We enjoyed foreign holidays, but always wished we could take our dogs with us. With 5 collies, that was almost impossible, as most holiday homes will only allow one or two dogs at most. We bought a property in Chateau Garnier, Vienne, France. We chose this area for a number of reasons:
- You can get there in one day, so you don't need somewhere to stay overnight on the way.
- It has a unique, m
icro-climate that makes it the second sunniest part of France, second only to the Riviera.
- It is in a relaxed & beautiful part of France, in a rural area, providing loads of lovely dog walks, together with things to do & see, for the rest of the family. A few of the features that make it ideal for doggy holidays are 5' fencing around the whole acre plot, a large air-conditioned, fully tiled dog room, complete with purpose built dog shower (for those muddier walks). Dogs are welcome in the whole house, we just ask you to keep them in the dog room if you want to go out & about without them. The local vet, in Chateau Garnier village, is less than 5 minutes drive, and is open weekdays, & Saturday mornings, and also provide an out of hours service. The vets all speak some English, and they can do your passport checks & worming treatments between 5 days & 24 hours of your return journey. The price is straight forward - £950 per week, which includes 6-8 people, and unlimited dogs. No extras for number of people or number of dogs. Bedding, towels, tea, coffee, sugar, etc all included, all we ask is that you bring your own beach towels, for sunbathing & trips out. There are lots of extra facilities, like a well equipped kitchen, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, and extra freezer in the dog room, (for raw diet, or extra ice-cream), an assortment of sun loungers, dog crates, a cool box for trips to the supermarket for provisions, but most importantly, ice cream! Dogs are allowed in the bedrooms, just bring your own bedding if your dogs will be sleeping with you. Although you benefit from the lovely country atmosphere, you are only 15 minutes away from a variety of supermarkets, Lidl, Leader Price & Pharmacies, banks, post office, etc. There are also indoor & outdoor swimming pools, 15 minutes & 25 minutes away. If you're looking for nightclubs, and a tourist type of location, this probably isn't for you. However, if you'd like a lovely retreat with your dogs & the rest of your family, this could be just what the doctor ordered. Contact DoggyPaddle on 023 8040 4455 for more information & availability. Weeks run from Sunday to Sunday, and a £50 discount is available for 2nd & subsequent weeks, if no cleaning service is required.
