Clos De La Colombe

“Wonderful room, overpriced meal”

We rang the doorbell twice (which rang loud and clear) and nothing happened, so we sat on the step for about 30 minutes, till a face appeared from the balcony. If you have a doorbell and are expecting prebooked guests, it is best to ensure you can hear your doorbell. Once inside, the room and bat… more

We rang the doorbell twice (which rang loud and clear) and nothing happened, so we sat on the step for about 30 minutes, till a face appeared from the balcony. If you have a doorbell and are expecting prebooked guests, it is best to ensure you can hear your doorbell. Once inside, the room and bathroom was excellent. It should be for 90 euros. It had rather too many cutsie knick knacks for my taste. So much stuff can make it difficult to check that you are taking all your own belongings home. The facilities were excellent, and my partner enjoyed an end of afternoon swim in the large pool. The evening meal was served by Thierry. I had previously explained that I had been ill and hadn't eaten all day, so not to be offended if I didn't eat much. The meal was in a wonderful dining room where we were left in splendid isolation. Now the norm for table d'hote is apero with snacks, 4 course and wine, for 18 to 20 euros per head. Of these, at least 2 courses (starter and main, or main and pud) are proper home made dishes. We had agreed to the 25 euro meal on offer and were expecting something special. Firstly there was no aperatif or snacks, and wine was extra at 10 euros a bottle. As I wasn't drinking, my partner had a beer for a couple of euros Starter was melon with cured ham (like parma ham). This was OK, but nothing special - it had just been popped on a plate. I couldn't eat the ham, so my partner had some of mine. The main course was delicious baked cod with a gratinée and herby tomatoes. Then Thierry came down to present 'desert is a plate of cheese'. We were gobsmacked. This came straight out of the fridge (as had the starter) with 3 bits of cheese and a foil wrapped butter. He had taken away our knives too! Now, as I was in a bit of a delicate state, I couldn't even look at the cheese, so I went to look for him - in the garden, round the house, calling out for at least 10 minutes. Eventually, I found Thierry and explained that I couldn't eat the cheese and could I have some ice cream. A few minutes later he appeared with some cassis ice cream (probably the least suitable flavour for a recovering tummy). Breakfast was excellent and madame was very friendly and helpful. She seemed to have far more personal charm than monsieur. This place is a chambre d'hotes aspiring to be a hotel and failing on both counts. It didn't have the friendly welcome and the ambience with other guests and the host dining together. It also had everything in packets and sachets like a cheap hotel. I come to a chambre d'hote to be part of a household, to have a little dish of butter cut from the main pack, to take a squirt from a family sized bottle of shower gel - not fight with those stupid sachets that you can't open with wet hands. But mainly, when I need somebody, I want them to hear me call/shout. The room was lovely but overpriced compared to others we stayed at in the same week, I would say that a fairer price would have been 70-80 euros, rather than the 90 we paid. The evening meal was a rip off - one cooked dish and 2 out of the fridge, with drinks extra. Service well out of earshot. Compared to other table d'hotes we went to in the same week, I'd say that a fair price would be 12-15 euros rather than the 25 plus drink we paid.

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