Gîte les Estinnes

There's parking right outside the entrance, and the street is quiet, with the Ravel nearby. The gite is comfortable for 2-3 people. The bedroom is on a mezzanine, though, so the fridge and dishwasher can be a bit too noisy. There's a barbecue on the terrace, and a jacuzzi is available as an option. The ground floor can be accessed by someone with reduced mobility, with an adapted sidewalk, but the hall passage is narrow. The kitchen, bathroom, and living room are accessible, though for sleeping, the sofa bed is the only option.

The jacuzzi itself is magnificent, but in winter 26°C is cold, and they've fixed the temperature there by screwing a wooden board onto it. The owner came out several times to see what we were doing, which felt like being spied on. We paid for the cleaning option, yet we were expected to leave the cottage spotless: wash the dishes perfectly, take out the trash, vacuum, make the bed, and do the whole lot. Apparently otherwise you get a terrible review. For that high price, I expected at least a basic level of comfort. The list of things to do when leaving is long, like being in a military camp. At the end of our stay, we waited outside the owners' house to return the keys, but they didn't come out. Then they complained about it, unbelievable. We asked if we could leave a little later, even though there was absolutely no one after us, which we'd checked, and they categorically refused. Looking at the other reviews, I suspect the welcome may differ depending on your nationality. My boyfriend is foreign, and that seemed to bother him a lot. Anyway, now you know what to expect. I should've read the negative reviews first.

We had a great time, though the location disappointed us. We're used to going to the Ardennes, and there wasn't much to do here. The house was clean and had everything we needed. The open shower soaked the whole bathroom floor, and the bed pillows need replacing. Privacy was an issue for us too. Whenever you leave the house, the owner checks on the jacuzzi.

The location was peaceful and still close to shops, and the cottage was cozy and clean. We spent New Year's Eve 2020 there as a couple. The owner was welcoming, and the large, lovely terrace had a jacuzzi. We highly recommend the cottage.