50's Authentique Gîte 1950

Didier made our group of seven adults and children feel right at home. He was attentive and available, and his trust really touched us. We were given such a friendly, warm welcome that we’d stay here again if our travels bring us back to Poitiers.

The cottage’s location meant we still had a pleasant stay in Poitiers, and on arrival we got a very warm welcome. The place was clean, well equipped, and well situated on a quiet cul-de-sac. There’s a nice garden and terrace, lovely decor, and little treats that everyone appreciated, especially the children. Getting the kids, aged five and three, to sleep at night and for afternoon naps was the hardest part. The slatted shutters keep out the sun but let in too much light to darken the rooms. The floors were also slippery throughout, even the tiles. We bought non-slip socks for the adults and still had to be careful, and the children fell quite often despite being used to wearing socks like that at home. The email contact at first was quick and very pleasant. But a few days before arriving, we got the welcome memo and list of things to bring. Its instructions about cleaning on arrival and departure stressed us out, especially since we were traveling with two very energetic children. The memo said 90% of the house has waxed, slippery floors that can stain if spills aren’t wiped up immediately and may need professional sanding and refinishing. It also said the eco-labeled wall paint is VOC-free, has no varnish or protective coating, and marks easily. As we usually do when renting a cottage, we chose not to pay the cleaning fee. We were surprised to be asked to provide natural sponges, very soft cloths, rubbing alcohol, and white paper towels, and to find a detailed checklist of everything that had to be returned clean. All the rules and restrictions, laid out in a large binder on site, made the stay stressful because we worried about losing our deposit. The workshops were advertised on the website, but I couldn’t find information there or on site about when or how they were arranged. I eventually learned we needed to tell the owners before arriving if we wanted them to set up those options, or if we decided to add a day beyond our original booking.

Didier, the owner, gave us a lovely welcome each week. The house is well cared for and has everything you need. Nothing to complain about.

Good evening! I don’t hate it at all, I love it. The city is magnificent and I adore it. Have a wonderful night.