Cerilly, France Family Paradise: HUGE Private Pool & Delightful Holiday Home!
Cerilly, France: Family Paradise or a Pool-Side Purgatory? My Messy Review!
Alright, friends, buckle up. Because I'm about to spill all the tea on "Cerilly, France Family Paradise: HUGE Private Pool & Delightful Holiday Home!" Emphasis on the "messy" because let's be real, perfect reviews are B.S. And honestly, after my week there, my brain feels like a tangled ball of pool noodles and lukewarm rosé.
First Impressions: The Good (and the Glimmer of Hope)
The huge private pool? Yeah, that's real. HUGE. Like, you could probably hold a small regatta in it. And the house itself? "Delightful" is pushing it, but it was…pleasant. Air conditioning? Oh thank the heavens, yes. Essential considering the French summer heat that feels like a damp, grumpy cat draped over your shoulders. The free Wi-Fi? Blessedly reliable. My kids’ online gaming addiction was…managed. Managed, I say!
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, to Put It Mildly.
They say "Facilities for disabled guests." Okay, good. But the details? Vague. I didn't personally need them, but I did notice a lot of stairs to the terrace, and I'd be lying if I said I was sure the "facilities" extended beyond a ramp (if there even WAS one) and maybe a grab bar in a bathroom. So, check it out directly if accessibility is key. Honestly, this is a big red flag that they're being…optimistic with this claim.
Cleanliness and Safety: Trying to Breathe Easy (But That Pool…!)
Okay, COVID times, right? Let's talk cleanliness. The staff seemed genuinely committed. Stuff like Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, and the Rooms sanitized between stays. I saw Staff trained in safety protocol. That’s all good. But…it’s the pool. The huge private pool. And the amount of leaves and bugs that got in it every day? You could practically build a biological museum. It’s on you, people. So…pack your own pool cleaner. Seriously.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Mostly Involving Baguettes)
The Restaurants are…well, there are Restaurants. A la carte? Yes. Buffet? Yes, and honestly, a pretty decent one. Breakfast [buffet] was a highlight. They had croissants. Croissants, people! The Coffee shop made decent coffee, and the Poolside bar was a lifesaver. Poolside bar…where the rosé flowed freely (and the kids got increasingly sugared up on Shirley Temples). Now, I did try the Western cuisine in restaurant, and it was decent. But honestly, the best meals were the impromptu picnics fueled by baguettes, cheese, and whatever else we could scavenge from the local markets. Oh, and speaking of picnics, getting Food delivery was easy. Thank god, because sometimes, all you want is to collapse.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Pool, Pool, and… Oh, Look! More Pool!
Here's the deal: the Swimming pool [outdoor] is the star. That's your relaxation plan. Forget the Spa and the Sauna. Unless you're incredibly dedicated, you won't get around to it. I, personally, spent 90% of my time poolside. I didn't manage to try the Body scrub or Body wrap. The Gym/fitness? Yeah, right. My fitness regime consisted of reaching for another glass of wine. It's a Pool with a view mostly.
For the Kids: Kid-Friendly? Absolutely (Mostly)
"Family/child friendly" is their mantra. And honestly, they deliver. Babysitting service, if you need it (which, let's be honest, you might), and Kids facilities are present. The Kids meal options were better than I expected, though my kids still found a way to complain about the lack of chicken nuggets. The highlight? The pool, obviously, and the freedom for them to run wild (within the confines of the property, naturally). Family/child friendly is a correct statement.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference (or Don't)
Cash withdrawal worked. The Concierge was helpful, and the Daily housekeeping kept the place (mostly) tidy. Laundry service was a lifesaver. The Terrace was lovely, especially in the evenings. The Convenience store was handy for grabbing snacks and essentials. But the Car park [free of charge] was a bit of a scrum, especially at peak times. So, get there early, or prepare for a bit of a walk.
The Room Itself: Comfortable But…Underwhelming?
Air conditioning - check! Free Wi-Fi - double-check! Coffee/tea maker - yes! Refrigerator- YES! Extra long bed for me? Yep. Non-smoking - Hallelujah! As you’d expect really. The In-room safe box was a good touch. Bathroom was fine, nothing special, but Shower and Separate shower/bathtub – all present. Overall, comfortable, but not exactly luxurious. You’re not here to live in the room, you’re here for the pool.
