Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Upstairs bathroom
Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”.
The Ultimate Multi-Family Escape
Finding a home that comfortably accommodates three families without feeling crowded is a rare find. Paradise Found is exactly that: a spacious, authentic French country home designed for laughter, large meals, and effortless hosting.
Authentic Charm & Character
This is not a sterile, modern villa. It is a home with history. If you are looking for cookie-cutter perfection and perfectly straight walls, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you seek "idyllically charming"—with the warmth of a lived-in family estate and the character of Southwest France—you have arrived.
A Playground for All Ages
• For the Kids: A safe, secure haven featuring a large (but shallow-friendly) pool, a huge trampoline, slides, swings, and a treasure trove of toys and games.
• For the Adults: Total peace of mind. The grounds are expansive enough for children to roam freely while you relax.
• The Logistics: Hosting 12 guests is easy here. With two kitchens and four fridge-freezers, you can stock up on local market finds and never worry about running out of space for the wine or the groceries.
The Best of Both Worlds
While we enjoy the quiet serenity of the countryside, the historic heart of Saintes is just minutes away for your morning croissants or a gourmet dinner. When the ocean calls, the golden sandy beaches of the Atlantic Coast are an easy 30-minute drive.
We invite you to make our family home yours this summer.
Best wishes, Michael, Sophie, Lily, and Rose.
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Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 25 kg per pet (limit 3 pets total)
Please contact us to discuss pets BEFORE booking
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property
Frequently asked questions
Is PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”. pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”.?
As of 27 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”. on 27 Mar 2026 start from AU$999, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”.?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is PARADISE, FOUND…!! “Huge house, gardens and pool. So much fun. Loved it”. located?
Located in a rural location, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Saint-Eutrope Church, Abbaye aux Dames, and Saintes Amphitheatre. Saintes Cathedral and Arch of Germanicus are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Fantastic house and grounds in a wonderful location - feels like a proper escape to the middle of nowhere, but still only 15mins from the beautiful town of Saintes.Plenty of space for all of us (3 couples plus 2 young children aged 5 & 2) and a fantastic pool and gardens. However, the decking by the pool does need replacing as soon as possible as it is rotten and has several loose planks.Living areas and bedrooms are all great - the master bedroom is HUGE - and it’s lovely to have so many options of quiet places to sit. Michael was very responsive to any queries we had during our stay.
Tom L.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept 2025
Absolutely wonderful guests, all three generations, all polite, friendly and easygoing. Tom was a star from start to finish including repairing the slow puncture on the inflatable slide which was, and still is, much appreciated.
And it was sheer joy to return to a home so very clean and tidy for which a huge thank you to one and all.
10 out of 10 all round.
Come back!!
We had a fabulous stay at Shabby Chic Paradise. The property was beautiful with stunning views of the countryside. Very family friendly. The owner Michael is English speaking, was really welcoming and was very knowledgeable about the local area, which helped greatly.
Would definitely come back.
Michael S.
Stayed 12 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug 2022
A really great, fun loving family, not least Monty and Millie the two glorious retrievers! Michael and his wife were relaxed and laid back on the one hand and extremely conscientious on the other. As previously agreed, additional friends and family came and went during the holiday and from all I gathered everyone had a great time. For us it was a pleasure to know that the house was full of babies, children, parents and dogs all having fun which is as it should be.
No hesitation whatsoever in recommending the family and dogs to other hosts although I rather hope they come back to us whenever they want!
We actually stayed for 6 weeks whilst waiting for our house purchase to complete. In that time we were visited by friends and family. Shabby Chic Paradise is in a great location, peaceful and private yet only 10 minutes drive to Saintes centre. Lots of space for groups and their pets and children. The house is well appointed, unique in character and very comfortable. We had a very happy six weeks and were sad to leave. Michael is an excellent host.
Andy M.
Stayed 21 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Sept 2023
The ultimate booking from the ultimate guests.
When a guest takes one look at the sit-on mower and says "That looks like fun, are you happy for me to cut the grass?" ("Er, yes!!") and your cleaning lady texts you after the first week to say "The house is immaculate, there's nothing for me to do" you know your home is in reassuringly safe hands.
Add to which, Andy and his wife, as well as Stanley the dog, really were the most friendly, polite, laid back yet evidently conscientious and helpful couple I have met in a long time that it was a genuine pleasure to have made their acquaintance and to have had them stay in our house for six whole weeks. It was all the better for it for which a huge THANK YOU!
We were a family of four who stayed at the property for two weeks. We were there during the heatwave and were glad for the thick farmhouse walls and the pool to keep us cool.
The place is a little "shabby" as advertised so don't expect luxury accommodation. But we enjoyed the rustic nature of it and it felt like an authentic rural French farmhouse experience.
