Villa Amani
Domaine de la Nartelle, 83120 Ste Maxime, Var
Sleeps 10
The Location
"Villa Amani" stands near the summit of Domaine de la Nartelle, a private estate overlooking the Mediterranean and about 4 Kms from both Ste Maxime on one side and the coastal village of Les Issambres on the other. Opposite the Domaine's front entrance is a sandy beach with water-skiiing, bars and restaurants, sunbeds and sun umbrellas. Running under the road, and 50 metres from the entrance to the Domaine, is a pedestrian tunnel opening onto the beach. Should they so wish, tenants using the beach can park their cars just within the Domaine.
Ste Maxime has excellent shopping facilities, a market, a huge variety of restaurants in all price ranges, a casino, and several fine beaches running a considerable distance in each direction.
"Villa Amani" is about ½ hour's drive from the nearest exit on the A8 autoroute, a little over an hour's drive west of Nice international airport, and about 1½ hours north east of Toulon airport which has some international flights. The super-fast train, the T.G.V., stop at Fréjus (12 Kms); passengers can also put their cars aboard a train at Fréjus and travel with them to and from a number of European towns and cities. St Tropez and Port Grimaud are close by, whilst Cannes, Monte Carlo and the many other attractions of the Côte d'Azur are within comparatively easy reach.
The Setting
This stunning south-facing Provençal villa was built in 1990 and is very much at one with its surroundings. There are magnificent views over the sea, as well as a fine variety of trees and shrubs including umbrella pines (a feature of the Côte d'Azur), cypresses, mimosas and oleanders, all of which give considerable protection to the house and grounds. Tall entrance gates, operated by remote control, open onto a floodlit forecourt with adequate parking space, on the far side of which is the villa's front door. The housekeepers (a couple) live in an adjoining flat. He does most of the cooking, as well as looking after the pool and grounds and carrying out general maintenance, whilst she keeps the house clean and tidy.
The covered Outdoor Dining Area
The Villa
On one side of the Entrance Hall is.
- A Cloakroom with a W.C.
Off the HALL is:
- The Dining Room. The table can be adapted to seat up to 10.
Sliding glass doors on 2 sides of this room lead to:- The covered external Dining Area on the Terrace. The table seats 12, and rattan blinds can be lowered to provide additional protection from the sun.
- The colonnaded Main Terrace with shaded seating areas at either end.
Off the Dining Room is:
- The very comfortably furnished Sitting Room with a wood-burning fireplace. Wide, sliding glass doors lead to the paved Main Terrace, whilst a glass door on the opposite side of the Room opens onto a small gravelled terrace at the rear of the villa.
The Sitting Room
The Dining Room with the Outdoor Dining Area in the Background
- The fully-equipped Kitchen. Electric hobs and a separate oven. American-style fridge/freezer/ice-maker, and a second fridge for drinks. Microwave, toaster, waste-disposal unit, etc.
Off a Lobby (at the opposite end of the Sitting Room) are:
- Bedroom 1. With 2 single beds and French windows opening onto a lawn at the front of the villa. Chest of drawers and 2 clothes cupboards.
- En suite Bathroom. With a bath, a separate shower, 2 washbasins and a WC.
- Bedroom 2. With 2 single beds and French windows opening onto the small gravelled terrace at the rear of the villa. Ample cupboard space and drawers.
- En suite Bathroom. With a walk-in shower, 2 washbasins and a WC.
- Children'S Bedroom (Bedroom 3). With 2 full-length beds, and a washbasin. There are 2 further full-length beds on a mezzanine floor, plus a Shower and a washbasin.
- A W.C. for the exclusive use of the occupants of the Children'S Bedroom.
Bedroom 2
Stairs ascend from this Lobby to:
- The Master Suite comprising:
- The Master Bedroom (Bedroom 4). With a king-size bed, and wonderful views over the garden and pool to the sea. A glass door opens onto a small, totally secluded TERRACE. This bedroom is air-conditioned.
- Dressing Area. With drawers and cupboards.
- En suite Bathroom. With a bath, a walk-in shower, a bidet and 2 washbasins.
- A separate W.C.
The Master Bedroom
- Bedroom 5. With a queen-size bed. The window overlooks the villa's attractive tiled roofs. Ample cupboard space and drawers.
- En suite Bathroom. With a bath, a separate shower, 2 washbasins and a W.C.
Bedroom 5
The Grounds
A wide, spotlit staircase sweeps down from the centre of the Main Terrace to the magnificent heated, filtered, fenced and gated Swimming Pool (with Roman steps at the shallow end and a diving board at the other). The pool is 15 metres in length, 5m in width, with a depth of 1.15 metres at one end, shelving to about 2.15m at the opposite end.
There is an excellent range of pool furniture.
Unless otherwise requested, the electrically-operated pool cover will be closed by the housekeepers at night (and on any particular day should tenants so wish) in order to retain the heat and to prevent possible accidents.
