First of all, given all of the positive reviews of La Maison du Frene, why write another one? Because such a wonderful guesthouse and its lovely hosts really and truly do exist! Based upon the many positive reviews, we went to La Maison du Frene this past November with very high expectations. Even then, our 3-day stay easily exceeded all such expectations!!! From the very beginning, our e-mail correspondences were always prompt, warm, and cordial. We arrived to find an impeccably preserved stone townhouse, richly and tastefully decorated with a spectacular collection of art, and, except for the lack of an elevator, completely equipped with all of the modern conveniences otherwise . Our very, very spacious Pop Art Suite comes with a comfortable sitting area, a large bedroom with plenty of room to move about, and a large bathroom cleanly decorated with bright azur tile surrounds, white ceramics, and dark wood accents! Everything is meticulously and spotlessly clean. Some of the nice and thoughtful extra touches: Fragonard bath amenities; a tea & coffe-making corner in our own room; electrical adaptor; free wifi that worked like a charm; iPod docking station, etc.. (And do open the door in the bathroom for a view of the mountains in the distance.) While we have seen attempts of art displays at hotels and guesthouses elsewhere that unfortunately sometimes ended up looking amateurish or pretentious, we were quite impressed by how the bright color schema and décor of the Pop Art Suite and of the entire guesthouse managed to be whimsical while at the same time being so pleasing and inviting! During our stay, Guy gave us a tour of the other Suites, which are decorated in more classical but equally inspired and stylish manners. The living room & library, where breakfast is served (on Limoges china), are equally richly and elegantly furnished --it was like visiting the home of a wealthy and classy relative who has eclectic tastes in art AND who can also afford it! La Maison du Frene is also very well-located: just outside of the town's medieval wall, the house is so close to the many excellent restaurants and shops in Vence; about 15-20 minutes of a leisurely walk take one to the Matisse Chapel or to the bus stop for buses to St. Paul, Nice, Antibes, Tourrettes sur Loup, etc.. And don't miss the little church in Vence, where one can see one of Chagall's mosaics. We didn't have a car, but Guy mentioned that there is a free car park near the police station just 5-10 minutes away.

So how does one top such comfortable and pampered accommodations? By having amazing hosts who are hands-on and who treat their guests so well. Our hosts are absolutely the warmest and most gracious: From Thierry's hearty welcome upon our arrival, to Guy's and Thierry's warm conversations and recommendations about the area during our stay, to Thierry's sweet accommodation of our request to meet their adorable terrier Billy, to Guy's insightful and practical suggestions about Paris, etc., we really felt like we were visiting dear friends! Do follow their restaurant recommendations and have dinner at La Cassolette just around the corner, where we had an outstanding dinner for a fraction of what we would have had to pay in Paris. BTW, Thierry is an amazing resource when it comes to art in the area; it was Thierry who pointed us to the Braque chapel at the Fondation Maeght, where we found a very moving installation in memory of one of the Maeghts' sons who had died from cancer. And yet, while one is looked after so well at La Maison du Frene, one also can easily lose oneself while browsing at Thierry's and Guy's extensive private art collection, their many, many books about art and Provence, etc. The pictures on the website are absolutely accurate with respect to the physical space; they almost capture that luxurious feeling of contentment; they just don't convey that fabulous aroma of freshly baked croissants in the early morning …!

We wanted to stay in Vence as our base for some relaxation in the Cote d'Azur before our work-related meetintg in Paris. La Maison du Frene gave us so much more: comfort, sophistication, and a thrilling insight into what it is like to live surrounded by eclectic art!. Our hosts genuinely and generously do share with their guests their hospitality, their affection for the region, and their treasures of innovative art.