The pool (unheated), play equipment and house set up were ideal for our two children - they absolutely loved it there.
The location was amazing for us - the road up to the property (and two others) is a km from the main road so you really feel out in the middle of nowhere. But actually you are only a 10 minute drive from Saintes, supermarkets and such. It was the best of both worlds.
Michael was an exceptionally honest and diligent owner - he even made sure the property was right for us before accepting the booking.
We did have a couple of issues while we were there (as you can at any property) but Michael was great with comms and dealt with things ASAP.
Overall, we had a lovely relaxing holiday.
David C.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2022
Amazing guests; cool, calm and collected at all times and in spite of the excruciating heat! From start to finish David was forever polite, friendly and helpful which other hosts will agree is always greatly appreciated.
David and family left our home extremely clean and tidy together with a variety of ice lollies and ice creams in the freezer; the perfect “returning home present” for all of us!
Thank you David and family for being such wonderful guests and do come back whenever you want. Best wishes to you all, Michael.
Verified
6/10 Okay
Catherine E.
11 Aug 2025
Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Check in was not ideal as Michael was still preparing the property for our arrival. At first glance we were blown away by the beautiful setting and the impressive property which initially appeared exactly as promised. However, as we began to unpack we realised that upstairs was clean and welcoming but conditions downstairs were unacceptable. All the couches and chairs smelt strongly of cat urine and we had to thoroughly clean the kitchen as there were mouse droppings on every surface.Outside, one of the adults in our party fell through the decking, which was rotten in many places and hurt himself quite badly. Similarly, we had to locate a saw and cut off a snapped part of the swing set as it posed a danger. We did not contact Michael about these issues, as none of them would have been an easy or quick fix and we just wanted to spend time together as a family. Therefore it was preferable to sort what problems we could ourselves. I am sure that had we contacted Michael, he would have done his best to make a positive difference. Overall we had a lovely time, but the current property description is not accurate. The pizza oven doesn’t work and the barbecue was too filthy to use. The decking round the pool definitely needs replacing as it is a significant hazard. With some tweaks this would be a perfect place to holiday and we would certainly come back.
Catherine E.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug 2025
Dear Fellow Hosts,
I am going to keep this as simple and matter of fact as possible. I leave it to you to make any judgments of your own.
My family have been accused by this guest of living in a house, our family home, in which "ALL THE COUCHES AND CHAIRS SMELL STRONGLY OF CAT URINE AND WE HAD TO THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE KITCHEN AS THERE WERE MOUSE DROPPINGS ON EVERY SURFACE". Such an accusation is not only untrue but deeply insulting.
Herewith the facts:
1. NO CATS LIVE IN THIS HOUSE if only because I AM HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO CATS. On any given day you CAN see at least five cats roaming our gardens and grounds in search of mice, moles, baby rabbits, a drink from the pool, etc.. but not one of those five cats lives in this house.
2. We have seven sofas, seven armchairs and twenty six table chairs, a total of 40 pieces of furniture ALL OF WHICH SMELL STRONGLY OF CAT URINE, without any of us knowing it and with no cats in the house. Really?!
3. Of course we have the odd mouse in our house, we live surrounded by fields of them, literally, and they certainly keep the cats happy, outside, who eat them! The fact that we DO have the odd mouse in the house is further evidence that we DO NOT have any cats in the house!!
4. Magalie, our cleaning lady, has OCD and is French. She is proud of both, which is why I employ her. As ever, she joined me for four hours on the day our guests arrived to deep clean the kitchens, bathrooms, loos, etc. which is why I am certain that no mouse droppings were present in our kitchen, let alone ON EVERY SURFACE, on the day our guests arrived. A few days later may well have been a different story but not on the day they arrived.
For the record I did email the guest asking for an explanation of her horrific claim but never received a reply.
In the interests of transparency and openness I had also hoped to attach a screenshot of our guest's entire review but according to VRBO Guests are allowed to upload photos attached to their review but Hosts are not!! That doesn't sound fair to me, at all. If you manage to find it do have a read, it's worth it particularly the punchline right at the end!! Frankly, none of the review makes any sense but make of it what you will bearing in mind its overall credibility in light of all the above.
In my view, this guest is a genuine potential risk to the reputation of hosts and we are proof of just that. If nothing else you, my fellow hosts, have been warned.
Yours sincerely,
MA
We had a wonderful, relaxing holiday in Michael‘s beautiful house. Fantastic for all the family.
The house is surrounded by fields and fruit trees, completely private with beautiful gardens and a pool. The rooms are large and comfortable and the kitchens have everything you would need. Michael is a great host for whom nothing is too much trouble, with great tips for things to do and places to eat. Our whole family - from kids to grandparents had a fantastic stay.
