Alegria

Rooms

The 5 Suites are scattered about, most with private garden entrances. None have TVs (there’s one in the dining room), but they do have iPod docks and free WiFi. Each has its own signature colour on a feature wall and its soft furnishings. All come with walk-in showers, plus bathrobes and Italian oils; the Prestige Suite also has a free-standing bath. Some have terracotta-tiled floors, Cindy’s art hangs in all Suites. Comfy beds and lovely linen come as standard, so expect to sleep well wherever you end up.

All bedrooms are big, however, the romantic Prestige Suite is definitely the best room in the house. It’s also the most private with a fabulous roof terrace, where you can sunbathe on pink-cushioned loungers. A wall of glass floods the room with light, while the room itself is open to the eaves, giving a lovely sense of space. This room sleeps 2 adults.

The Junior Suite (sleeps up to 5) has a bedroom, a big bathroom and a smaller one, and a small separate sitting room with a sofabed, so it would work well for a family; there's space for a rollaway bed too. On the plus side, this room is a little more private, being on the first floor. It also has its own patch of garden a short walk away.

The 3 Deluxe Suites are all big with a nice open-plan feel, and can also sleep up to 4. One comes in deep yellow, another in red, the last in turquoise. All have comfy sofa beds for children, painted beams and good lighting.

All Suites have fairly private terraces sectioned off by clever hedging, with deck chairs and hammocks, where you can sit in the shade of an olive tree. Some are a short walk from your door, rather than directly connected to each room.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Each Suite has a custom-made kitchen island, where guests can prepare their own breakfast and light snacks. The kitchen island includes a fridge, a dishwasher, a toaster, a Nespresso machine and a kettle. There's also a guest salon which has a hot plate and microwave for heating up food if required. Typical French breakfasts are served in the local bakeries located just 350 metres away. Shops are just a few minutes away for groceries, you can shop ahead online. Basics supplied include dish soap, sponges, tea towels, bin bags, salt, pepper, sugar and Alegria's own olive oil. Weekly rentals also receive tea and Nespresso coffee capsules.

No other meals are served at Alegria, but you’ll find an honesty bar in the pool house. There’s Belgian beer, French rosé by the glass, tea and coffee, then chocolate and ice creams.

Dinner in Aups or the surrounding villages is no hardship. We had a good steak at L’Aiguière, just above the square, where you eat on the terrace in summer. Le Caillou offers French food with a Moroccan twist; the service is friendly, the food well priced. Le Provençal does exactly what it says on the can, serves earthy Provençal fare at excellent prices. If you find yourself up at the lake and want a good lunch, go to Café du Midi at Bauduen for its great views and tasty food.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Hang out by the pool, snooze in a hammock, try your hand at a game of boules, or chill out with a massage in your room
  
• Head north to Lac de Sainte-Croix, where you can catch the sun on sandy beaches, have a stab at windsurfing, or hire a pedalo and potter about on the water
  
• Don’t miss the awesome Gorge du Verdon, which empties into the northern end of the lake. You can explore on kayaks. It’s 25km long and absolutely out of this world
  
• Head into the hills with your walking boots or mountain bike; the scenery here is fantastic. Private guides can be arranged
  
• Aups has an excellent market that passes through on Wednesdays and Saturdays – delicious local cheeses, honey from the hills, fabulous charcuterie… resistance is futile. Join the locals and stop for lunch at one of the cafés on the square. The town’s famous truffle market takes place every Thursday from November to February
  
• Check out the villages around you – Moustiers up in the hills or unmissable Tourtour, one of the most beautiful in France, a great spot for a good lunch
  
• Head south to the 11th-century L’Abbaye de Thoronet, either simply to behold its wonders or for concerts and exhibitions
  
• Check out local Côte de Provence vineyards, which occupy much of the land to the south. You can visit caves and sample the local nectar
  
• Brave the crowds and head down to Sainte Maxime, then take the ferry across to St Tropez and check out the old town and the big boats in the harbour
  
• Or follow the coast round from Le Lavandou to Hyères, where lovely beaches dot the coast. Bormes-Les-Mimosas is worth seeing, too
  
• Cannes, Nice, Aix-en-Provence and Grasse can all be visited easily in a day

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Shopping / markets
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are very welcome and there are baby cots, sofabeds and extra beds available, but the family friendly rooms only have a shower, which won't suit all. Under 2s stay for free, 2-14 year olds are charged a small supplement, 15+ year olds a larger supplement.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Deluxe Suites have sofas that can be made up for a child, plus space for a rollaway bed or baby cot. The Junior Suite has a separate sitting room with a double sofabed, plus space for a rollaway bed, and two bathrooms. Each Suite has a private terrace with hammocks, and kids can securely play there.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 75-90 minutes (Marseilles, Nice, Toulon)
• Doctor: 1 minute
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Alegria is set in the small village of Aups, northeast of Marseilles and northwest of Nice in the south of France.

By Air:
You can fly into Marseilles (100km), Nice (100km) or Toulon (80km); click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The owners can book you a taxi (approx €250), but most guests hire a car.

By Car:
Please see our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
Les Arcs-sur-Argens is the closest rail station - 30km from Aups. Eurostar/TGV trains go to Marseilles from Paris, and from London via Lille.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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