lou mas li pitchoun

Alain’s hospitality deserves a mention, and his advice made our one-night stay more enjoyable. We’d planned to drive to Gordes for dinner after checking in, as a naive tourist might, but he suggested nearby Joucas instead. The village was a 20-minute walk, which was welcome after a day in the car, and dinner at the Hotel les Commandeurs was delicious and probably much cheaper than in a more touristy area. Alain and his wife, Valerie, run a gated complex of about 10 bedrooms that has been in the family for a couple of generations. It has an old village look outside but is renovated inside. Our one-bedroom had a kitchen, which we only used for breakfast. They can also bring breakfast for an extra €8 per person. This review is incomplete since we were there only one night, but checkout was uneventful and the stay went well overall. A few requirements did take away from the welcoming feel: check-in before 6:30 PM, which was daunting since we were driving over 500km; a cash deposit that wasn’t mentioned on the Airbnb listing; cleaning the whole place despite a cleaning fee being included; and taking out our own trash. I understand owners need to protect themselves from inconsiderate guests, but it was a bit much.

We booked a non-refundable room through booking dot com. The profile page didn’t mention extra charges, but after the booking was confirmed we received a message about fees for bed sheets and towels. We were already on our way, so waited until we arrived to ask about it. Alain showed us to the accommodation. He seemed inebriated. We arrived after lunch, so perhaps that’s to be expected in a wine region. When we asked why the costs hadn’t been listed, he got aggressive and insisted they were on the site. He took us around to the front of the house to speak with his wife, who said the same. After getting tired of the disagreement, we offered to pay the extras so we could shower and sleep after a long travel day. She wouldn’t let us until she showed us the site, then showed us the message she’d sent after we’d made the non-refundable booking. This went on for around five minutes. She then said they didn’t take cards, only cash, and that we shouldn’t tell booking dot com because they’d lose their ratings. We explained we needed an ATM to pay, but she again told us not to tell Booking. Alain came in and tried to explain loudly, then offered us the sheets for free, apparently realizing he was in the wrong. His wife shushed him, then told us to leave and not come back. She called us idiots, among other things, for not realizing we had to pay for things. We left and lost the initial fees, then found a pleasant alternative. Terrible experience. Avoid this place.

A lovely, comfortable little apartment just beyond Gordes, with a charming feel to it. There’s a private courtyard as well as a patio out front. The host is very friendly and clearly proud of this place.

We chose this place for its affordable price and location, and stayed for one night. The setting is beautiful and unspoiled, not far from Gordes. We received a very pleasant welcome and lots of tips for things to do nearby. Still, we soon found that several things cost extra, including air conditioning and sheets, though some were mentioned in the description. The units are independent, but sound carries very easily between them. For one night, it worked out fine.