France Lodging Guide Ratings

KEY
  •  US$ 1 = FRF 7.5; US$ 1 = € 1.02
  • Ratings   = Excellent
  •  "with WC" = toilet and shower/tub in room.
  • = Very Good
  •  "WC" not stated = shower, toilet shared by guests.
  • = Good
  •  Prices include hotel taxes and Gîte utilities and booking fees.
  • = Fair
  •  Many of these listings are not serviced by public transport.
  • = Poor
  •  English spoken unless otherwise stated.
  • = Terrible
    Aix-en-Provence   (2001 price)
    Campagne Jeanne Tel: 04-4260-8310
    Int'l: +33-4-4260-8310
    web: http://www.campagne-jeanne.com
    Address: 670 chemin des Loups, Les Milles. Located about 10km south of Aix-en-Provence town center.
    FRF 290~340 per double room with WC including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Quiet rural country house with private detached rooms for guests. Owner will fax or e-mail directions to this B&B written in English or French. Dinner is excellent. Only French is spoken.

    Apt   (2001 price)
    Les Mylanettes Tel: 04-9074-6715
    Int'l: +33-4-9074-6715
    Address: on rue des Bassins. Location: 7 minutes walk from the town of Apt.
    FRF 300 per double room with WC including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: On a hill overlooking Apt, this is the perfect place to leave the car and walk to town. The rooms of this B&B are hotel-style running down a center corridor. The spacious common room has books, TV, and tables for guest use. Hotel towels are musty. Bring your own.

    Argentière   (2001 price)
    Le Vieux Grassonette 30 minutes walk west from the center of Argentière.
    FRF 65 per person in a "dorm room". Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    N/A
    Comments: You'd have to pay me to stay in this sty. Dust, dirt, broken windows, broken furniture, and miscellaneous broken farm junk litter the common room where guests are expected to sleep. The single toilet is filthy and missing the seat. Mattresses are so worn, they sag into U or L shapes. The filth on the bed sheets deterred us from sitting down.

    Avignon   (2003 price)
    Hôtel Médiéval Tel: 04-9086-1106
    Int'l: +33-4-9086-1106
    web: http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/hotels/le-medieval
    email: hotel.medieval@wanadoo.fr
    Address: 15 rue Petite-Saunerie. Located within the city walls near the southeast corner of the palace.
    € 47~61 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: This hotel is on a quiet backstreet in the center of Avignon. We didn't view the rooms, but thought this place to be ideally situated within the city and priced similarly to much more remote locations.

    Bonnieux   (2001 price)
    Gîte N° 2538 Tel: 04-9075-8908
    Int'l: +33-4-9075-8908
    Location: across from the lower church in the town of Bonnieux.
    FRF 2175 for a 7 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact the French-only speaking owner, M. Ravoire, at the above phone number for bookings. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 4. It's a fully furnished small house with 2 bedrooms, WC with a large bathtub, kitchen, living/dinning room, car garage, washing machine, TV, patio, and small yard. The interior is functional but not the best in decor and color coordination.

    Col du Bonhomme   (2001 price)
    Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme Tel: 02-9988-4915
    Int'l: +33-2-9988-4915
    At 2433 meters, many hour walk from the towns of Les Contamines or Les Chapieux.
    FRF 200/person in a dorm room including dinner & breakfast. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Superb by mountain hut standards. The food is carried by porters from Les Chapieux. Solar panels warm mountain spring water for hot showers and indoor heating.

    Cassis   (2001 price)
    Hôtel du Commerce Tel: 04-4201-0910
    Int'l: +33-4-4201-0910
    Address: 1 rue Saint Claire. 1 minute walk to the harbor.
    FRF 290 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Breakfast is an additional FRF 30 per person. Proximity to the harbor, lined with sidewalk cafés looking out to lazily bobbing unaffordable yachts, is the only highlight of this hotel.

