We went to Chateau Rigaud for the October half term house party. We had read the reviews, so were expecting something special, and Chateau Rigaud didn't disappoint.

We were greeted by Anna who showed us round the beautiful chateau. We were staying in the tower room, which was perfect, very large with a lovely bathroom and amazing shower/wet room housed in the tower. We were instantly made to feel at home and joined the other guests in the garden. The whole atmosphere in the chataeu was great and very relaxing.

Each evening about 5pm the children ate together in the kitchen, all the meals went down very well with all the children, after the children have eaten the older ones are able to chill out in the cinema room or play room while the younger one's settle down for the night.

The adults then meet in the well-stocked bar for pre-dinner drinks and when all the guests are ready move to the dining room for an amazing dinner, including plenty of wine.

In the mornings childcare is arranged from 9am to 1pm, leaving the parents to go for a walk, visit one of the local towns or have a lie-in. Our two daughters are 10 and 7, and being older than most of the children, helped to organise the halloween party planned for the Thursday evening. During the morning childcare session the children eat lunch together.

In the afternoons the children are free to play in the chateau, watch a film in the cinema or play outside. The adults enjoy a 2-course lunch with plenty of wine in the garden. We had planned to go out in the afternoons, but our daughters were having so much fun that they were reluctant to leave the chateau and my husband and I were happy yto read a book or chill out in the garden.

For the children, the highlight of the holiday was the fantastic halloween party with a special tea, parade, apple bobbing and games.

We would highly recommend a Chateau Rigaud house party for a very relaxing, enjoyable holiday with children, we didn't want to leave.

Having been to Chateau Rigaud a few times now I have to say that I am really surprised that anybody could contribute anything less than a 5* review for this fantastic and welcoming chateau and spa.

Perhaps, as it is run by a family who do host weddings during the summer when they are not doing family house parties or house rentals, they were in the middle of a wedding or something but as Anna is a working mother who single-handedly manages bookings, events, weddings and her two young children I would cut her some slack here. I also think it is a bit sad to post a negative review on here when you have not even visited the place.

This is the most fantastic place we have ever been on holiday with the children and in fact, since we discovered it we have not been anywhere else. It is truly wonderful.

You read reviews. You think, maybe, just maybe this is for me. A luxurious holiday in a lovely setting and they don't mind kids either.

Which may be true if you could ever persuade the owners of Chateau Rigaud to correspond with you or speak on the phone.

Having made initial contact it became brutally apparent that the owners have no interest in families. Only in the more profitable weddings.

Which is perhaps understandable if you have bills to pay. BUT in which case stop marketing to families.

Oh, and, Chateau Rigaud, don't just stop e-mailing or returning calls. Have the common decency to say, no matter how politely, 'sorry, we aren't interested in your custom, thanks.' That I will accept. I might be disappointed but it seems fair if you actually want a different clientele.

But remember also that treating a person or people like that might mean you lose the chance for more lucrative opportunities.

We have now been elsewhere and had a fabulous time. I returned with a far more lucrative corporate event, and will be doing so again very shortly.

I'm not going to repeat stuff but what everybody else is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. If you have kids under the age of 10, like great wine, great food, escaping from your children and generally having a ball living in rural France with everything you need to hand, I can't imagine anywhere better. They even don't mind when someone throws up - the best hotels I know wouldn't have been too pleased to have had their dining room sealed off for half an hour and their washing machine filled with yucky clothes but somehow my husband got sympathy rather than abuse when it happened to him!

My view is that it really works as long you get with the "house party" programme - ie be prepared to eat and drink too much, let your children enjoy the childcare and the cinema without fussing about what they're doing and get them into bed in time to let the adults enjoy the untold pleasure of an unhurried dinner without having to think about a babysitter.

It's a short flight to a small airport, an easy 40 minute drive there and looks even better in real life than on the website.

I actually really hate doing this review as I just know it's going to get too busy and I won't be able to book in ever again. But go, you really won't regret it.

Gah! Why have you told everyone! Yes, its lovely. We went last year and are booked to return this year. The only reason I have marked the accommodation as an 8 is because it can be a bit noisy, all those wooden floorboards do not act as a mufflers, and if you are over the kitchen for example, it can be a pain. The rooms are gorgeous, however, and the place is beautiful overall.

Yes, its not cheap, however for what you get (top quality food, as much good quality booze as you want and half day childcare everyday)then it actually represents reasonable value for money, particularly if you compare to something like Mark Warner.

Its all the nice little touches that really make the difference. We got a questionnaire asking us exactly what our dd liked to eat and play with, and everything was on a 'help yourself' basis. Microwaves/cots/sterlisers/change mats/high chairs are all there, but don't spoil the very cool ambiance of the place.

Its not for you if you want complete solitude and hate talking to other people on holiday...but you could always hire the whole place for yourself in the Summer!