Résidence Le Clos du Rocher - Vacancéole

The prices are reasonable and the location convenient. The rooms are in a large complex of studio apartments, with a mix of short-stay holidaymakers and longer-term residents. Furnishings are old-style but okay, and you’re given a bag of bedding to use and return at checkout. A €300 deposit is taken from a credit card and credited back after departure if everything is okay. The receptionist was very helpful, though the desk is closed from about 12 until 4pm, which is the earliest check-in.

The gardens were lovely and it was quiet, but there were several upkeep issues. The apartment terraces could be better maintained, and our ceiling was falling down because of a leak in the wet room above. The bins need managing better too: there were probably 60 empty wine/beer bottles left on the ground in the wrong place at one bin site. Wi-Fi was very patchy. The pool also needed more attention. It got greener and greener as the week went on, the shower didn’t work, and I saw no evidence that the loungers were being cleaned.

The only thing this place has going for it is the location, within walking distance of the village. The apartments are small, dark and have no air conditioning. The bedroom is so cramped you can only get to the bed from one side, and the units badly need remodeling. Don’t trust the pictures on the residence’s website. They’re not suitable for people with disabilities either, with small, uneven walkways and no lift to the first floor. The pool is far too small for the number of apartments and overcrowded. The gym is also too small, and the equipment barely works. There’s been no paper towel in the gym bathroom for at least three days. Common areas need a new coat of paint. The staff are friendly, but nobody is there on Sunday. There aren’t enough parking spaces, so evenings turn into a fight and a jungle.

Very good value, with a great location just a three-minute walk from the village and free parking. The reception desk is slick, and ‘Chantel’ was very helpful, though reception closes at night. These sizeable apartments are arranged around a pool, with strong, secure doors and echoey corridors that bring university accommodation to mind. The grass looks like it hasn’t been cut in 6months, yet the apartments themselves are spotless and roomy, with balconies, kitchenettes, lounge areas, TVs and dining tables.