La Maison des Cochers- 1rst floor apartment-

My husband and I stayed at La Maison Cochers in the first floor apartment for four nights. It is located on Rue Nationale which has all the shops and restaurants at your doorstep. Pascale, the owner, was a delight to work with in booking and even met us at the apartment to make sure we were well acquainted with the amenities. She provided a binder with information on the area including recommendations for restaurants which we used almost every night. We would recommend L’Epicure on the Castle Road. Simon was an excellent waiter and very patient with us as the menu was entirely in French. Would definitely stay at La Maison Chochets if ever in Amboise again. Merci Boucoup Pascsle for making this trip very enjoyable!!!

Stayed for a week and wished it could have been longer. Apartment is on a pedestrian street with great coffee shop and bakery opposite. Felt like locals and the apartment felt like home. Warm and comfortable. Pascale met us at the station and drove us back to the station at the end of our stay. Her restaurant recommendations were great.

Owner Pascale Reisinger Houdayer has done a wonderful job of renovating this historic building into 3 apartments, one on each floor, creating a contemporary feel while retaining antique details. She speaks English well and was responsive by email to questions both before and during our stay.

We stayed in the middle apartment up one flight of stairs from ground level. The entry is into a large kitchen/living area. The kitchen is very well equipped, with an induction stove top, oven, microwave, a refrigerator larger than typical under-counter units, a separate small freezer, dishwasher and American style drip coffee maker. There is a small dining table.

Due to the location of the building's stairway, the apartment layout is a bit unusual. Through a door from the main living space is an attractive shower room with dual sinks. The bedroom is beyond the shower room, and a door from it leads to a small toilet room with hand washing sink and washer/dryer combination. Heat and hot water were plentiful (we were there in mid-November). The bed was comfortable and linens and towels were high quality.

We liked the location on pedestrian-only (during shopping hours) rue Nationale, which runs from Chateau Amboise to the basilica. Your car can be parked on the street between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m., and all day on Sundays and Mondays when stores are closed. If you don't wish to have to move the car before 10, free parking is available nearby at the basilica or near the river.

I prefer to stay in smaller towns like Amboise (population a little over13,000), which to me represent the “real” France – although Amboise is more dependent on tourism than some other places we have stayed – and are easily walkable. Amboise has a large open-air market on Sundays by the river, and a smaller market on Fridays. There is a small Carrefour City supermarket a few minutes walk away; a large Leclerc supermarket on the ring road outside of town, and a large Intermarche supermarket across the river. There are three boulangeries on rue Nationale, including one diagonally across the street, and other food shops nearby. The English speaking travel information office had a discount offer on one of the chateaux on our list, and provided helpful information.

The apartment on Rue Nationale in Amboise is exactly as pictured on the VRBO site. Central location, excellent helpful host in Pascale, well outfitted for comfort and function. Close to restaurants, morning bakery, on a pedestrian walking street with free parking close by. Excellent host, beautiful rental in a beautiful town in the middle of the

Loire Chateau country. Couldn't ask for more.

This apartment was incredibly fantastic. The decorating was stylish and classy AND what a location...walk to everything and feel the ambiance of a historical city. All kitchen necessities were there, and the double sinks in the large bathroom made our everyday preparation easy and without hassle. The bed was comfortable and better yet, the room was silent for excellent sleep. Our last and favorite meal was at the charming I'llot, recommended by Pascale. We suggest following her recommendations..they are all right on. She speaks excellent English, is pleasant, helpful and patient.

Thank you for making our September, 2017 stay a highlight of our French trip.

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