    Cavanac   (2001 price)
    Sournies Henri Tel: 04-6879-7838
    Int'l: +33-4-6879-7838
    Address: 54 rue Traversiere, Cavanac. 10km from Carcassonne.
    FRF 170 per double room including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Spacious rooms in a large house near the center of town. The 3 guestrooms share one shower/toilet in the hall. Quiet and comfortable; almost like living in a 18th century painting. Only French is spoken.

    Chamonix   (2001 price)
    Hôtel du Louvre Tel: 04-5053-0051
    Int'l: +33-4-5053-0051
    2 minutes walk from the center town square.
    FRF 306 per double room with sink and shower. Toilet is in the hall. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Convenient location. Showers have felt padded walls that get moldy. We were bitten by bed bugs.
    Au Bon Coin Tel: 04-5053-1567
    Int'l: +33-4-5053-1567
    Address: 80 avenue de l'Aiguille du Midi. 6 minutes walk from the center town square.
    FRF 392 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Rooms are spacious and the bathroom has a bathtub - excellent for soaking sore muscles after a long hike. The dining room has a spectacular view of the mountains. Proprietors Julie and Dermat are wonderful hosts.

    Chasteuil   (2002 price)
    Le Gîte de Chasteuil Tel: 04-9283-7245
    Int'l: +33-4-9283-7245
    email: info@gitedechasteuil.com
    web: http://www.GitedeChasteuil.com/english.htm
    In the tiny town of Chasteuil, 10km west of Castellane.
    € 53 per double room with WC and kitchen including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Ideal for city people who need respite in a quiet place surrounded by nature. Hiking route GR4 passes directly in front of this Bed and Breakfast. Hikes through the Gordes du Verdon - an area not to be missed - are nearby. Room with double bed, nightstands, table, chairs, heater, fully equipped kitchenette, and WC with hot shower, sit-down toilet, and sink. Bath towels and toilet paper are provided. Breakfast is bread, fresh jams, and tea or coffee.

    Cheval Blanc   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 04-9085-4500
    Gîte N° 480 Int'l: +33-4-9085-4500
    web: http://www.itea.fr/GDF/84
    Address: 449 chemin de Cassouillet. 1.5km from the center of Cheval Blanc, 30km southeast of Avignon.
    FRF 2070 for a 7 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. English is spoken at the Gîtes de France Avignon office on Mondays. The proprietor, Madame Rivet, speaks fluent English. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 4. It's a fully furnished small house with 2 bedrooms, WC, kitchen, living/dinning room, car parking, a washing machine, TV, patio, and spacious yard. Interior layout is poorly designed.

    Les Contamines   (2001 price)
    La Clef Des Champs Tel: 04-5047-0609
    Int'l: +33-4-5047-0609
    The closest hotel to the TMB variant trail coming from Les Houches.
    FRF 230 per double with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: This is the cheapest hotel in Les Contamines. The proprietor is an avid hiker and can give visiting hikers good advice and information in English.
    Le Relais du Mont Blanc Tel: 04-5047-0208
    Int'l: +33-4-5047-0208
    In the Tresse section of Les Contamines, 3km north of town center.
    FRF 336 per double with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Half-board available for FRF 313 per person. Room with double bed, nightstand, clothes hanger, desk, chair, telephone, radiator, balcony, and WC with shower, toilet, and sink. Bath towels and toilet paper are provided. Dinner is a delicious 4 course meal. Breakfast consists of juice, bread, jam, and tea or coffee. See the France - Tour of Mont Blanc 2001 page for the schedule of the bus that stops in front of this hotel.

    La Croix en Touraine   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 02-4727-5610
    Gîte N° 11871 Int'l: +33-2-4727-5610
    web: http://www.loire-valley-holidays.com
    Address: La Tuilerie, rue de la Tuilerie. 5 minutes walk from the Croix en Touraine train station.
    FRF 2357 for a 7 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. English is spoken at the Gîtes de France Touraine office. The proprietors only speak French. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 6. It's a fully furnished house with 3 bedrooms, 2 WC, kitchen/dinning room, living room, sun room, car parking, washing machine, TV, and spacious enclosed yard. Interior decor is tasteful and layout is functional. Only 5 minutes walk north to the Croix en Touraine train station and 10 minutes walk south across the river Cher to the center of Bléré for Internet and shopping, the location of this quiet farmland Gîte is ideal, even without a car.

