Maison Reve Farm B & B

Do NOT stay here. We went to Maison Reve after carefully researching B&B's for the weekend of our first wedding anniversary. After reading about the extensive walking trails on the property and being assured of a great homemade vegetarian breakfast by the hosts, we were very excited. We also booked a massage for the both of us through the property. I cannot begin to express how awful the experience was. Do NOT stay here. The massage therapist they hired was awful. She was late, radiated stress herself, and was technically poor as a massage therapist. She literally dropped a hot stone on my back. The thunking sound as it hit my spine was not therapeutic. As for the food, day 1 consisted of dry, tasteless eggs and biscuits made from a box. Day 2 was literally (I wish I was joking) Cheerios (CHEERIOS!) and 'blueberry' muffins made from a box with fake 'blueberries'. The extensive walking trails on this 30 acre property was one long driveway that made a loop from the entrance around the house. Took about 5 minutes to walk it. We walked all over the area around the house. Where was the 30 acres of trails? I have no idea, but if they're there, they are well hidden. Finally, the entire experience was awkward as there was family of the owners all over the house. Instead of feeling like I was staying at a private B&B, I felt like I was crashing at someone's house. While we enjoyed romantic smore roasting outside, a family member and her two daughters watched tv in the kitchen in their PJs. We literally walked in the door of the house one day to see a family member of the owner walking across the landing in a towel. Awkward to say the least. What bothers me the most is the For Sale sign outside. I don't know if the owners have stopped trying now that they want to sell the place, or if their terrible service has led them to sell. Either way, I felt duped and we left a day early, deciding to cut our vacation short rather than stay another night. more

The house is brand new, built in the last couple of years by proprietors JoAnn and Dan Gray, but it has the look of a classic French farm house. It is really beautiful inside and out. The live oaks on the back lawn assure you that you are in the deep south. The three guest rooms are upstairs, in their own part of the house, giving the feeling of privacy. I stayed several nights in two of the rooms, and they were thoughtfully appointed and comfortably furnished. JoAnn and Dan could not be nicer people or more thoughtful hosts. I was staying there while shooting a film at night, so my hours were crazy, and they did everything to accomodate me including offering meals at different hours and letting me do my laundry in their machine after they heard I went into town and used a laundromat. JoAnn is a great cook and I had very delicious breakfasts. And even though this is clearly a "romantic getaway" kind of place, as a working business traveller I was thrilled with the free wireless internet access and cable television. About an hour's drive to New Orleans over the Lake Ponchartrain causeway. more