Frequently Asked Questions

HOW MANY BEDROOMS ARE THERE?

• 3 double bedrooms, all with en-suite shower rooms. The master bedroom also has a luxurious deep bath.
• 1 twin/triple bedroom. This one has shorter beds, so is ideal for children 2-8 years old. It also shares an en-suite with one of the doubles. There are also two cots available for babies or toddlers.
• 1 triple bedroom on the top floor with private bathroom. This one is perfect for older children or for adult friends.

Linen is of course provided, as are bath and swimming towels.

TELL ME AGAIN ABOUT THE LIVING SPACES?

There are:

• 2 living rooms (one which we call the 'library', featuring a big bookshelf to browse at your leisure, and another casual living space, complete with fireplace (not that you'll need that in summer!), DVD player, comfy couches etc).
• 1 large kitchen, with a long table to seat everyone for breakfast or supper.
• 2 rambling garden spaces, including a courtyard style space outside the kitchen,  complete with BBQ and outdoor dining table for rosé and chats in the evening.
• All the usual amenities (laundry area, plenty of space for parking, full kitchen set up, etc).
• And the less usual amenities (good wi-fi on all floors, a wine fridge - and windows that let you glimpse the snow-capped tops of Pyrenees as you get ready to sit by the pool in the middle of a hot summer's day).
   

IS THERE GOOD WIFI?

Yes! We have been running our business from Le Manoir for a few years now and know how important this can be, so we've got wifi set up to work on every floor of the house. Of course, as in any countryside area, the connection can't always be guaranteed but outages are rare. We've intentionally not extended wifi down to the pool area though so there's no reason to feel you need to be online 24/7!

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM BOOKING PERIOD?

In the peak July and August period, the minimum booking period is 1 week , with bookings running from 3pm on one Saturday through to 10am the following Saturday. We do find that many visitors choose to book for at least a fortnight though (and say they wish they could have stayed longer!).

Outside the peak period, we are open to bookings for shorter or alternative periods - just drop us a line via the Booking page with your requirements.

HOW DO WE GET TO LE MANOIR?

Toulouse Blagnac airport  is under 1 hour's drive away along an easy road. There are plenty of good value flights from various UK airports (including London Gatwick) into Blagnac making it convenient even in off-peak periods. There are also airports within 1.5 hours at Carcassonne (flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stansted and Dublin) and Tarbes-Lourdes (flights from Stansted only). All airports have good car hire options. There is also a regular direct train service from central Toulouse to St Gaudens (2km away) for those in your group who aren't as keen on driving.

WHAT ABOUT FOOD SHOPPING?

There is a wonderful local shop 2 minutes' walk from the house, which sells a good variety of local produce, including fresh bread and pastries from early morning as well as wines, fruit and veg, cured meats, etc. It's open from 0730 to 1230 and 1500 to 1915 Tuesday to Saturday and 0730 to 1230 on Sundays.

There is also a good selection of supermarkets in the vicinity (including an enormous E.Leclerc a five minute drive away) which should fulfil all your self-catering needs and are obviously a better option for bulk shopping. Opening hours for French supermarkets are generally 0900 to 2000 Monday to Saturday. The smaller ones also open on Sunday mornings.

All the local towns have a market selling food and a variety of other items (clothing, handiwork, etc) at least once a week. The most local one, in St Gaudens, is on a Thursday morning from early morning until lunchtime.

AND WHAT ABOUT IF WE DON'T WANT TO COOK FOR OURSELVES?

There are a wide variety of restaurants in the ares, including three within walking distance in the village of Valentine itself. If your tastes stretch to Michelin-star quality food, there are a couple of very well-regarded restaurants (Hotel Le Castet in Martres-Tolosane and Le Castéra in St Laurent-de-Neste) within half an hour's drive.

HOW WELL-SUITED IS THE HOUSE TO YOUNG CHILDREN?

The house is well-equipped with everything you might need for your young children, with the intent that you need bring as little away with you as possible. In the kitchen, there is a high chair, booster seats, plastic crockery and beakers, a sterilising set and much more. Upstairs, there are two cots with bedding and all the children's beds have waterproof mattress protectors available. A local baby-sitter can also be arranged if required.

There is also a selection of toys and games suitable for a wide variety of ages, as well as various bikes of differing sizes (although sadly none with stabilisers as yet!)

IS THERE MUCH TO DO IN THE AREA IF WE WANT TO GET OUT AND ABOUT?

The beautiful local countryside is perfect for hiking and cycling - whether you prefer your outings gentle or strenuous (!) - and there are plenty of cultural and other activities within a short drive, such as rafting and kayaking, "Go-Ape", visiting mountain wildlife sanctuaries, exploring local caves and grottoes (some featuring ancient cave painting), swimming in local lakes and much more.

As well aside the many attractive towns and villages in the vicinity, sightseeing options also include the majestic medieval cathedral at St Bertrand de Comminges (a UNESCO world heritage site), the Roman villas at Montmaurin and of course the stunning city of Toulouse itself.

A folder with further information on local activities and various guidebooks is available for your use at the property.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions which are not answered by these FAQs, please do feel free to drop us a line via the contact box on the Bookings page here.