    Gourdon   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 05-6553-2090
    Gîte N° 1358V Int'l: +33-5-6553-2090
    Address: Drèhouiéne. 1 km from Gourdon; D704 from town center towards Sarlat, 1st left after the cemetery, 2nd to last house.
    FRF 1030 + heating (FRF 150 in our case) for a 6 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. Only French is spoken at the Gîtes de France Cahors office. The proprietor, Madame Cabarrot, speaks fluent English. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 5. It's a fully furnished 2-story house with 2 bedrooms, WC, kitchen, living/dinning room, car parking, a washing machine, TV, patio, and wood burning stove. Wood for the stove is part of the FRF 150 heating charge.

    Les Houches   (2001 price)
    Hotel Chris-tal Tel: 04-5054-5055
    Int'l: +33-4-5054-5055
    242 avenue des Alpages
    call for prices Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    N/A N/A
    Comments: We didn't see this place but list it because the owners were kind enough to pick us up when we hitchhiked in Corsica. The hotel is large and has an interior swimming pool, sauna, parking garage, and outdoor tennis courts.
    Hotel Slalom Tel: 04-5054-4060
    Int'l: +33-4-5054-4060
    web: http://www.hotelslalom.com/fstart.html
    10 minutes walk west from the Les Houches bus stop.
    FRF 270 per double with WC and telephone. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: This hotel is directly in front of the Tour de Mont Blanc trail leading from Les Houches to Les Contamines. The chef is a gourmet. Breakfast and dinner are delicious. Hotel Slalom was our favorite overnight along the entire Tour de Mont Blanc circuit.

    Lyon   (2002 price)
    Charreyron B&B Tel: 04-7829-2263
    Int'l: +33-4-7829-2263
    20 Rue Calliet. 2 minutes walk from Croix Rousse metro station.
    € 30 per double with private WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: One corridor of this private apartment is a B&B side business. Madame Charreyron's one spare bedroom has two single beds, table, and chair. The private WC in the hall has hot shower, sit-down toilet, and sink. Bath towels and toilet paper are provided. Breakfast is bread, jams, and tea or coffee. Find Rue Calliet 50 meters down Rue des Pierres Plantees from the Croix Rousse metro station.

    Nice - St. Isidore   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 04-9215-2130
    Gîte N° 6135 Int'l: +33-4-9215-2130
    web: http://www.crt-riviera.fr/gites06
    Address: 30 chemin des Serres, Nice-St-Isidore. 10 km from downtown Nice.
    FRF 2992 for a 10 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. English is spoken at the Gîtes de France Nice office. The proprietor speaks no English. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 4. It's a fully furnished small house with 2 bedrooms, WC, kitchen, living/dinning room, car parking for 2 vehicles, a washing machine, TV, patio, and small yard with fruit trees and a clothes line. The interior decor and comfort are superb.

    Nîmes   (2001 price)
    Cat Hôtel Tel: 04-6667-2285
    Int'l: +33-4-6667-2285
    Address: 22 boulevard Amiral Courbet.
    FRF 209 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Indoor car parking is an additional FRF 35 per day and breakfast is FRF 25 per person. The well preserved roman structures in old town Nîmes are all within walking distance of this hotel. The hotel receptionist doesn't speak English, but the hotel owner's son who manages the place does.
    Etap Hotel Tel: 04-6629-6313
    Int'l: +33-4-6629-6313
    Address: Centre d'Activities EURO 2000, Caissargues. Location: near the A9 expressway off ramp for "Nîmes CENTRE".
    FRF 195 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: A typical expressway side stop over. The hotel parking lot is secured at night. Rooms are simple: one light, no phone, small TV, and plastic-insert bathroom. Single bed is bunked over a double bed. The Hotel advertises "3rd person stays free".

