Some guest reviews
Written by Scott and Angele from Atlanta, GA on 4/23/2010 for a stay in 4/1/2010
From the very beginning, with the warm greeting by Jean-Paul and Martine upon our arrival, meeting us at the front entrance, we knew that we chosen the right location for our visit to this lovely region. Unfamiliar with the region and arriving later in the evening, our wonderful hosts - rather than leaving us to our own resources at that late hour - asked us to join them for a lovely dinner in a local restaurant. What better service can you expect than this?
The apartment is absolutely with attention to comfort and detail. Jean-Paul's comment that he and Martine designed and outfitted it in a way that would make them want to live there is excellent. Comfortable, cozy, and the feeling we were home while on vacation was great. There was a slight issue with internet access; however, it was due to the ISP, not with the support in the apartment.
The location, right along the wine route, was ideal for the many many things to do within an hour's drive. The historic villages and towns, the vinyards, the castles, and the oh-so-many wonderful places to dine. All fantastic.
We totally recommend getting in touch with Jean-Paul and Martine and booking this wonderful place in the mountains!
Comment by the owner: the Internet / ISP problem is now fixed!
By DHDUSA from Maine, USA on 7/21/2010 for a stay in 5/1/2010
We'd awaken to birdsong and went to sleep on the most comfortable bed imaginable. In between, there was plenty to do in the area as far as sightseeing and hiking, but we also took time just to gaze out the windows at the beautiful views, curl up in the nooks with a book and walk around the village of La Vancelle. The apartment is clean, comfortable and serene. Jean-Paul and Martine are generous and thoughtful hosts. We loved the alsace area and our stay at the Maison des 4 Voyageurs.
By "Two Canuks" from Kingston, Ontario, Canada on 7/31/2010 for a stay in 6/1/2010
We enjoyed our stay here immensely. The apartment is large, clean, bright and well-equipped. La Vancelle is a nice little retreat surrounded by greenery - but be aware that most groceries are a 10-minute drive away. It was never a problem, however. Martine and Jean-Paul are wonderful hosts - available but not intrusive, interesting to talk with and very knowledgeable about the area. Our only criticism is very, very small - a shower that is a bit of a "challenge" for very tall people. Otherwise the apartment is very comfortable to stay in, and we felt at home immediately. Especially loved opening the window sashes and hearing the village church bells, the sound of the birds ... and nothing else!
By Pamela from Sydney on 12/6/2010 for a stay in 9/1/2010
At the edge of deep woods in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains about an hour south of Strasbourg in alsace is the tiny village of La Vancelle. It comprises eight little streets, a church, a handful of houses and a wonderful starred Michelin restaurant (yes, we ate there). La Vancelle is some ten km off the a35 autoroute between Strasbourg and Basel. A few hundred metres from the restaurant is the House of the Four Travellers. This is the home of Jean-Paul and Martine who have converted their upper floor into a spacious, self-contained one-bedroom apartment with fully-equipped kitchen, bath, sitting and dining rooms. Supermarkets and other services are available in the nearby villages. A vehicle is obviously essential here and well-lit free parking is available across the road.
The apartment is a cosy timbered space with views across the village into the forest and mountains. The kitchen has a modern stove, refrigerator and all necessary utensils and glassware, there is satellite TV (but only one English language channel - the inescapable BBC World), however, this is unimportant in the scale of local attractions available to those who stay there.
Within an hour drive lie Strasbourg to the north, Colmar to the south and in between is the famed alsace wine trail which connects storybook villages, castles and vineyards. This compact region is s wine-loving photographer's paradise and the short distances between photo opportunities make for full days and pleasant nights reviewing each days prized memories and checking the corks of wonderful rieslings, pinot blancs and gewurtztraminers.
While there are many tourist restaurants in popular venues like Ribeauville and Riquewihr etc, Jean-Paul and Martine will happily direct guests to excellent and good value restaurants in other, less obvious, villages nearby. They are always ready to offer information and assistance whenever needed but otherwise don't interfere with the activities of their guests.
La Vancelle is a perfect hub for hikers, cyclists, wine travellers and food enthusiasts. Its in a remote location but is not remote and the House of the Four Travellers provides a comfortable and welcoming base for exploring the heart of rural alsace.
Added by the owner: there are now some more English speaking channels: CNN, NBC, and some others...