Large house of character, Drôme Provençale, Tranquility, 12 people;

Our group of 3 families, 12 people in total, had a very nice time at Le Colet. The house is charming and rustic, as opposed to modern and pristine. It’s a 19th century farm structure that was renovated 30-some years ago (you can see an old feeding trough in one of the basement bedrooms). The setting is fairly remote: the house is at the top of a half-mile twisting gravel road, and it’s several miles to the nearest (small) town. The views of the mountains are beautiful and the pool is very nice (although surrounded by wasps during the day - annoying but non-stinging). There are two large outdoor tables, one by the pool and one on the terrace, that were wonderful for meals. Some of the beds were more comfortable than others, and we were disappointed to find that bed linens and towels were not provided, as this was not indicated in the listing. The caretaker, Michael, was very helpful with all of our questions, and arranged for linens to be provided for an additional cleaning fee. All-in-all, a great place if you want to be off the beaten track and aren’t looking for deluxe accommodations.