 |
Sleeps 2-4+ infants in 1 double bedroom and a lounge with sofa bed |
 | A small, above ground pool is placed in one of the walled gardens (parents are given a key for access) in the summer months. |
 | Baby and toddler appropriate toys and books are placed in the gites, and there's a library of kids DVDs availabe for rent from the owners. |
 | There's a good selection of ride-ons and other outside toys, plus a swing with baby seat. |
 | Free WiFi- there is also a computer available for guests use (no charge) |
 | Comprehensive list of baby gear provided includes: 1x wooden cot, 1 x travel cot (please state preference), 2 highchairs, stairgates, non-slip bath mats, steriliser, changing mats (1 in each gite), bouncer chair, bed guard, hand blender, cupbaord locks, socket covers, baby monitors, potties, toddler toilet seat, nappy sacks, sippy cups and plastic crocker and cutlery. Stroller and bikes with child seats can be hired from the owners. |
 | Babysitting may be arranged with the owners on request |
 | There's a new set of menus with a larger home-made breakfast (now made available earilier for short stay guests on the way to the slopes) and dinners options, plus child-friendly options including dishes such as " Meatball Mountain" -Homemade meatballs with our special tomato sauce and choose your mountain of spaghetti, rice or mashed potato. The meals are available for delievry to the gites. Sandra's meals are highly recommended by past guests. There is also a Champagne tasting room where guests can also help themselves to Champagne and Wines from the fridges 24/7. Haagen Dazs and children's ice creams are also available from the freezer in reception. Purchases are paid for at the end of their stay and can be paid by credit card. |
Discount Notes:
Guests staying 5+ nights from 1 Dec through to 2 Jan will receive an Xmas basket of indulgent goodies, incl. chocolates, Champagne, local cheese, paté etc. It's the perfect time to visit, thanks to the magical Xmas markets set on tree lined streets, illuminated with thousands of lights, plentiful stalls and the odd outdoor skating rink (Reims).
Arrivals and Departures:
Check-in time: 15:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Payment:
Reservation Deposit: 50%
Balance: 60 days prior to arrival
Capacity:
Sleeps: 4 +
A cursory glance at the guestbook indicates that there's something of a boomerang effect at Le Manoir de Maffrecourt and its two gites, Cerise and Mirabelle, with guests returning not just once but often year after year.
For young families the allure is obvious: the combination of charming, well-equipped, especially for mini guests, self-catering accommodation with the option to have sublimely cooked French meals, freshly made and delivered to the gite, plus boundless outdoor space, toddler-friendly play gear, and enough glorious biking opportunities, nesting swallows and stunning sunsets to relax even the most frazzled mum or dad. It's all so civilised, that it even makes the idea of a day trip to Disneyland (90mins) with toddlers in seem a manageable prospect! Perhaps best offset with a trip to one or five of the 14,000 champagne houses in the region the next day? Or maybe just a chilled bottle from the honesty bar that evening?
It’s not just the Champagne that's bubbly, ever-helpful hosts, Sandra and Grant, are pretty effervescent too. They live in the Manoir itself are can be called upon (quite literally thanks to phones in the gites) to offer tips and advice on the area, cycle hire arrangements and the sociable weekly Champagne tasting. They've clearly put a lot of thought into what makes a good holiday for young families, starting with a handy and comprehensive list of nursery gear (see grey box below), so parents can pack light and relax from the outset. Then, there's the plentiful supply of outdoor and indoor toys for the little ones and, if that isn’t exciting enough, then just tell the kids about the secret tunnel under the house where British airmen escaped to freedom during the First World War!
For parents, the crisp linens, WiFi connectivity, for unfortunate souls who can’t afford to shut out the modern world, delicious optional meals from breakfast until dinner, and a wealth of original features make for a luxurious retreat.
As you sway hypnotically on the hammock beneath the walnut tree, or watch the sun going down below the rolling hills, it’s easy to forget that the Manoir was not always this peaceful. The Manoir has survived the French Revolution, two World Wars, German occupation and a tornado – and if that’s not a history worth drinking to, what is? Bottoms up!
Mirabelle is a 1st floor apartment and is named after the Mirabelle plum trees that grow in the garden and produce many bottles of Maffrecourt's 'eau de vie' fruit brandy each year. It has its own private entrance and is completely self-contained, although the small original staircase access is a little steep. The 2-bedroom apartment provides light, airy, spacious accommodation including a double room with romantic four-poster, a spacious twin room with two singles and a large hallway suitable for positioning a cot or additional bed, if required. The lounge-dinner has both a 2-seater sofa and a 3-seater sofa bed (double) along with dining table for 6, a wide screen TV with English satellite channels and DVD player with 5.1 surround sound (300+ DVD's are available for nightly rental). There's one large family bathroom with double wash hand basins, toilet, roll top bath, large separate shower cubical with overhead rain shower, bidet. Plus a compact kitchenette with washing machine, combination microwave/oven/grill, 2 ring electric hob and fridge with freezer compartment.
