Domaine de la Creuse

The Domaine is now under new management; we thoroughly enjoyed our previous visit and thought this visit would be the same. We were sadly disappointed. The Domaine is quite run down, and would benefit from some maintenance. You cannot now drive your car to the room so have to carry cases etc about 100m across a loose gravel path - but the proprietor did offer to help. The rooms are not warm and welcoming - there was no duvet cover on the duvet which is really quite unhygienic, towels are small and thin - not soft and fluffy. Shower arrangements were poor quality - no doors on the bathroom for example. There was a smell of curry around the courtyard; breakfast had its highpoints (eg freshly squeezed OJ, the croissant) but otherwise average.

Das Anwesen ist charmant, romantisch und mit viel Liebe zum Detail eingerichtet. Wir wurden vom Gastgeber sehr herzlich empfangen. Auch unsere beiden Hündinnen waren willkommen und fühlten sich sehr wohl. Das Frühstück war liebevoll angerichtet und sehr lecker. Wir kommen gerne wieder.

The new owners of this accommodation sadly have a lot to learn about customer service and running a welcoming bed and breakfast. There were many issues, but the most important were due to hygiene and specifically there being no duvet cover on the duvets. The grounds no longer look like those in the photos, the grass is waist hight and the flower boarders overgrown and full of dead flowers. No juice or water offered at breakfast and milk for cereal only on request. Low quality and old bath/showers. Many other problems. Worth about £100 per room given the above. Credit card not being taken when we left, so have to have the hassle and cost of bank transfer from the UK. Sadly, I cannot imagine how the new owners will ever be as professional and friendly as the previous two owners, with whom we have stayed for over 10 years. The building is beautiful and it could be wonderful again, if money and time is spent on improving it, hopefully this will happen in the very near future.

We were disappointed with our visit. We found the property on Alistair Sawdays where two excellent hosts were mentioned. When we arrived we had to wait a long time before we could find a host and then one person eventually came out. We thought he was maybe just covering for the host couple but it seems from a review in Nov 23 that it has changed hands. The room itself was fine. We had agreed in emails before that a light meal could be provided but when we arrived we were told that this was not possible. We were tired from the journey and didn't want to go out to find something to eat and so he then agreed to provide a meal. However the meal itself resulted from a quick trip to the supermarket and was a very simple salad from a bag and a piece of quiche purchased from the supermarket with a fruit salad. We were also offered wine which we assumed was included in the price but was then charged at Eur 22 for a very average bottle. Overall the total meal price was Eur 82 which was very expensive for a very basic meal.

This venue has changed hands in the last four months and this is a grave pity. The charm of this venue previously was not the buildings but the hosts. We arrived on our normal stop over on route to our chateau in the South of France as we have done for the past 8 years and was greeted by barriers across the entrance to the domain. Eventually a man appeared who looked like a security guard and explained the new owners had stopped entry to the domain and we would need to carry our luggage into the property. This was a massive in convenience and walking backwards and forwards was miserable. On inspection of the room the toilet seat was not connected to the toilet and parts was falling off in the shower. The breakfast was served by the same security guard and this was of mediocre quality. To make things worst, the price has increased. After probably 50 stays, this will certainly be our last.