Le Loft aux Ecuries Val de Mai, gîte 4 étoiles, societé la Clef Decamp

We had the main house, games room and loft rooms for our group, and there was plenty of comfortable space for family and friends. The gite is lovely, right beside the stables, so we got to see the horses each morning.

The main kitchen became the centre of our stay, with plenty of utensils and a huge fridge for all the food we brought. We cooked loads on the brick barbecue, which handled tens of kilos of food without a problem. There were grills and most of the utensils there, though we brought our own coals and lighting equipment. We even used the big outdoor table despite the cold. Inside, the bathrooms I used were clean with plenty of hot water, and the beds and sheets were clean and comfortable, though making the beds ourselves was a bit annoying after a long drive with three kids to put to bed. We came as a big group of family and friends and found a beautiful old building around a picturesque courtyard, with lots of parking and photo spots. Coming through the old farm entrance, we were greeted by the sight of working stables and curious horses, which delighted both the children and me. The rooms and apartments felt like a maze, and each one seemed bigger and better than the last. My favourite was the apartment with a curtained window into the stable. There was a large wood-burning stove, with logs and fire-starting equipment available for an extra fee. The main hall had room for our New Year’s Eve antics, but I spent most of the after-party in the billiards room across the courtyard. It had a big TV for football, billiards, a bar and large sofas. We also managed to have a bit of karaoke. There were kettles everywhere, so tea was easy to make. A couple of things could be better. The stairs to our “stable penthouse” were steep, though solid, and not ideal at 4am after a few too many scotches. We knew to bring our own towels, but the small hand towels provided felt like an afterthought. Larger ones would make more sense for hygiene. We all enjoyed the stay, and the necessary amenities were a short drive away. The Cathedral is a must.

We were very disappointed. After our weekend, when the house looked clean and well cared for, 320 euros were taken from our deposit without our consent. We spent nearly all our time outdoors in perfect weather, coming inside only to sleep and prepare meals. The owner then accused us of damaging various existing items. One was a child’s chair that was already shaky and looked about 15 years old. The concierge put the repair cost at 24.99 euros, which seems ridiculous when a new chair costs 15 euros. We were also sent photos of strange things under mattresses and behind curtains, and were astonished and perplexed by the claims. The organization felt dishonest and malicious, unlike anything I’ve experienced before. They use a standard message saying that a condition report is available in the gite on arrival, and that if guests do not send additional photos, they are considered to accept the report. It says staff reported damage after our stay, that repair prices come from the contractor and are not set by the organization, and that cleaning staff report any breakages. It also says they do not charge without reason and that customer satisfaction is their priority. The message wasn’t addressed to us personally. They say they block the amount on your credit card automatically, leaving you unable to do anything about it. It’s awful. Mrs proprietaire, you should be ashamed. We can’t believe you can sleep at night while scamming honest families looking for a memorable getaway. Bah.

We finally got to meet up with family and friends in June after arranging a reschedule, but what should have been a quiet, cosy reunion turned into frustration. The weather was wonderful, so we spent most of our time outside. Afterward, the host claimed we had broken a lot in her charming house. We received a flood of photos of old furniture, sliding doors and a very old child’s dining chair that supposedly could no longer be used. The prices quoted for repairs or replacement seemed unreasonably high. The photos show wear, but certainly not wear from just one stay, and I’m sure the items probably won’t even be fixed. The trouble started before we arrived. During the very severe corona lockdown, when we weren’t allowed to cross the border, we had several issues with the host. Jennifer made things very difficult and didn’t want to refund us or reschedule at first. We eventually reached an arrangement, but communication and service were a nightmare. It felt like the host’s only aim was to make more money from our stay. The house itself is beautiful and looks lovely in the pictures, but don’t be taken in by the setting. Before arrival, you get a huge list of house rules and warnings about charges if anything is broken. They expect you to photograph everything that’s already damaged when you arrive or that you notice during the stay, even when it clearly wasn’t your fault. But be warned, she’ll still find a way to blame you and make you pay. Save yourself the trouble. Don’t book this place or any other place from this host. You’ll regret it and leave emotionally damaged.