Robert W.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2021
Robert and his family, including their magnificent dog, were wonderful guests from start to finish. Very cool and easy going at all times and very respectful of our home, leaving it as they found it, clean and tidy, which was as ever much appreciated and for which many, many thanks.
No hesitation whatsoever in recommending them to other hosts albeit I hope they come back to us!!
Nous avons passé un excellent séjour dans cette belle maison au milieu des champs qui conjugue le charme des vieilles pierres et très bon niveau de confort.
Frédéric S.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Sept 2020
Best guests ever (and the bar was already high) who are welcome back any time with open arms.
Frédéric was a pleasure to communicate with at all times. He and his family were incredibly polite and friendly which is always reassuring when you are leaving your home to guests you have never met before their arrival.
They followed all our House Guidelines to the letter and left our home incredibly clean and tidy for which we were very grateful.
I would recommend Frédéric and his family to other homeowners without hesitation.
Une charmante maison, agréable à vivre, très bien equipée, adaptée aux groupes où tout le monde y trouve sa place. Nous avons adoré notre séjour. Un grand merci à Mickael qui est vraiment aux petits soins pour ses hôtes.
François B.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Sept 2020
Wonderful guests who are welcome back any time!
Francois, his family and friends were very cool, fun and friendly even when the pool turned green for two days in the middle of a heatwave. Not all guests would have been so polite in the circumstances whereas they were the epitome of tact and diplomacy whilst we solved the problem.
They followed all our House Guidelines in full and left our home very clean and tidy for which we were very grateful.
Would recommend one and all to other homeowners without hesitation.
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Plenty of space for everyone. The pool was great for the kids. Michael, was extremely helpful and available if we needed any assistance. Would definitely recommend to others and would love to return again.
From the moment we made our first enquiries, communicating with Michael (the owner) was simply first class; his replies are prompt, understanding, humoured and most importantly, very well detailed. He was also very patient (organising 3 couples, 2 adults, 1 child
and 3 babies is not easy!) and he clearly cared about making sure our stay was to be as comfortable and relaxing as possible.
The property itself is exactly as advertised, a Shabby Chic Paradise, ideal for a group of adults and children to enjoy a wonderfully relaxing holiday. Where to start? Once there you will immediately feel relaxed. The view from the house, the amazing Conservatory in particular, is spectacular stretching over several fields with woodlands beyond and not a road in sight. Start the BBQ's up, light the pizza oven, open a bottle or two of Rose, watch the sunset after a lovely evening walk and chat late into the night in complete peace and tranquility. Then wake up to lovely soft sunshine, grab croissants and pain o chocolats from the Village store, and together with tea or coffee take time to ponder plans for the day.
Plan 1: relax at the house, play in the pool or on the generous expanses of grass. Young children can roam around safely given the well constructed fence surrounding the pool. There is a slide and swings, inflatables galore for the pool, bikes with children's seats and plenty of space to play all manner of games. Plan 2: head to Saintes for a bit of culture and local food. Plan 3: splash around at the local aqua centre in Saintes or Plan 4: head west to the beaches of the French coastline. I could go on but if the truth be told, we were so happy at the house that we often made base there for the day. The children loved it and so did we!
Insidthe house the temperature remains cool owing to the thick walls and lovely stone or wooden floors. The bedrooms are most generous in size and comfort. Both kitchens are well equipped and a total of four fridge/freezers mean you can shop for at least three full days before having to even think of further forays to the supermarche etc.
The house and grounds are big; even with 12 of us it was possible to find a quiet spot inside or out to read a book and/or have a snooze.
We felt the photos on the website despite being pretty spectacular just do not do the place justice - it really is beautiful.
In short, if you want a place to properly catch up with friends or family, trust me, this is your place!
Great stay in a lovely location with amazing weather, much fun for everyone
A fantastic week in a lively location, we all had a lovely time
rob l.
Archival
8/10 Good
Olivier B.
15 Aug 2017
Lovely place, very real.
Loved our 1 week stay in 'shabby chic paradise'.
It is the imperfection that makes it perfect.
Only 1 complaint, 1 week is too short.
Olivier B.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
About the host
Hosted by Michael Amphlet
My name is Michael (English), husband to Sophie (French) and father to Lily and Rose, twin daughters, born July 2016.
Why they chose this property
Sophie and I bought this property for three particular reasons.
LOCATION: Seemingly in the middle of nowhere yet only minutes from the City of Saintes and even closer to our local Village of Chermignac, one of the most beautiful and vibrant on the outskirts of Saintes. LAYOUT...The downstairs living area is more than twice the size of the upstairs sleeping area. LIGHT... Unusually for a lot of old houses we have lots of windows and thus lots of light.