Gîte la Charmeuse

We loved the traditional decor in our clean room, and the little house itself was charming. The warm welcome made it a perfect setting for a short family getaway. We spent one night and would gladly come back. Highly recommend!

We were stuck staying there because everything in St-Simeon was full that night. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend it. They call it a charming old house, but there are well-kept old houses and then there are neglected ones. The photos are misleading, and the first thing you notice inside is an old cellar smell. The kitchen was supposed to be for breakfast, but there was no bread or milk for coffee, nothing. The restaurant and reception were closed, so we couldn’t talk to the owner. The bedroom floor dipped under the carpet, the ceilings sagged by about six inches from the corners to the middle, and bathroom tiles were broken. With the floors so uneven, we felt like we were on a boat in a storm. There were dead insects on the windowsill. I saw a bug go under the desk and couldn’t find it to identify it. I thought it might be a cockroach, but my partner thought it was a cricket. They should call her a con artist, not a charmer. Very, very, very disappointed.

We ended up at this gîte in 2019 because it was the only place available for a three-day weekend. The smell and state of the place made it clear to us why it still had space. The owner charged us for both reserved nights as soon as we arrived, without showing us the rooms first, and we soon saw why. After a horrible first night, we asked to get our money back for the second night, which we hadn’t even stayed, so we could leave. She refused, saying she always collected payment in advance because otherwise people would come and complain.

The cottage has a cozy, comfortable feel and is one of a kind. We were welcomed warmly, and breakfast was wonderful.