For any small independent hotel in France, long experience suggests a number of potential generic shortfalls that will Peeve the frequent traveller used to the conveniences of large modern chain hotels, typically:
- Small rooms
- Limited parking, often only suited to small cars
- If Air Conditioning is provided, the older and/or cheaper "Single Mode" / "Two Pipe" centrally controlled types (i.e. typically "heat only" in winter, "cool only" in summer), which can be problematic in variable Spring and Autumn weather
- "Valuables" rather than "laptop" sized room safes
So against that backdrop, how does the Bastide fare?
Well, the rooms are relatively large, reasonably furnished with modernised bathrooms, and some have views over the pool. The rooms do have safes, but do suffer from the "not laptop sized" Peeve.
It is well presented and maintained, and is in pleasant grounds, but does fall victim to the limited amount of parking provision Peeve (but not the car size problem) if the property is full.
The service is good and friendly, with staff fluent in English.
The WiFi service is free for up to 2 devices / room, and runs at a reasonable bandwidth.
But the air conditioning in the current main building is a Two Pipe offering which is run on Heat Only October-April, so the FCUs (Fan Coil Units) blow hot air in Warm Springs or Indian Summers (I'm told the additional Suite rooms being built for completion sometime in 2013 will have individual air conditioning units which will avoid this Peeve for that part of the hotel in future).
The parking and air conditioning limitations impacted on me during a visit in April 2013, so although in many ways I quite like the property, I can't really award more than 3* on balance. read more