On our trip from Caen to Banon, we decided to stay overnight in a chambre d’hôtes (B&B). Before deciding on staying at a chambre d’hôtes, I searched online for a hotel. All the hotels I came across either had negative reviews about things that were important to me or were very expensive, especially adding on the cost of parking, breakfast and Internet. The cheapest hotel we found would have cost us at least 96 euros in Tournus.
We were lucky to find the Chambre d’hôtes de la Croze. The house is located about 6 minutes off the highway in a trés petite village near Mâcon, Tournus and Cluny. Even though the actual Chambre d’hôtes is not situated in an interesting village, it is a close drive to many castles and old churches. I believe it was also about 30 or 45 minutes away from Lyon. The best part – it was only 50 euros for two people, and includes breakfast, Internet and parking.
The chambre d’hôtes was about 6 minutes from the highway and easy to find in the dark. It is a large house where the couple rents out two bedrooms as a chambre d’hôtes. The photos show the house surrounded in a beautiful garden. Since we arrived in the winter and it snowed that morning, we did not get to benefit from their garden.
The owner, Marie-Paule, greeted us when we arrived and asked us what time we would want breakfast. She was very nice and we felt right at home. We had the downstairs bedroom with a private bathroom. The room was charming, clean and comfortable – everything that we were hoping it would be.
The mattress was comfortable and we slept very well that evening. The blankets and sheets appeared a little worn, but I did not get the impression that they were too old or dirty. Marie-Paule offered us a baby bed, but we just let Juliana sleep in the bed with us since it was big enough. At least she does have one available for later when Juliana gets a little bigger.
On the opposite side of the room to the bed, there is a sofa, coffee table and TV.It is arranged to appear like a mini living room. The TV is very outdated but works fine. Also on the opposite side of the room is a table with an electric tea kettle and an assortment of teas. I enjoyed the cinnamon apple before going to bed. There is nothing like a warm cup of tea to unwind after a long trip.
The bathroom has a powerful heater next to the shower. The shower head has different settings so you can opt for a light shower or a heavy rainfall. I set it at the heavy rainfall and enjoyed the massaging effect it had on my back. I was so comfortable that I stayed in there a bit too long. When the water started to get cold, I realized that I used up all the hot water! Luckily, my husband already had his shower so we did not need any more hot water. I just hope I did not empty the entire house out of hot water.
In the morning, we were greeted by Marie-Paule and had breakfast in her dining room. We were treated with homemade breads, confiture (jam) and cakes. She also served us a choice of coffee or tea, and orange juice. I was addicted to her homemade fig confecture! It was amazing. We definitely could not have had better at a hotel. Her house is beautifully decorated and it truly felt like we were guests at a friend’s house. Juliana sat on my lap and was an angel while we enjoyed our breakfast.
Overall, my husband and I were very happy with this small chambre d’hôtes. We would not hesitate to return, especially for this price. Since it is located in a small village with nothing really around, we would only go there again if we were passing through or if it was near somewhere that we wanted to go. Since we plan on visiting my husband’s family in Caen often, I have a feeling we will be frequent visitors at the Chambre d’hôtes de la Croze. Merci Marie-Paule BARRAUD!
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