    Paris   (2001 price)
    Hôtel de Nice Tel: 01-4278-5529
    Int'l: +33-1-4278-5529
    Address: 42 bis rue de Rivoli. Location: 3 minutes walk from Hôtel de Ville metro station.
    FRF 530 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Cozy room with antique furnishings. Excellent location: 10 minutes walk to the Louvre museum or Notre Dame cathedral.
    Hôtel Sully Tel: 01-4278-4932
    Int'l: +33-1-4278-4932
    Address: 48 rue Saint Antoine. Location: 5 minutes walk from Bastille metro station.
    FRF 310 per double room with WC. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Good centrally-located backpacker hotel.

    Perpignan   (2001 price)
    Le Méditerranée Tel: 04-6834-8748
    Int'l: +33-4-6834-8748
    Address: 62 bis avenue du Général de Gaulle. Location: 3 minutes walk from the train station.
    FRF 200 per double room with shower and sink. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Street noise is loud on the 4th floor. Room prices vary depending on whether the room has a private shower and/or toilet. A hall shower and toilet is on every floor. Rooms have a phone jack, and the hotel switchboard is analog, allowing dial-out via computer modem.

    Robion   (2002 price)
    Chambres d'Hôtes L'Escombeau Tel: 04-9076-2799
    Int'l: +33-4-9076-2799
    Located 1km south of Robion town center on Rue de Cavaillon, Route D2. Look for the Chambres d'Hôtes sign on the main road.
    € 40 per double room including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: This B&B, is one of the cheapest in the Provence area between Apt and Cavaillon near most of the beautiful rural sites of the providence. Rooms are spotless but lack a sense of color coordination. Room with double bed, nightstands, wardrobe, table, chairs, sink, and radiator. Shared WC has hot bath, sit-down toilet, and sink. Bath towels and toilet paper are provided. Breakfast is plentiful by French standards and includes fruit juice, croissants, toasted baguette, fresh jams, and tea or coffee. Madame Laffont only speaks French.

    Roquevaire   (2001 price)
    Le Colombier Tel: 04-4204-1294
    Int'l: +33-4-4204-1294
    Located 500m north of the Roquevaire Hotel de Ville up a narrow unpaved road that's difficult to find.
    FRF 280 per double room with WC including breakfast for 2. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: The view from this B&B overlooking the town of Roquevaire is excellent. Behind the B&B, rugged hills rise an additional 500m. The exterior of the house is gorgeous with arches and tiled spacious patios in brick and white. The interior, however, is aged. Both guestrooms have water damaged walls. Only French is spoken.

    Saint Hippolyte   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 05-5681-5423
    Gîte N° 4033 Int'l: +33-5-5681-5423
    Next to the Mairie (Town Hall) of St Hippolyte, 40km east of Bordeaux.
    FRF 1630 for a 7 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. English is spoken at the Gîtes de France Bordeaux office. The proprietor speaks no English. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 5. It's a fully furnished house with 3 bedrooms, WC, kitchen, living/dinning room, car parking, a washing machine, patio, and small yard with clothes line. Grape vines extend in every direction from the house.

    Saint Saturnin les Apt   (2001 price)
    Gîtes de France Tel: 04-9085-4500
    Gîte N° 275 Int'l: +33-4-9085-4500
    web: http://www.itea.fr/GDF/84
    1km south of St Saturnin les Apt town center.
    FRF 1629 plus electricity for a 7 day house rental. Friendliness Cleanliness Value for Money
    Comments: Contact Gîtes de France for bookings. English is spoken at the Gîtes de France Avignon office on Mondays. The proprietor, Madame Morello, speaks limited English. This Gîte, or short-term rental property, accommodates 5. It's a fully furnished 2-story house with 2 bedrooms, WC, kitchen, dinning room, car parking, a washing machine, patio, and wood burning stove. The house is a bit old but well laid out. Finding the place along the narrow country back roads is difficult. Firewood is free of charge.


    HomePrevious PageJournal Index 2000Journal Index 2001Journal Index 2002Map of Europe

      Copyright © 2000-2002   Wes and Masami Heiser.   All rights reserved.