My Stream-of-Consciousness Moment: That Pool, That Pool, That Pool…
Okay, so about that pool. It was epic. Truly. I spent hours just bobbing around, staring up at the sky. I’d bring a book, try to read, get distracted by the kids splashing, sigh dramatically…repeat ad nauseam. There were moments of pure bliss. Genuine, untainted relaxation. But then, the bugs. The leaves. The…algae? I don't know. It was like swimming in a giant, slightly murky, shimmering emerald. I swear, at one point I thought a frog almost landed on my head. But, you know, still beautiful. And they did have pool noodles, even if those got claimed the moment we arrived.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Honestly? Probably. Despite the minor gripes, the slightly dodgy accessibility claims, and the occasional pool-related existential crisis, the Cerilly Family Paradise delivered. The kids had a blast. I (eventually) relaxed. And the pool? Well, the pool was unforgettable, in its own messy, slightly green, frog-adjacent way.
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Final Thoughts:
Go with realistic expectations. Pack your own bug spray (and maybe a pool net). Embrace the mess. And for the love of all that is holy, just dive in and enjoy the huge pool. You might just find your own little slice of paradise, even in the slightly imperfect beauty of it all. Bonne chance!
Croatia's Stunning Vineyard Views: Your Dreamy Sutivanac Apartment Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your meticulously planned brochure itinerary. This is ME attempting to wrangle a family holiday in Cerilly, France, into something… well, into something that I can vaguely remember, and hopefully, don't end up divorced over. Let's get this show on the road (or at least, the road to a slightly chaotic, but utterly delightful, French escape).
Cerilly Chaos - The Itinerary (If You Can Call It That)
Day 1: Arrival and the "Everything's in the Wrong Place" Debacle
- Morning (or, frankly, whenever the plane deigns to land): Land in Paris. Or, preferably, survive the flight. This is after a delightful 3 hours of the kids screaming for snacks, and me silently plotting how to steal someone's noise-canceling headphones. We get the rental car – small victory! It mostly has the right number of doors. Driving on the “wrong” side of the road, which is, of course I was wrong and should have taken the train, this is going to be a wild adventure.
- Afternoon: The Great GPS Massacre and Home Invasion (of Our Own Making). GPS says 3 hours. GPS also seems to be fluent in "Lie." It's more like 4-5 hours of winding rural roads, punctuated by me yelling at the GPS ("Seriously?! ANOTHER roundabout? Is this a conspiracy?") and the kids arguing over who gets to use the iPad. We arrive at the holiday home. And it. Is. Gorgeous. The photos didn't lie; the pool is massive, the house is charming. Except… the key doesn't fit the door. Crisis! We're locked out. The kids are whining, the wine bottles are glaring at us, and I’m pretty sure I just aged a decade. (Turns out, we were using the wrong key. Classic.) Finally get inside and find that everything's in the wrong place. Why are there spoons in the bathroom? Why are the towels folded into the shape of swans? I can’t even deal.
- Evening: Pool, Pizza, and Premature Meltdown (Mine). Pool time! This, I feel, is what it's all about. Watching the kids splash in the pool, soaking up the sun… bliss. Except, of course, little Timmy decides to attempt a backflip and ends up in the shallow end, crying about a hurt knee, because this is how it always goes. Dinner: pizza. From the local supermarket. Delicious, in a "we're exhausted and don't care" kind of way. The wine, thankfully, is excellent. Bedtime for the kids is at a reasonable hour. For me, it's 10 PM, after an hour of online shopping for a more effective GPS and a full container of ice cream.
Day 2: The Market Mystery and the Pain Au Chocolat Pilgrimage
- Morning: The French Market Frenzy. We head to the local market. The noise! The smells! The people! There are so many fresh vegetables, and I get a little carried away with buying things I have no idea how to cook. I manage to buy some cheese that smells suspiciously like old socks (but the vendor insists it’s “magnifique”). Buying fresh bread is a must and feels incredibly authentic. I attempt a bit of pigeon French with the baker, and I am 95% sure I insulted her cat.
- Afternoon: A Little Trip for the Little Ones (and a big adventure). The kids have their heart set on a visit to a small park, and if I'm being honest, I'm not looking forward to the endless “Are we there yets?” and the subsequent whining. But then, the park does have a carousel… and an ice cream stand… and eventually, I give in. While the kids run amok, my husband and I try to enjoy our coffees. We fail, they're cold before the kids are done with round three on the carousel.
- Evening: The Chocolate Bread Run…Again. The first time, we bought two. The kids ate them and were gone in minutes. The next morning, on a mission, I went to the bakery to buy more before we had breakfast. Only a single Pain au Chocolat remained, so I bought it and ate it while watching the kids eat their breakfast. I have no shame.
