Le Relais des Marionnettes

Bed bugs, all over my room and my friend's room next door. I woke up at 3 a.m. covered in them. We packed immediately and sat on the back porch until dawn, worried about taking them home since they're so hard to get rid of. My room was covered in bed bugs. I don't recommend it.

The food was exquisite, and the host was very friendly.

Everything was clean, and the lady was so kind and always there to help us feel at home. I had a wonderful stay in the cottages with my children and Mari. The rooms were great, and we loved spending time on the terrace. The kitchen area and living room were both very comfortable.

Sharing a cramped room with a stranger was the worst part of my week-long hike. The so-called dormitory is tiny, with three beds, two pushed together and a mezzanine bed above. I was told I’d be sharing it with a man, even though the gîte wasn’t full. At other places, they try to give everyone their own space, and this situation would never have come up. I asked if I could have a private room and offered to pay a bit extra for that small comfort. The answer was, “Of course, it’ll be €50 instead of €25,” for a hostel where I’d only be spending the night in my own sheets. I couldn’t afford it, so I declined. I’d also generously brought a good kilo of chanterelles when I arrived. I wasn’t expecting anything in return, but I hoped the owner might show some consideration when he saw how uncomfortable I was. He didn’t. I remembered this gîte fondly from a few years ago, thanks to the warm welcome from the former owners, not because it was especially comfortable. With the new owner, it was a completely different experience. The lack of hospitality made the shabby, uncomfortable conditions stand out: very mediocre bedding, a poorly maintained shared bathroom on the landing, and old, cheap, tasteless decor. If I’d known, I would have kept my mushrooms. Next time I’ll stay somewhere else in Puivert, even if I have to sleep under the stars.