Please Note- Due to the properties flexible terms (no short stay supplement, change in cost for school holidays and minimum stay
policy) the owners need to charge a small fee of 9.75 Euros per person (not per night) for laundry/towels and housekeeping.
Manoir de Maffrecourt sits between the capital of the Champagne region,Chalons en Champagne, and the historic town of Verdun. It is just minutes from the birthplace of Dom Perignon, the monk famous for inventing the Champagne method, and 35 minutes from Reims, home to Pommery, Veuve, Clicquot and many more well known Champagne houses. Most of which offer tours of the caves followed by the chance of a tipple or two.
For many, the best way to discover the Champagne region is on foot or by bike, with all routes leading to sleepy villages steeped in history and tradition. Adults and kids bike hire can be arranged at the Manoir where tips on routes are readily available too. A popular suggestion is a trip to nearby Epernay and the Champagne route which meanders gently through miles of vineyards. Alternatively, hot air balloon flights can also be arranged during the summer months.
For those who prefer to potter, hosts Sandra and Grant will keep you abreast of the best shops, cafés and markets to visit, or will leave you be as you chill in the Manoir’s rose garden, its fields of wild grasses and flowers or keep watch for deer, hare and buzzards with resident black Labrador Hector.
Disneyland Paris is 90 minutes away and there are some excellent WWI trenches and battle sites nearby
Don't forget for magical winter breaks packed full of festive spirits, the christmas markets open on Nov 20th- Dec 30th. Reims holds one of the largest markets in Europe with more than 125 wooden chalet stalls, as well as an open air skating rink. The market is held in the tree-lined streets of the city centre, all beautiful illuminated with thousands of lights. It’s well worth seeing and only 45 minutes from the Manoir.
Getting There: Only 3 hours from Calais or 250km from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Train Station: Sainte Menehould (8kms)
Past Guest Ratings: * (5 guests)
*Rating collated since Feb '10.
All verified as genuine BFB guests who experienced the accommodation with young children.
Awards:
Truly exceptional experience. We have a 3 year old son and he loved it as much a...
Truly exceptional experience. We have a 3 year old son and he loved it as much as we did!
Overall Experience Rating: 100%
Very welcoming hosts, we tried the dinner service and it was excellent food. A ...
Very welcoming hosts, we tried the dinner service and it was excellent food. A great half way point for journeys from Switzerland to England; not far from the toll road but in lovely countryside.
5 year old loved the ducks and geese; would like to go back with more time to try the pool and explore the area
Overall Experience Rating: 100%
Very welcoming hosts, we tried the dinner service and it was excellent food. A g...
Very welcoming hosts, we tried the dinner service and it was excellent food. A great half way point for journeys from Switzerland to England; not far from the toll road but in lovely countryside. 5 year old loved the ducks and geese; would like to go back with more time to try the pool and explore the area. Overall Rating: Outstanding!
A very warm welcome, good food, great wine and a lovely 'get away from it all' l...
A very warm welcome, good food, great wine and a lovely 'get away from it all' location."
Grant and Sandra have created a wonderful retreat in the middle of a beautiful ...
Grant and Sandra have created a wonderful retreat in the middle of a
beautiful region.
They could just rely on the location, but they go out of their way to make
sure that you really get the most of your stay. They really think of
everything!This was our first trip with our baby, who turned 1 during our stay. The
gite (Mirabelle) was perfectly arranged for her - she had tons of toys to
play with, and thanks to the double gate on the barn stairs leading up to
the appartment, as well as plenty of child safety plugs, she could play
safely.
The place was also very well equiped with a bath ring, steriliser,
changing mat, etc and Sandra even made her a delicious meal with fresh
veggies from her garden.Best of all, the beautiful grounds amidst the fruit orchard meant she could crawl around to her heart's content - she even went crawling on all fours for the first time!
But mother and father also enjoyed themselves - from the beautiful walks
in the orchard, to the lovely and quaint Mirabelle appartment, to the
chilled champagne and apple juice from their own trees, to Sandra's
delicious home-cooked meals (including a special curry night!), to the
beautiful countryside and towns. It was the getaway we needed and were
looking for and more. And all in a quick day's drive.
Thank you Sandra and Grant - we will surely be back and have already recruited our friends to stay with you!
The Manoir made us very welcome, but we were a little disappointed by the extra ...
The Manoir made us very welcome, but we were a little disappointed by the extra charges, booking fee and laundry fee. We would have preferred a total price quoted on booking, i understand however that this is not unusual in France.
