Hostellerie Au Vieux Hetre

The breakfast room has a nice interior, but our stay at this hotel was a poor experience. The restaurant guests’ cars blocked the parking, and the staff didn’t speak English, so it was hard to explain that we had a hotel booking. We had to wait a long time, and the room didn’t feel clean. Breakfast included out-of-date products, though the pastry was nice. We asked during breakfast not to have the room cleaned, but when we returned to get ready for our day trip, cleaners came in without knocking. The owner also pushed us to book dinner, saying it was filling up fast. When we came back at dinner time, the restaurant was very empty, so I wonder if that’s a line they use a lot. They also gave out-of-date vouchers for nearby activities.

The location worked well for our walking tour, and the building and garden at the back look good both in photos and in person. But our room was right by the restaurant kitchen, and we heard staff playing loud music, shouting and making noise until 3 a.m. We couldn’t sleep at all, and there was no staff around to deal with it. Breakfast was disappointing too, just three croissants and poor coffee, with nothing hot like eggs, vegetables or meat. At 115 euros, it was way overpriced. The most horrible stay we’ve ever had, especially between two walking trips. I don’t recommend it at all.

The garden is a peaceful spot, and the host was extremely friendly with wonderful service. We managed to park 14 motorcycles discreetly without any trouble. A very positive experience, and I’d recommend this hostellerie to anyone looking for a great stay at a modest price.

The food was nice, though it definitely wasn’t all homemade, whatever they claim. We were told at reception that the restaurant was fully booked and strongly urged to grab the last table right then. That turned out to be a sweet little lie: when we arrived for dinner there were lots of empty tables. Spa is only a 15-minute drive away, with plenty of food choices. Our room was clean, but the furniture was basic and old. They’ve clearly tried to make it pleasant. The TV was about the size of a postage stamp, fine if your eyesight is good. In summer it gets horrendously hot, and opening the window means battling an army of hungry mosquitoes. The rooms aren’t soundproof either, so hope your neighbors don’t snore. Ours did. Breakfast was described as bread with jam and coffee. It’s the middle of the night as I write this, so I can’t say yet whether there’ll be anything more on offer. Now I’m off to fight for air and against one particularly stealthy mosquito. Best of luck to you all.