TheGastons

Has anyone stayed here? I'm having trouble communicating with them. If anyone has stayed here and had a good or bad experience could you let me know. Oh, and we will have two little ones with us- would it be a good place to bring them?

Thanks!

cigalechanta

I have seen their website
and it looked attractive with very reasonable rates

[email protected]
this is the email
As I recall the site has the phone number.

TheGastons

Yes, their website is attractive but doesn't really have a lot of information. Now, I admit, the main problem is my lack of French and French terms. Like what does 1/2 pension mean?

cigalechanta

you mean half board?
that means you'll have either lunch or dinner there.

TheGastons

Yes, I've seen half-board a lot, but they are saying 1/2 pension. Maybe it means the same thing. I assume they do. There are other little things in our communication that have made me nervous. I'll keep looking. Thanks.

cigalechanta

Post it so others can help too.

Christina

I think demi-pension usually includes breakfast, also, as well as dinner or lunch, as you choose (unless breakfast is already in the room rate, but it isn't a lot). I haven't heard much about that place, but viewed their website. The rating structure is confusing, which I've found common on some web sites for places in Provence that have demi-pension options. Sometimes that rate includes the room plus the meals, and sometimes it's only for the food on top of the room. Those rates of around 70 euro for demi-pension seem too cheap to include the room, which is about that same rate, but too expensive for demi-pension food-only by the prices on the menus. There is a surcharge for single occupancy which I've seen for the food charge in places like that, because they aren't making as much profit on the food from having two people in a room. I wouldn't pay for the demi-pension myself, there are plenty of places to eat around there-- but I don't like being tied to eat where I am staying unless it's really in the middle of nowhere with no easy choices. 70 euro a day is a lot of money, also, for demi-pension.

It doesn't describe the rooms very well, I'll admit. Looks like a basic 2* place, which it is. That's a cheap room rate for around Gordes. It does have a menu enfant, which implies they are suitable for children staying there, but no mention about triple rooms or what. It's quite small, you probably noticed -- only 11 rooms. I suspect it may not be suitable for a family of four as you would need a pretty large room or two connecting rooms. Given their limited rate structure, I wonder if that's possible.

The Guide du Routard (a French budget guidebook) says that price for the demi-pension is only for the food. I don't get how you can pay 70 euro for that when the most expensive dinner menu is 40 euro and the breakfast only 10 euro. Maybe because of drinks, but it doesn't sound like a bargain. I've seen lower demi-pension rates than that in much more expensive inns in Provence. If it includes the room, it's a real bargain, though. Just seems weird pricing.

There are a few more pictures and some info on www.lodgis-de-france.fr because it is a member of that hotel association.

cigalechanta

Yes breakfast is included in 1/2 board.

cigalechanta

you could ask them for a brochure if it shows rooms.

cigalechanta

Here's something from chowhound. Melanie Wong knows her food and places.
http://www.chowhound.com/boards/intl...ges/36182.html

TheGastons

So this is what I think they are offering: double room + 2 small children at 148 € / 2 pers / night in 1/2 pension included room, breakfast and dinner. (for the children, it'll be up to their appetite)

Do you think this is a really bad deal? It seems to be in line with what we are finding elsewhere...?

cigalechanta

That's a bargain with dinner for 4.

StuDudley

Demi pension is room and either lunch or dinner. I've dined there several times. Nice dinner on the outside terrace. PERFECT location on the "back side" of Gordes. It's surrounded by vineyards.

Stu Dudley

Christina

I realized after I was thinking of the rates they list that that demipension price must include the room, but is per person (or around 150 euro for the double room which is around 70-80 euro along, plus meals for two), whereas the room rate listed is just for the room -- which would make the food price around 35 euro per person which makes more sense. I will admit I've seen other web sites that explain the rates a lot better.

So, 148 euro for all four of you, for the room and dinner plus breakfast? That seems pretty decent in that location, which is pretty expensive, and Stu says the food is good.

I think it's hard to find places for a family of four in Provence, many are geared to 1-2 people, not family rooms, and especially wouldn't have one large room or connecting rooms if the children were little and couldn't stay in their own room. From what I've seen, B&Bs and those small inns are not easy to find that, hotels are better.

So, I think that's good. I was going to offer an alternative where I stayed and loved, and they are a really great inn for children with large parklike grounds, a pool, and just a wonderful country hotel/inn. Many rooms haver private terraces, also, although they don't mention that on their web site, so ask if you are interested.

That is the Hotel l'Hermitage just outside Pernes-les-Fontaines. It's a 3* hotel and is one place that is actually nicer than it looks on their web site
http://www.ifrance.com/lhermitage

It's not super huge, but there would be other children there for them to play with (if they are that old), most likely. It does not serve dinner, though, only a nice breakfast. I preferred that myself, although you may not. There is a nice Italian restaurant just about a quarter mile up the road, places in Pernes a short drive away, and lots of places in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue which is maybe 8 miles away. It has an excellent location on a major road for touring, and is not nearly as crowded as around Gordes (which I didn't actually like that well due to the crowds, although the town is nice enough).

They have quads (defined as such) for 100 euro in peak season. That might give you more space than a double room with two extra children in it (what exactly are those bedding arrangements, and the size of the room?). So then you are comparing daily meal costs of around 48 euro total for you and your spouse (as the kids were extra, anyway) versus doing it on your own. YOu can eat cheaply around Pernes, of course, certainly for 24 euro a piece for dinner -- but it is a close comparison because of breakfast (many hotels in Provence charge a lot for breakfast, it's a big moneymaker). You will want breakfast and it is 9 euro at l'Hermitage, although you could probably just buy it for yourself and buy stuff out for the kids (at a bakery or something in Pernes, there are stores there). They have a large terrace with tables and extra tables and chairs all over the grounds, so you would have no trouble eating on your own there, even if you ate off the terrace where they serve breakfast to guests. They might have some cheaper breakfast for kids, also, I don't know.

They are really nice there, one of my favorite hotels in France.

You may prefer Gordes and that Auberge, of course, for reasons of location or the facility, just giving you an alternative. The Hermitage does have lovely grounds and a pool and kids around. It's hard to tell what the grounds of the Carcarille look like, but it does mention a pool that looks nice, also.

Did they tell you the size of the room you'd get for that, and the bed arrangements? The Hermitage has a private, secured car park, also, on the grounds, which is kind of nice in that area--I'd want that more around Gordes, actually. Their web site doesn't seem to mention parking, nor does the Routard Guide; it is difficult right in Gordes and costs. The Logis de France site says they have parking, though, but I'd find out what that means if you don't know.