Le Manoir de La Foye

The grounds and games room were pleasant, but the accommodation made our three-night stay for three couples really difficult. The houses felt run-down, damp and poorly insulated. We arrived at night in May, when the weather was rainy and cool, and the rooms were already chilly enough that we put on jackets. The bedrooms have three windows each, with curtains but no shutters, so they became bright as soon as morning came. The bedding was just two thin polyester blankets, no duvet, the sort you hardly see anymore since the 80s. That night was the coldest I can remember. We hadn't packed warm sleepwear, and I'm not usually sensitive to cold, so at first my partner and I wore T-shirts and socks. At 3 a.m. we woke up, added trousers and long sleeves, and still slept badly while we tried to warm up. Most of the other guests said they'd been very cold too. When the owner came round in the morning, we explained what had happened. He first asked if we were from Paris. When we said yes, he chuckled, waved his hand and said he understood better. He said he'd lived in Africa, had never felt cold in the house, and slept with his wife under just one blanket. The conversation was in English because the owner is English and doesn't want to speak French, and the written instructions in the house were in English as well. He kept saying he preferred to live “my way.” He said heating was available if we wanted it, but we'd have to pay. We said it didn't seem right to pay just to avoid freezing. He kindly offered to refund us so we could find a hotel, but we ended up paying for a place that was at least minimally heated. It must have been around 15 degrees Celsius, with enough humidity to leave our clothes damp. The advertised jacuzzi wasn't there, and the pool was too dirty to swim in.

The games room was a big plus with our teenager, who got to work on his billiards and ping-pong skills. We also enjoyed the welcome drink and barbecue, which gave us a chance to meet the other guests and share some lovely moments. Our hosts were warm and friendly. They speak fluent English, which helped us communicate, but it wasn't an issue for us. We spent two weeks in a roomy, well-equipped cottage in a quiet rural setting, with a pool for relaxing. We definitely recommend it.

For a quiet break, this is a lovely spot. We stayed 10 days in a beautiful, spacious gite, with everything provided, and Chania and Nick were always on hand when we needed something. There's a playroom and a big field for football, badminton and other games. The pool isn't large, but it's nice for cooling down. Nick puts on a BBQ or paella party every Monday for 12:50, which is a fun way to meet people staying in the other gites. There are plenty of things to do nearby, though most involve a bit of driving. Wi-Fi is only available in the playroom and can be unreliable. Phone reception is often poor too, with no service or just 3G, though they're planning to put up a cell tower 500 meters away soon. The concrete base has already been poured. Highly recommended!

We found the cottage superb, with everything laid out really well and a great location among fields and forest for getting away from it all. The hosts were lovely, available when needed and still discreet. It was just right for our family reunion. Thank you!