Day 3: Castle Dreams and the Existential Crisis of a Sun Lounger
- Morning: Castle Exploration. We venture out to a local castle. It's beautiful and everything, but I’m pretty sure the kids are more interested in collecting rocks and running away from me than appreciating the history. I'm there is no way the guards could have stopped them from going anywhere. I have a fleeting moment of wishing I'd paid more attention in history class…
- Afternoon: Pool Time and the Great Sun Lounger Debate. Back to the house and the pool! But also, the existential crisis of a sun lounger. Is it angled correctly? Am I applying sunscreen properly? And do I even deserve this moment of relaxation? The husband is snoring. The kids are splashing. And I stare up at the sky, contemplating the meaning of life, or at least whether I should go back inside and fold laundry.
- Evening: French Cuisine (Attempt 1) and the Cockroach Caper. Tonight, We have an ambitious dinner planned: chicken with potatoes and some greens… But I forgot the olive oil! And the salt! I get distracted with, and our meal is slightly under-seasoned. A cockroach makes an appearance which sends the kids screaming (especially me). My husband is surprisingly calm, which is probably a good thing because I’m pretty sure I would have set the house on fire if he wasn't there to put it out.
Day 4: The Wine Tasting Whims (and Wine) and the "I Need a Holiday From My Holiday" Syndrome
- Morning: Wine Tasting (the real reason we’re here). Finally, the good stuff! A local vineyard offers wine tasting. I embrace my inner wine connoisseur (which, let’s be honest, is a slightly tipsy version of my actual self). I learn about the grapes, the terroir, and how to properly swirl the glass (which, by the third tasting, is more of a vigorous shake). I buy too many bottles. The husband drives back to the house. Win/win.
- Afternoon: Rest. I spend the afternoon napping on a sun lounger and re-evaluating my life choices, which mostly involve drinking more of the wine from our morning adventure.
- **Evening: The Day's leftovers. ** We open our last store-bought bottle of wine from our supermarket shopping, and decide, as a family, what to do in the morning before we leave.
Day 5: Goodbye, Cerilly (For Now, at Least… Please!)
- Morning: The ritual packing of suitcases, finding kids mismatched socks, and the final cleaning-up.
- Afternoon: Back to Paris, the airport chaos, and memories that will last a really long time.
- Evening: I probably will have a glass of wine to recover.
The Imperfections, the Quirks, and the Honest Truth:
- The Sunburn Chronicles: Someone will get sunburned. Probably me.
- The "Lost in Translation" Mishaps: We’ll misinterpret French phrases. We'll say the wrong thing. And we'll laugh about it later (hopefully).
- The Food Fails: There will be meals that go wrong, snacks that are devoured in seconds, and a general acceptance of slightly burnt toast.
- The Emotional Rollercoaster: There will be moments of pure, unadulterated joy. There will also be tantrums, meltdowns, and the occasional silent, tearful contemplation of running away to join the circus.
- The Mess: The house will be slightly messier than when we arrived. The car will be filled with crumbs and discarded toys. And my brain will be brimming with memories, both good and slightly terrifyingly messy.
- The Verdict: This holiday has the potential to be a disaster, but also a great one. I wouldn't have it any other way.
So, that’s the plan. Or at least, the rough approximation of a plan. Wish us luck. We'll need it. And if you see a slightly frazzled woman chasing after her kids with a half-eaten pain au chocolat in her hand, that's probably me. Come say hello. We can swap stories. And maybe share some wine…
Ilsenburg Ski Escape: Cozy Apartment Awaits!
Cerilly, France Family Paradise FAQ - Honestly!
Is this place *really* as good as it sounds? Because, let's be honest, the internet lies.
Okay, deep breath. Yes. And no. The pool? Absolutely gigantic. Think, "wow, I could *actually* swim laps without bumping into the kids" kind of huge. My kids, they were like little fish, practically mutated into chlorine-loving creatures within hours. Seriously, they emerged with wrinkled fingers and demanding more pool time. So, good. Incredibly good.
The house itself? Well, charming is the word they use in the listing. "Charming with a slightly wonky staircase" is more accurate. I tripped. Twice. Once carrying a tray of... well, let's say it involved red wine. Charm and gravity, not always friends. But hey, that's what holidays are for, right? Embrace the uneven floors, the slightly creaky furniture, the… let’s just say the ‘character’ of the place. It adds to the experience! Kind of.
What about the pool? The HUGE private pool? Is it clean?! And is it really private?
