Hôtel Clair Cottage

I use this family-run Logis as my stopover on the way to Dordogne. Friendly, kind service, very good food, and clean rooms with comfy beds and AC.

I’m writing mainly to apologize for how rude and unpleasant I was at checkout. It’s embarrassing to realize the issue was entirely down to my ignorance. My behavior was unacceptable, and I’m very sorry. It was our first room in France with a dog, so I didn’t know how this worked, but that’s no excuse. We arrived in the evening, and I asked the price for a room for two adults and our dog. She quoted €74 and wrote it on a piece of paper. In the morning, the man, who I assume is a coproprietor, prepared a bill that included the €1 tourist tax plus €9 for the dog. For some reason, I got extremely upset, even though it wasn’t much money in the grand scheme of things. I made a horrible scene, said a lot about French hospitality, and he said a lot about the English. They also called me a bastard, which I probably deserved. My wife paid while embarrassed, and afterward I spoke with a family outside who had a dog. They confirmed what the hotel had told us: the hotel has no control over a government tax. I understand why they had to insist, and perhaps why they hadn’t mentioned it at check-in. As for the hotel, the rooms are very good for the price. The walls are extremely thin, though, and reception smells musty and damp. That’s why I checked the room, which didn’t smell at all. I’d suggest the owners air out reception, as it would give a much better first impression. They seemed really unhappy in the evening and again in the morning, with no smiles or please and thank you. It was probably a very busy period, which I clearly made much worse, and the whole experience felt very negative.

The host was kind and the service very good. My friend and I arrived by bike, and they gave us access to the garage. The room was clean and all the equipment worked well. It wasn’t very large, but for the price that felt reasonable. It was cozy and felt like home. Highly recommend.

One of the best stopovers on our many trips around France. The room was small but cleverly laid out and equipped, and very comfortable. Dinner was excellent, and so was breakfast.