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"Les chambres d’hôtes & appartement de Sainte-Hélène" is a luxury B & B and apartment in the heart of Olonzac village, capital of the Minervois, part of the world’s largest wine producing region in the south of France. Sainte-Hélène is a large village house with records dating back to 1890 with high ceilings throughout and maintaining many original features. We have also added everything today’s traveller would require in a luxury B & B.
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A wonderful month at Sainte-Helene in the apartment. Hosts Mark & Kaye were more than helpful without being intrusive. We rode the surrounds on bikes supplied , though fields of grapes , many times along the midi canal & surrounding villages not too far away. Were going to hire a car but found local transport fine & spent two nights at more distant towns . More than achieved our objective of a nice quiet stay in South of France . Accommodation was high standard , all you need . You can do as little or as much as you want and the locals were friendly even with our very limited French. Feel part of a community & very sad to go , but world cup rugby awaits. So grateful to Mark & Kay for showing us there little piece of paradise . Merci , Au Revoir
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:perfect base for exploring south of France , dont plan anything ,
Mark & kay have all the...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Overall, a fantastic week spent with Kay and Mark at their lovely accommodation in Olonzac. Met at the airport by our hosts. Absolutely lovely people whose main aim was to ensure you had a perfect holiday. All rooms were spacious and very clean. Since it was so warm air con would have been perfect, but its absence did not affect the holiday to any significant degree. Breakfasts were plentiful with fresh fruit and croissants and fresh bread. Every day was spent travelling to lovely places and eating superb food with excellent local wines. The itinerary mentions a "picnic" for lunch on one day. I challenge anyone to supply a nicer meal in a most beautiful setting. The pace of the holiday was "just right". Sightseeing every day and learning about the local area. Several trips to regional villages were fantastic. Our final meal was a culinary sensation. An absolute feast in a truly atmospheric dining room. I cannot complement our hosts highly enough. Helpful, thoughtful and provided great company for the holiday. An absolutely fantastic week and one that I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys good food, wine and seeing a lovely part of France.…
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Date of stay: September 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Kay Williams, Owner at Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'Hôtes
Responded 4 Oct 2022
Thank you so much for the lovely review, it means a lot to us that you enjoyed the tour as much as we enjoyed hosting you and your friends. We really enjoyed your company and getting to know you all while sharing our little corner of France. Mark & Kay
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The B & B is located in a beautifully renocated french house, with large en suite rooms. Olonzac village is a great, off the touristic coastline, base to tour around. Kate, our host, was very Communicative and Helpful, being there for all our needs (even those that we didnt knew we had) starting from before our arrival to giving us suggestions and tips during our stay.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Kay Williams, Owner at Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'Hôtes
Responded 4 Oct 2022
Thank you for toking the time to leave a review. It was a pleasure to host you and we are happy that you enjoyed your stay while exploring the area.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for six nights in August 2022 and had a great time. Mark and Kay were incredibly helpful in terms of restaurant recommendations, helping with travel and just general knowledge about the area. They made a lovely breakfast tailored to your tastes, and provided cold water each day. The WiFI is also incredibly fast. Value for money was great too.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Kay Williams, Owner at Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'Hôtes
Responded 4 Oct 2022
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review - we enjoyed hosting you during your family celebration and hope to host you again in the future!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed at ste. Helene's 4times before Covid and my visits were outstanding, from the warm reception from Kay and Mark and the most comfortable beds of any of my many visits to France and the charm of olonzac and their b&b to the proximity of major areas of so. France such as Carcassonne, Toulouse, st. Guillem Narbonne, the Mediterranean and even medieval castles such as Montsegur. My stays were a true adventure. Thanks for the memories, my friends.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Kay Williams, Owner at Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'Hôtes
Responded 4 Jul 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review Alice! We have certainly missed you visiting us since Covid stopped people traveling. We loved seeing our area through the eyes of a historic novelist and feel like proud parents to see your published books featuring our little corner of France! Mark & Kay
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I stayed in the apartment at Saint Hélène for two full months after retiring earlier this year. The apartment itself is beautiful, full of French charm and character but also ‘fully-loaded’ in terms of everything that you could possibly need for a home-from-home stay. The hosts, Mark and Kay have really thought of everything from the crisp linen sheets to the L’Occitane products in the contemporary bathroom suite, their attention to detail is, in my experience, second to none, absolutely five stars across the board. However, it is their customer service that deserves a very special mention, they have been nothing short of outstanding since the moment we arrived and have helped us out of what may have otherwise been some very difficult situations, notably a trip to the local hospital within days of my arrival. I simply cannot praise them, or Saint Hélène highly enough. I cannot wait to return. Thank you both so very much, Pete and Yasmin…
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Date of stay: August 2021
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Room Tip:The self-contained ‘apartment’ is superb.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovely place during my bikepacking trip. Kay and Mark are very warm and welcoming. Pleasure to stop here. Rooms are comfy, I'll certainly stop by if I'm back in the area. (For bikepackers, you can store your bike safely in the garage)
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We love the “workaday” town of Olonzac which can only be described as “the real south of France”! And so staying in its’ centre is so appealing. You can walk out in the heat of the day – potter around its’ bustling Tuesday market (the best for miles around as it has an eclectic mix of food, gifts and clothes), and enjoy it’s restaurants and popular terraced cafes. After a walk to nearby Homps to experience the sights and sounds of the Canal du Midi, we loved that the Sainte Helene B&B was such a cool oasis of retreat! We parked right outside and its’ owners Kay and Mark were wonderfully welcoming! The beautifully decorated salon and dining room or the cool terrace under the grapevine were perfect spots for an afternoon of reading, or enjoying a cuppa. Early evening we helped ourselves to a glass (or 2!) of local rose from their well-stocked “honesty” bar. Chatting to them, you realise that you are in the centre of something special as they suggest a myriad of places to visit and provide local knowledge and stories about life in a small and charming French town – Olonzac is wonderfully French! Kay and Mark offer loads of suggestions for places to go and things to see – if you don’t want to self-drive they also offer their own week long insight tours which include a mix of wine touring, French cooking, local culture and history. Our room was delightful, bright and airy but with a cool, calm décor – perfect for the hot July day! Huge beds, quality linen and lovely French toiletries are provided along with tea and coffee making in your room (so many French owned B&B’s don’t bother with this and it’s a must for us!) The highlight of our stay was the breakfast – a great choice of healthy cereals, fruits, yoghurts as well as pastries, eggs, ham, cheese and other goodies really set you up for your day’s touring! We will be back!…
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Date of stay: July 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Kay Williams, Owner at Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'Hôtes
Responded 31 Jul 2021
Thank you very much for your kind words. We will wish you well for your ongoing travels and look forward to your return! Mark & Kay
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed in the self-contained apartment at Ste Helene, and it perfectly fitted the bill for a week’s ‘retreat’ amidst a busy visit to friends nearby. The apartment is spacious and beautifully kitted out, with fantastic kitchen facilities, beautiful shower room, very comfortable bed, and many thoughtful and generous touches of luxury. The welcome from Kay and Mark was warm, and their assistance readily given when needed. If visiting again I would probably choose to stay in one of the rooms in the main house - due to proximity of the main road, which is busy mainly morning and eve of weekdays - but the apartment was ideal for independent living and cooking. Thanks Kay and Mark!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our go to place when in the area. As on previous visits, Mark and Kay always provide a warm welcome and are the perfect hosts in this beautiful house. Plenty of helpful tips from both on where to go and things to do. Rooms and ensuites all lovely.
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Date of stay: July 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.