The pool. Oh, the pool! My sanity's savior. My children's heaven. And yes, blissfully private. No screaming kids you didn’t parent cannonballing near you. No creepy strangers staring from their patios. Just you, your family (hopefully getting along better than mine sometimes did, ahem), and a massive expanse of shimmering blue. Clean? Yes! Pristine, even. They send someone to clean it regularly, and you know when they come because, for like 30 minutes, the pool smells of chlorine. Which gives a kind of very clean kind of smell. It was a relief. We saw (briefly) some bugs, yes. Life finds a way. But nothing that ruined the experience. This pool really *is* a selling point.
And ‘private’ means private. We spent a ridiculous portion of our time in our bathings suits, reading and sunbathing. We are not exactly exhibitionists! And because we were so free from self-consciousness, we felt a great peace. So, yes: the pool is a total winner.
Okay, the kids. How kid-friendly is this place, really? My kids are… challenging.
Listen, I get it. My kids are, shall we say, *spirited*. This place is pretty damn good for kids. The pool, obviously, is a major win. Endless entertainment. The garden offers space to run around and wear themselves out. There were even badminton rackets and a frisbee (which, let’s be honest, were forgotten by day two in favour of more pool time.)
That said, the wonky staircase is a slight worry with toddlers. Constant vigilance required. And while there are shops nearby for essentials, bringing your own favorite snacks is a good idea. (My kids' meltdowns are inversely proportional to the availability of gummy bears.) And even with the spaciousness, you still hear the kids' bickering which is normal. Maybe pack earplugs?
What's the kitchen situation like? Can you actually cook?
The kitchen... Well, it's functional. Not a chef's dream, but perfectly adequate. There's a decent oven, a hob, a fridge. Basic stuff. You're not going to be whipping up Michelin-star meals here unless you're a culinary genius, in which case, why are you reading this? You are capable of making decent family meals. I mean, I managed. And I'm no Nigella (though, I did indulge in some of her recipes at several points throughout the stay). There was a dishwasher! Bless the dishwasher! It saved my sanity. Thank goodness for that tiny, amazing piece of equipment. It gave me a few extra minutes of peace.
The best part? Eating al fresco on the terrace. The most delicious meal was the one we got delivered from the nearby pizza place. And there’s a great bakery just down the road. Fresh croissants every morning? Yes, please! So, cooking? Yes, you can. But embrace the local cuisine! Try something new! Relax.
Anything I *shouldn't* expect? Like, hidden fees, terrible neighbors, etc.?
Well, no terrible neighbours as far as I could tell. Just the sounds of the village which were actually quite charming . Hidden fees? Nope, everything seemed pretty upfront in our case. Always confirm, but the owners were incredibly clear. Just remember to bring your own towels – that’s pretty standard in this kind of rental. And make sure you have the wifi password before you arrive. Because, you know, the kids (and maybe me) need it…
The biggest "warning" if I could give one? Prepare to *not want to leave*. Seriously. The hardest part of the whole trip wasn't getting there, it was *leaving*. My kids were heartbroken. I was a little bit too. We were happy to be back home again of course, to the familiar comforts. But that pool… that house… Cerilly, France… it’s practically perfection.
Okay, one more thing... the laundry. Is there a washing machine, and *how* does it work (because I'm hopeless)?
Yes! There is a washing machine. THANK GOD. Because, pool, kids, all that… you’ll be doing laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. I’m not a laundry expert (to put it mildly) but it was pretty straightforward. Instructions were provided (thankfully!). And don’t forget to pack extra laundry detergent. And maybe a stain remover pen. The pool *will* be filled with kids, and kids plus water equals… well, let’s just say you’ll be thankful for the washing machine. Be prepared for the sounds the washing machine makes; It is, after all, a tool.
The best part? Line-drying your clothes in the French sunshine! Pure bliss. Except when it rained, and you had to scramble to save your slightly damp laundry from the downpour. But those little imperfections, they become part of the memories, right? Right.
Would you go back? Be brutally honest.
BRUTALLY honest? Absolutely. In a heartbeat. I'm already mentally planning our return. Okay, maybe not *brutally* honest. More like, "slightly wistful and daydreaming about that pool" honest. The kids still talk about it. I still talk about it. We left a little piece of our hearts there, right in that glorious, chlorine-scented haven.
Look, it's not perfect. Nothing is. The staircase is a bit scary. The furniture is a bit worn. But it has SOUL. And the pool? Pure, unadulterated, family bliss. Go. Just go. And then, please, send me a postcard.
