We just returned from a great trip to Paris and the Dordogne, where my husband and I stayed at La Villa des Consuls for a week in one of their smallest apartments. It was a good size for two people, and quite convenient. However, we had quite a "surprise" on arrival night.

We had been driving all day, and were also still recovering from jet lag. When we arrived at 8:30 PM, I waited on the main street with the rental car and luggage, and my husband went to check in. (You can't park close to this hotel.) He didn’t tell me that when the owner opened the door to show him our room, his cat ran out. The cat had been missing all day.

When I went to the room, I noticed an unpleasant smell, but assumed it was some kind of leftover cooking odor. We started unpacking. At about 10:30, my husband pulled back the covers to our bed, and I saw him leap back.

The cat had urinated all over his side of the bed, even on the pillow. I had set a few items of clothing towards my side, and since I hadn't even known there was a cat, I was shocked and upset to say the least.

The owner wasn’t at the desk anymore, but he had left a number to call. He was apparently very apologetic on the phone to my husband but he didn’t say much of anything to me directly. He was extremely flustered as he changed the bedding. He knocked my sunglasses off the nightstand onto the floor, and threw the soiled bedding on top of our suitcases. He also tried to put the same blanket back on the bed! He did get another blanket when I asked him to, and also a new mattress pad.

I was a bit annoyed that he didn’t offer some kind of token compensation for the episode–-free breakfast for one morning or--I don’t know--something. I sure didn’t get much sleep that night. I do think the episode was a fluke, although we couldn’t understand how the cat had managed to soil the sheets, blanket, and pillow without it showing on the bedspread. If he had crawled under the spread, the bed would have been rumpled. It wasn't, so it's an unsolved mystery.

The owner was nice in answering any questions we had during the week, and our stay was otherwise pleasant and uneventful. Luckily, there was no lingering odor. I think the mattress pad had some kind of rubber backing.

I wouldn't go so far as to say not to stay at this hotel. I would, however, advise you to take a good look around your room before unpacking!

That is disgusting. I can see why you would be upset.
Perhaps you will share your other experiences??

Thank you. I'm working on it--just had to get this incident off my chest.

We will be staying at the Villa des Consuls in a few weeks, driving from Normandy area. Where did you park your car during your stay? Did the hotel have a lot?

He had a secure parking area for an extra fee, but we didn't reserve in advance and it was already full. He told us of a free parking area (above the town) that was a shorter walk than his lot. It took us about seven or eight minutes to walk there.

We never had a problem finding a spot at the free lot, but I don't know if that will still be true during the summer.

Sarlat is very pretty at night after the traffic is gone! The market (we went on Saturday) was also a lot of fun, especially if you have cooking facilities.

Thanks for the reply, I will contact the hotel and see what they recommend. We will be driving from Normandy area so will be arriving late in the day. How close to the hotel were you able to drive to? You mentioned the main street, how far was this from the hotel? I guess we will have to be on watch for the cat.

I think the main street becomes a pedestrian zone at some point during the summer. When we were there, it was possible to park there in the evening and walk up a very steep hill(pedestrians only) to the hotel while we checked in. It was maybe a three minute walk. However, parking on the main street would not be safe for a rental car for any length of time. That's why I elected to stay with the car while my husband checked in.

<< However, parking on the main street would not be safe for a rental car for any length of time.>>
Mare - I'm interested that you would say that as it is not my sense at all.

Maybe you were there at a less busy time, or maybe your risk tolerance for a rental car is higher than mine. On the night we arrived, parking was scarce. In the few minutes I sat there, I saw the driver two cars ahead of me hit the bumper of another car while trying to squeeze into a too-small space. We didn't see a reason to risk parking there when there was a better option.

Which "main street" are you referring to? The rue de la République, known locally as "La Traverse," cuts straight through the center of town and has commercial establishments all along it. There is no parking on La Traverse, and on market days it becomes a pedestrian-only street. The other "main street" is the continuation of the D704 that goes up and over the hill to the south of the town and continues on out toward Gourdon in one direction and Domme in the other. There is parking all along that route from the top of the hill down to the center of town. It's perfectly saf for a rental car (as long as you don't leave obvious signs of it being a rental on the seats, dashboard, etc., but it's almost always difficult to secure a spot there.

StCirq, I know you are very familiar with the area, where would you suggest we park? We arrive on a Saturday, market day and the hotel advises we could park in rue de la republique if we arrive after 8 PM or if before 8 PM then the boulevard Eugene Le Roy or free car park on avenue du General De Gaulle. What do you suggest?

It was the Rue de Republique, and there were plenty of cars parked there the night we arrived. As I said, it was around 8:30 PM.

As a resident, I wouldn't worry about leaving my own or a rental car on any street in Sarlat - except that many are require payment. Rue de la republique is not a place I would ever try to park however. If rlbplf tells me where his/her hotel is I can suggest a lot.

I'm just going to clarify one last time: I was referring ONLY to the way people were parking, and the risk of a dent/ding to the rental car.

What's the hotel/address?

We just returned from staying in Sarlat (not at Villa des Consuls, though I know where it is because we walked by there on an early-morning walk). Sarlat has published two guides to the city, one in a brochure form, that has 2 very good maps, one of the old city, and one of the area around the old city, that show all of the parking lots, indicate whether they are pay or free, and even how many spaces the lot has. I would suggest that when you arrive, park wherever you can, go check in, and get one of these free brochures/maps (I saw them all over town).

The ring sort of road that StCirq refers to can be taken all the way around the old city; keep an eye out for the "P" signs, for parking, for parking until you can get your hands on the map.