Les Hirondelles

The hosts were lovely, and it was so peaceful there.

That was a really upsetting stay. We’d been given a Dakotabox for Christmas and thought we’d spend some time in Auvergne. The guesthouse looked nice, and when I called, they agreed to the booking as long as we added a night for €60, making three nights in total. The usual box issue, anyway. The GPS route turned out to be wrong. The owner hadn’t warned us, and it led us along a very winding, rocky road. Our new car got stuck for two hours, and the clutch smoked while the bodywork and bumper were scratched. We reached the house at 8 pm, pretty shaken. Another couple was there, and the owners seemed friendly at first. They kindly offered us some leftover cold chicken, a leg and a little breast, plus a small serving of fries, saying they were sorry about the road and the damage. They apparently knew this had happened to other guests, so I wish they’d emailed us a warning. We accepted the food, thinking it was simply a kind gesture because we were exhausted. Breakfast was at 8:30. It was decent, apart from the industrial orange juice. At €60 a night, I expected freshly squeezed juice. 8:30 felt early, but we didn’t have much choice. The room had cobwebs hanging down and more under the bed. The decor was dated, the shower tray was very basic, and there was mold on the bathroom sealant. The bed squeaked and felt too small. Those things alone were minor, but the room reminded me of staying at my grandmother’s, and it really wasn’t worth €60 a night. The owners slept right next to our room, with no sound insulation. We had to whisper, and their comings and goings kept waking us. They got up at 7, doors slammed, and there was no chance of sleeping in. We felt like we were in the way. I was even hesitant to take the few groceries I’d put in their fridge. The owner watched me as if he didn’t trust me. It was 36 degrees, and I didn’t want ham and cheese sitting in a warm cooler in the car and risking food poisoning. They seemed more than fed up with having us there. The owner spoke sharply to me several times after I put a few things on the terrace table, saying he’d set another table at the far end of the garden for us to eat. It felt like he was telling us to go away with our tomatoes and cheese. That table was under a tree full of gnats. During the heatwave, no one offered us cold water either. We had no fridge, so we drank warm water from the car trunk. They came across as a cheerful older English couple, all smiles and laughter, but we didn’t feel like guests. We felt like strangers who were bothering them, and the friendliness seemed like a front. When I asked for the bill on departure, I expected €60 plus about €3 in tourist tax. The owner then added €16 for the dinner we’d been offered on arrival, the dry leftover chicken and one-person portion of fries. The total came to €80.20, which really left a bad taste. I hated the experience and would never stay in a guesthouse again. I’d choose hotels by far. The area does seem beautiful, though.

Christine and Jess were wonderful, so attentive and lovely. Absolutely fantastic! Brigitte from Cannes

Such lovely people.