The Covered Area is at the far end of the Pool
At the pool's shallow end is a Covered Area equipped with banquette seating, a bar, a small fridge and a sink. At its rear (and tucked around the corner) is the:
Utility Room. With a washer and a dryer, an ironing board and an iron, and a separate W.C.
Below the pool is a well-shaded lawn with, at one end, a specially sanded Boules Court. (The 'boules' are kept in a cupboard in the Hall).
The Portable Barbecue can be installed on the Main Terrace or by the pool.
Looking towards the sea from the Main Terrace
Other Facilities And Information
- Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 10 people including children and babies staying in the villa at any one time, of which a maximum of 8 should be adults.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis. The housekeepers are Suzanne and Paul. Suzanne is paid by the owner to make beds, and to keep the villa clean and tidy on 6 days a week. Any additional hours of work should be arranged directly with her, and should be paid by tenants on a weekly basis at the rate of Euros 15 per hour.
- Paul is an excellent cook, and is paid by the owner to do 6 Continental breakfasts and a total of 6 lunches or dinners a week, and for his time spent food shopping for these meals. Tenants should pay him direct for all food purchased by him, as well as at the above rate per hour for cooking and shopping for any additional lunches and/or dinners that may be agreed, and for the food purchased for any such additional meals.
- There are 2 cots and 2 high chairs.
- Babysitting can be arranged if required.
- The villa has underfloor heating throughout.
- There is a telephone system, plus Broadband/Wireless internet access.
- There is a hairdryer in each Bedroom.
- The owner's insurance policy requires that all outside doors (including the sliding glass doors) and the ground floor windows and shutters are closed and locked when tenants are away from the villa.
- The front gates are opened and closed electronically. On arrival, tenants will be provided with a remote control unit which operates both these gates and the forecourt's floodlights.
- The wardrobe in the Sitting Room houses the satellite TV, the DVD and the video machines, plus the CD/cassette player and radio. There is a second (portable) CD/cassette player and radio, as well as a good selection of DVD's, CD's and children's videos.
- Also in the Sitting Room are a number of board games including backgammon. There is an excellent (and extensive) up-to-date selection of English-language books throughout the villa.
- There is a folding Bridge table, plus a velvet Bridge cloth.
The other end of the Main Terrace
- Tenants should advise both the housekeeper and Anglo French Properties Ltd at the end of each rental of any losses, breakages or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- Tenants should also seek the housekeeper or the gardener's help should there by any problems concerning the villa or its grounds.
- In addition, the villa has a most useful folder listing doctors and dentists, interesting local shops (pottery is a speciality), markets (the best is in St Tropez), restaurants etc. There are also lots of ideas and suggestions on what to do and where to go in the vicinity, as well as a selection of maps and guides.
- There is a good all-weather tennis court on the Domaine within 10 minutes' walk. There is also a tennis club on the far side of Les Issambres (temporary membership is easily obtained) where, being very near the sea, playing conditions can be somewhat cooler than on the Domaine itself. Thirdly, there is a rather grander tennis club on the "Amani" side of Ste Maxime where temporary membership is also available.
- There are a number of enjoyable walks and mountain bike trails in the vicinity. Mountain bikes, scooters etc can be hired in Ste Maxime.
- A ferry service runs between Ste Maxime and the town of St Tropez - crossings take 10 to 15 minutes. In addition, boats can be hired in Ste Maxime's harbour to take passengers directly to St Tropez' famous beaches - Pampelone, Gigare and Cavalaire.
- Both Issambres and Ste Maxime offer sailing, water-skiing and wind-surfing for all ages, plus lessons in all 3 sports.
- There are many pretty villages which are well worth a visit - Grimaud and Port Grimaud, Plan-de-la-Tour, Roquebrune-sur-Argens, Gassin and Ramatuelle to name a few.
The view over the Villa's roofs from Bedroom 5
- Small children will enjoy the "little train" which runs between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.
- A number of local vineyards encourage visits as well as "on-the-spot" purchases. There is also an excellently priced wine co-operative on the road between Ste Maxime and Grimaud.
- A nearby livery stable offers lessons as well as riding in the surrounding hills.
The Rents In 2008
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| May | £3,310 per week |
| June & September | £3,990 per week |
| July & August | £6,040 per week |
| January to April and October to December (excluding Christmas) |
£2,310 per week |
Unless otherwise agreed, all lets will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will usually begin and end on a Saturday. Tenants should arrive between 4 pm and 6 pm on the commencement day, and should leave before 10 am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival at the villa by the housekeepers.
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking And Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £500 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing a Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking and will be applied to (a) the cost of telephone and fax calls made during the tenancy, (b) electricity consumed by tenants (who are invited to check the meter should they so wish), and (c) the cost of replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental. The balance will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 8 weeks of the conclusion of the tenancy.
