Château de la Blainie

We were unsure whether to cancel because Covid restrictions might stop us reaching the hotel, though there was a small chance things would improve over the next two weeks. After some discussion, Erik offered to refund half the booking fee, including the food, and we accepted. His message said to cancel that morning. We saw it at 12:30 and cancelled straight away, but he then said we were too late and would get nothing back. The booking was still 12 days away, and we felt that a 30-minute delay barely affected his chance of finding another guest. When we said so in the chat, he became extremely angry. There were other troubling parts of the exchange. Erik kept denying that France had a Covid situation and said flying to Toulouse was no problem, even though Toulouse, in la Haute-Garonne, was then in a red zone. He stressed that he was the boss and the only one who could decide things, though we hadn't told him what to do. When we pointed out that 30 minutes was about 0.2% of the 12 days available to find another guest, he blamed us again, called us arrogant, and said we were showing off our calculation skills. The accommodation may be great, but based on this exchange I found the owner very strange and would advise guests to be wary.

Dinner was a real treat: Jolande, a retired chef and cookbook author, served a delightful meal inspired by Italy. Erik and Jolande also made us feel very welcome, and they're a charming couple. The house itself is magnificent, with comfortable furnishings. From the bedrooms we looked out over a small landscaped park on the grounds and the river, a lovely setting for a walk, some fresh air, or just relaxing. Don't hesitate!

The dinner had an excellent Italian theme, and breakfast was generous, so we ate very well. Our room was spacious and bright, with a lovely view down to Albas and the Lot River. The owners have renovated this charming place with real taste, and it made for a genuinely peaceful break. Thank you, Erik and Jolande, for making us feel so warmly welcome in such an easygoing way. Antoine and Caroline would be happy to return.

Breakfast was so generous that we could enjoy it on the terrace overlooking the Lot. Our room was very pleasant, and the bathroom was superb. The castle has been restored beautifully and decorated with great taste. The hosts made us feel very welcome, and their little dog did too. I highly recommend staying here.