Les Orchidées

There’s no bus, and the place is 2.5 km from the center. The room is roomy and almost clean, though I found some dog hair in the bed. There was a fan. Everyone shared one bathroom, and I couldn’t use it in the morning because it was occupied during the 30 minutes I had before leaving. The landlady was friendly, but we could only communicate in French, not English. I also couldn’t leave my bags before going to explore Carcassonne, and check-in was after 5:30 pm.

We’d booked two nights but left in a hurry the next day without breakfast. There was no welcome at all, which wasn’t what we expected from a bed and breakfast. The room opened onto a landing beside the entrance to another room, so there was no privacy. The shared bathroom had cleaning products hidden behind a curtain, personal belongings filling the cabinet, and a clogged shower drain. Breakfast was set out in the room on a plastic-covered table. We had no terrace or outdoor space, and felt as though we were in his private home. Even the bedroom closet held the host’s clothes.

The noisy air conditioner was out in the hallway, and the room was a long way from the city center. After biking 70 km in 40-degree heat, the welcome felt abrupt. We had to leave in a rush the following day, which made the stay especially disappointing. At least the host let us charge one of our two bikes.

We felt right at home with the owner, who was very friendly and spoke a little Spanish. The room was spacious, though the bathroom is shared. She brought breakfast to our room with a little of everything, and we really enjoyed our stay.