Our caretakers Suzanne and Jason are nearby to help with any problems you may encounter. Please call them on +33 549 26 27 74 (landline), +33 604 41 05 92 (Suzanne's mobile), +33 604 18 75 96 (Jason's mobile) or send an email to suetho@hotmail.com or jasonpr@hotmail.com to organise a suitable place to be left the keys. The changeover hours are between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays so please be sure to have vacated the property by 10am. Arrivals cannot generally be before 4pm but dropping off bags may be acceptable and using the garden and pool while you wait for the house to be cleaned. You can talk to your caretaker about this directly.

Please leave the houses as you found them and inform the caretakers of any breakages in the form of a note on the kitchen worktop.

Please note that all bedding and towels are provided, but not beach towels. Jason will visit at least once a week to clean and balance the pool, mow the lawns and general tidying of the garden.

If you notice some of the planting is looking a little thirsty we would really appreciate it if you could give them a quick water to keep them nice throughout the season.

There is a welcome book with all the instructions of how to use the facilities, please pay attention to the rubbish and recycling collection times.

Thank you for choosing our properties, we hope you have a fantastic holiday.

We would like to make all guests aware that shop opening times in France are not as flexible as in the UK. If you are arriving late (i.e. after say 6pm) or on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday it is advisable to bring some basic provisions to tide you over until the shops re-open. Please see below for the French Bank Holidays.

The following dates are Public Holidays in 2010 when many businesses are likely to be closed. Please make sure you are aware of these dates as it can be very inconvenient:

When a Public Holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, it is very common to for the Friday or Monday to be included, creating a long weekend (“faire le pont”). Many businesses, therefore, are closed for the entire period.

When exiting the airport follow ‘Toute Directions’ and bear left onto the N237 duel carriageway. Follow the N237 for approximately 10 minutes and take the slip road exit (to your right) towards Surgères (D939). At the roundabout turn left, continuing towards Surgères on the D939.

After approximately 20 minutes, passing though several small villages, you will arrive at Surgères. Turn left at the first roundabout (third exit) – if you go past an Intermarche you have gone too far and will need to turn around (and turn right at the roundabout).

Almost immediately you will come to a second roundabout. Turn right and follow the sharp left / right bends (past the TGV station) until you reach another roundabout. Take the third exit (you will pass a Rugby training ground) until you reach a crossroads. Go straight on. You will shortly encounter a second crossroads – turn left here towards St Felix (D115).

After approximately 15 minutes on this scenic road, passing though several small hamlets, you will arrive at St Felix. Carry on straight through the village, keeping to the D115 until you reach Tout Y Faut (you’ll pass over a level crossing along the way) and a major crossroads. Turn left onto the D150 towards Niort.

Follow the D150 for not quite two miles to Villeneuve-la-Comtesse (you will pass a Boulangerie, Pharmacy, Total Garage and Restaurant on your left). Take the left turn onto the Rue des Allées (D121) towards Centre Ville and Doeuil-sur-le-Mignon.

Very shortly you will pass a large hangar – Maison Du Puits is then the second house on your right (Le Petit Logis is to the rear of Maison Du Puits).

At Junction 33 on the A10 Toll Road take the slip-road exit on the right (E601/N248) and follow it for just over a mile. Take the slip-road exit on the right towards Beauvoir / Niort (D650).

At the roundabout turn left (fourth exit) onto the D650. Follow the road for just over 10 miles* (passing though Beauvoir-sur-Niort – the location of your nearest large supermarket – and into the department of the Charente Maritime) until you reach Villeneuve-la-Comtesse.

As you drive through Villeneuve-la-Comtesse you will come to a turning to your right signposted for Centre Ville and Doeuil-sur-le-Mignon (D121). Turn onto this road – Rue des Allées – and very shortly you will pass a large hangar; Maison Du Puits is then the second house on your right (Le Petit Logis is to the rear of Maison Du Puits).

* The D650 becomes the D150 as you approach Villeneuve-la-Comtesse.

Heading north-bound on the A10 Toll Road take the slip-road exit on the right at Junction 34 towards Surgères / St Jean d'Angély – at the roundabout take the third exit onto the D939.

Go straight on at the first roundabout (second exit) then take the slip-road exit on the right towards Niort. At the roundabout take the third exit onto the D150 (and go straight on at the next roundabout, continuing on the D150).

Continue on the D150 for approximately 10 miles (15 minutes), passing though the villages of St-Denis-du-Pin and Loulay, until you reach Villeneuve-la-Comtesse.

You will pass a Boulangerie, Pharmacy, Total Garage and Restaurant on your left. Take the left turn onto the Rue des Allées (D121) towards Centre Ville and Doeuil-sur-le-Mignon.

Very shortly you will pass a large hangar – Maison Du Puits is then the second house on your right (Le Petit Logis is to the rear of Maison Du Puits).

Please make sure that the BBQ grills are left as you found them as our caretaker(s) work in a small 6 hour window between guest changes and cleaning the grills is very time consuming. We suggest spraying the grills in oven cleaner and leaving overnight to penetrate the grease, then cleaning back to a good standard the following morning. Please note that failure to do so MAY result in a deduction from your damages deposit if more time is needed over and above the 6 hour clean period.

Please make sure the summer cover is pulled over the pool when not in use, especially at night. Failure to do so will most certainly result in debris falling into the pool making it unpleasant for your stay. We have had an occasion where one house has left the cover off for a few days and forgotten about it then days later the pool was filled with debris and spoilt the enjoyment for both parties. Your swimming pool caretaker will visit on a weekly basis to clean and balance the pool in order to keep it acceptable for your enjoyment.

Please take time to read the welcome book and signs, and adhere to the rubbish and recycling stipulations. There are set days when the black and yellow bin bags are collected. A row of colour coded bins are along the drive. Please remember to familiarise yourself with the system in order to maintain healthy standards for both yourselves and the next guests.

Towels and bedding are provided for each guest (except cot bedding and beach towels) We ask that you leave all towels, sheets and blankets in the bathroom after your stay.

Unfortunately bicycles are not provided for health and safety reasons. You are more than welcome to bring your own or to hire them out locally.

Car hire is available from most major railway stations, ports and airports. As the companies providing these services often change we recommend “Googling” “Car Hire La Rochelle” or wherever you are arriving at.