La Fralinette

The stay was a real disappointment. We weren’t told beforehand that payment was cash only, so we had to drive 8 km to Bar sur seine to get some. We spent one night in the room called the Champagne. The bedding smelled bad and wasn’t clean; it seemed they had only changed the fitted sheet. We slept without a duvet because it smelled so unpleasant. The wardrobe and sofa had the same nasty odor, though the toilet and bathroom were clean. We left early and didn’t get to try the included breakfast. The host didn’t offer another option. Later, when I called because we urgently needed a room for that night, the owner’s husband shouted that they had no availability. I found that unprofessional. Luckily, a room was available at the neighboring Maison d’hotes Pivoine. For 94 euros, we had kind, welcoming hosts, a lovely and very clean air-conditioned room, thoughtful little touches, a large bathroom with a separate toilet, and clean, fresh-smelling bedding. We slept well, and breakfast was delicious and generous, with plenty of beautifully prepared options and tasty homemade jam. Paying 65 euros for the fralinette felt like a waste. I’d rather pay a little more at Pivoine for good service and a restful stay.

We booked by WhatsApp for a one-night stop on the way from France to Spain, and the owners replied quickly. They were accommodating about our late arrival and our dog. When we got there, nobody was around to welcome us, but a note on the door let us get into the room ourselves. The room was large, but cold, with only a couple of small extra blankets in the cupboard and no heater. There was no shower gel or kettle, and no tea or coffee. The little fridge was unplugged, so it took a while to get cold enough for my dog’s food. We arrived close to 1 a.m. and had asked for breakfast at 10. While eating, we found out checkout was at 10:30. We had to leave much of breakfast behind and rush to pack. The woman watched us impatiently as we loaded the car and seemed unimpressed. Payment was awkward too: they had no card machine, we had no cash, so we had to transfer the money. The amount charged was different from what they had quoted by text, and they said the extra was a dog fee, though the quoted price had included the dog. They had wines and honey for sale, and I’d have liked to buy some, but after feeling so rushed to leave I just wanted to go. Maybe a longer stay would be fine, but for a one-night stop it felt less personal than a budget hotel.

Such a peaceful place, and everything was beautifully presented. The room was spotless and comfortable, and the host was friendly and helpful. Breakfast was excellent, with fresh apple juice from the property and handmade organic yoghurt made by the host’s wife. The yoghurt was out of this world. We really loved staying here.

We found this charming, welcoming B and B in a lovely village in the forested part of L'Aube, and we’ll definitely return on our annual drives through France to our place in Italy. The room was beautifully furnished, with every detail thought through. The bed and linen were excellent, and so were the bathroom and shower. Breakfast was very good, and the host made us feel welcome. A real find.