Alistair Sawday has a passion for travel and for great accommodation and the latest book from the Sawday team about the best B&Bs in France is absolutely delicious.
As he says right at the beginning, it isn’t possible for all the accommodation in France to be wonderful as claimed by so many websites these days, a bit of perspective is needed – and here it is.
Every single one of these places, and there are just over 800 listed, has been personally checked and reviewed by the team and picked because they offer something different and wonderful. There’s no list to tick when they check out these places, but they do talk to the owner, bounce on the bed and have a good look round. Architecture, atmosphere, food are all important and the team look for comfort, originality, authenticity. They reject the banal and the insincere.
So if you’re looking for a special B&B in France – you’re going to love this book.
You’ll find a useful key system that indicates if places are pet friendly, family friendly, serve food, have Wi-Fi, speak English and all sorts of other useful info.
There are listings for all over France, useful maps and explanations of why a place has been chosen. The little snippets are what make this book zing, a bit about the owners and the ambience. Take Kim’s House, Beziers “dinner served by candlelight under a cherry tree where two tortoises potter…” or La Grande Mouline in the Loire Valley “Jean is a kindly grandfather… the rooms reflect his far-flung travels”. You get a feel for the place and the hosts to help you choose the place that you know will be right for you.
It’s the perfect accompaniment for the savvy and discerning traveller or holiday maker in France who wants to stay somewhere charming and completely memorable – for all the right reasons. I just know that the Château Lalinde, Lalinde, Dordogne is right for me by reading: “Arrive via the bridge for the full effect of this romantic riverside turreted château. Classic bedrooms come in varying sizes: snug with sloping ceilings or larger with balconies and views. There’s a dinky garden and pool, and a fabulous balcony terrace and owner, Wilna, is a passionate cook”. Tick. Drool.
Whether it’s chateau chic you long for or you crave a cosy cottage, a chalet, townhouse, farm or vineyard stay, in the north or the south – there’s a huge choice and this book takes the pain out of spending hours searching for that really special French B&B.
Love it!
Available from Amazon.
