Le Galinier, Lourmarin, a Beaumier Guesthouse

La Galinier is a gorgeous building in a beautiful spot, and I imagine the pool makes it even nicer in summer. But at the hotel price we paid, I expected a hotel, and the service left a disappointing first impression. We arrived at 6:30 pm and were told there'd be nobody to greet us, which was fine. The next morning, two women were working on laptops at the table and didn't look up, so we mistook them for guests. Later we realized they were staff. That afternoon they'd taken over the sofa area, which I felt should be for guests. When we asked whether our room would be cleaned, they said, 'Do you want it cleaned?' An older woman was there for the remaining two days and was very hospitable, but that first impression still disappointed. The bath in our room looked lovely, but wasn't practical. The shower was too low to use comfortably, and water soaked the bedroom area around it. Some basic instructions would also have helped, like explaining that the electric heater needed water and what the different coffee pod colors meant.

I especially loved the frogs singing enthusiastically in a little pond by the entrance. The grounds were beautiful, and Lourmarin village was just across the road. Rooms range from classics like ours to what looked like very large, luxurious suites. Breakfast was excellent, with pastries, vegetables, cereal, and a freshly cooked omelette. Our room had a bath but no shower. A reviewer said the coffee capsules were charged separately, but we asked and were told they were free. Blue pods were decaf and brown ones regular.

Everything else was just what we hoped for, and Geraldine was a wonderful host who made us feel special. We did miss a get-together with wine and light snacks one evening. We saw a small calendar of events on the dining table, but couldn't tell if we needed to sign up or could just join, and no one mentioned it. We got back from a day out as it was ending, though it wasn't a big deal since we had plenty to do. The breakfast was lovely, but at 25 Euro/pp we didn't think it was worth the price. Of the other seven hotels we stayed at, most included breakfast, and the ones that charged asked at most 15 Euros/pp for a similar selection, which felt more reasonable. Thank you!

The entrance to the grounds sets a peaceful mood, even though you're right in the village. Restaurants and the castle are a five-minute walk away, and the place still feels secluded. Our room had a kitchen downstairs and a loft bedroom, which suited a romantic couple's getaway. The open shower next to the loft bedroom takes some coordination if you're sharing with a friend. The stairs also have a risky design, with a gap at the side that someone could fall through. This room isn't kid-friendly.