1 independent reviews for Nouvelle Aquitaine self guided bicycling vacation, France
Reviews for Nouvelle Aquitaine self guided bicycling vacation, France
Helen Scholes review 25 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Realising I could cycle a lot further than I thought (after taking an unplanned excursion from the route) and meeting some interesting fellow travelers.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be aware there are a lot of large hairy but friendly dogs.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
They used local wines and e-bikes were provided locally. We cycled to local cafes and bars.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I was most disappointed by the food after reading the glowing reviews, but realise now they were all for previous owners. In particular there were not enough vegetables and they were overcooked. We had problems with our hired bikes on three occasions and ended up pushing them home on two of them. The problems were minor to solve but we didn't have the tools to do so and the response to our request for help was too slow. The outside furniture was old and scruffy and needed a good clean. We had no window in our room so had to leave the door ajar, on a catch, for fresh air. The room smelt damp. A nightlight on the stairs would have been useful. We also had a power cut and a mains water leak during our short stay. On a more positive note the company was good and the day trip to Marais Poitevin was lovely. I think the current hosts need to decide whether they are dog breeders or vacation providers. This was not up to the standard we have come to expect from the vacations we have booked through Responsible Travel.Read the operator's response here:
We are very sorry to read this review especially as we always ask our guests for feedback on a daily basis while they are staying with us and encourage them to tell us if they have any issues, or would like any changes made. No such comments were made during your visit.
The power cut was as a result of a thunderstorm.
Six of the reviews for all our vacations based here all refer to the wonderful food they have enjoyed and rate us with five stars, and these have been filed since we took over the in May
2022.
Our electric bikes are hired from a third party supplier. Your bike, one of the four hired, was faulty as the lead connected to the battery came out the first time you used the bike. However, we did all in our power to replace the faulty bike, even making phone calls until 11pm at night and from 6am the following morning. Unfortunately the thunderstorm took down a wireless mast in the suppliers' village and she was not able to receive, or respond to, incoming calls for 24 hours. After a couple of hours we repaired the bike here ourselves. Our water leak was unfortunate but can happen anywhere, and was repaired within 15 minutes.
You stayed in our premium room, L' Orangerie, which has double doors that open up on to the pool area and terrace. There are no windows upstairs as this is a barn conversion, but the room is light and airy and has never once been described as damp. There are lights on the stairs. We would have provided a night light had you requested one. Again we are all sorry you feel disappointed.
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