which is a lot to ask for a group of 6 adults and 4 kids!). We got on with you straight away and the kids loved you too!
The kids had a great active time playing in the pool, as did we at the ping pong table. We adults had the most relaxing time too, being able to get away from it all and be closer to nature. The garden was lovely, with details down to the hammock and pond at the bottom of the garden, all with the idyllic backdrop of the mountains and vineyards - breathtaking!
There were so many options of relaxing things to do, even without leaving the villa. The jacuzzi was great for taking a break from the sun or the pool, and Magali’s massage was a brilliant compliment to the rest of it.
Inside, an open-plan living space which opened out onto the pool, suited the large group very well. The surrounding area was also perfect for the group, as we were able to explore the quaint surrounding villages, and the kids had a great time in Argelès, a town boasting a wonderful beach with all the water sports fun you could ask for. A couple of us also ventured over the Spanish border to explore the historic town of Girona which was only 1 hour away, while the kids were taken out in the opposite direction to the African safari.
I will definitely be coming back as soon as I can get away, and look forward to seeing the next improvements that have been made to the villa, and to tasting more of the local wines and of course Magali’s famous chocolate mousse once again!
Aug 28, 2013 10:40:07 PM
Summary:
We were a group of 6 adults and 6 children (aged 13 to 6) and we stayed in Villa Magali at the beginning of August 2013. We really liked the main villa, gardens and pool. And, the unrestricted views of the Pyrenees from the rear of the house were stunning.
However, if you have younger kids then you need to be aware that two of the six bedrooms are in an annexe that is separated from the main villa by a narrow (although mostly enclosed) courtyard. That said, we were perfectly happy for our teenage children to sleep in one of the rooms.
Also, we were bit disappointed with Passa as a town because it was a bit tired and there were no obvious places to eat or drink. There is a small combined post office /shop / small bar.
Finally, whilst I think it is pretty standard in France to pay for cleaning on departure, we thought 150EUR was a bit steep. However the villa was very clean when we arrived.
The main house is arranged in a U shape with to the right of the house a large, attractive sitting room with TV and DVD, great for kids to relax and get out of the sun. There is a large, very pleasant bedroom off the main sitting room with a bath, toilet and sink in the room separated by a curtain. In this part of the house is a good kitchen with everything you could need. The kitchen opens out to a great outside eating area in the shade from which you can see the pool Great for long lunches and being able to watch the kids in the pool. To the left of the house are 3 good bedrooms, 2 doubles and a twin that open onto another sitting / kitchen area and share a large family bathroom. There is also another shower room by the front door.
At the front of the house between the main house and the hot tub/ sauna / other 2 bedrooms building is a shaded court yard with seating and the other two bedrooms open on to this. These two bedrooms are separated by a wooden folding partition and are slightly smaller. They each have a shower, toilet and sink in a recess.
The outside space at the back of the house is great with a really nice pool. There is good seating with a number of sunbeds with cushions, sun umbrellas and 3 other sitting areas in the garden.
There is a table tennis table and gas bbq.
The villa sits behind another house which fronts on to the road and you enter via a drive to the side of the other house.
phil m.