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Reviews of Bijou cottage in the heart of rural France, with alpacas in the garden.

Bijou cottage in the heart of rural France, with alpacas in the garden.
Saint-Dizier-Leyrenne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Luise D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely little gite with beautiful views and alpacas to meet.
Very pleased with choice, the owner was delightful and so helpful. Strongly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Sam is a great host, we had great conversation and had fun with the farm animals. The cottage is very sweet with a lovely breakfast!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Fiona K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely spot, so peaceful!
My partner and I had a great stay here in September. Whilst the weather had become cooler, the log burner was perfect and each evening was so cosy! I’d recommend this place to anyone looking to get away from it all - it was so peaceful! Sam is a great host - so friendly and helpful and, of course, I have to mention the animals - Miles, Warren and Egg the alpacas, Colin the pig and Vienna and Whisky the cats! It was so nice getting to spend time with them all.

10/10 Excellent

Karl M., Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, UK

What an amazing location
Words do not do justice to this property. If you want a tranquil location yet within easy reach of places of interest look no further being located this very small village a mile or so outside Saint- Dizier - Leyrenne. The cottage is very comfortable and well equipped with all you would need for your stay including sun beds. Sam is the perfect hostess, exceptionally helpful without being intrusive and her animals are well worth the trip especially the alpaca's and you won't have seen a bigger pig than Colin the boar. Wildlife abounds with deer, owls, fox, various birds of prey, pheasants and woodpeckers to name a few. Within a day you'll become best friends with Moleskin, the Norweigen Elk Hound. If you fancy spending some time around water, Lac Vassivière is approximately 25 - 30 minutes drive away, with stunning views, numerous man made beaches and restaurants, the perfect way to spend a sunny day. The ancient city of Limoges is about 45 minutes drive away should you be in the need of some retail therapy. All in all this was probably the most relaxing, recharging holiday we've had for a number of years. Thank you Sam, we are looking forward to seeing you next year.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Wonderful host, grounds, and cottage!
My wife and two young children (ages 7 and 5) spent 4 nights here in early June of 2018. We loved this experience! Our kids loved waking up each day to help Sam out with the animals. Whether it was collecting eggs, feeding the alpacas, or petting Colin the boar, the kids loved it (the adults loved it, too). Simply getting to meet Colin is worth the price of admission! Moleskin the dog was also always around, sometimes coming into the cabin to get some attention from the kids. This was so shocking though. When I asked my daughter who she was going to miss most when we left, she didn't say Colin, Moleskin, or any of the other animals. She said Sam! She really was so wonderful and patient with the kids. While the animals and setting were great, Sam is the glue that makes the property really special. The cottage was very clean and plenty spacious for the four of us. The double bed in the bedroom was really our only complaint, being kind of uncomfortable and small for two grown adults. Sam had plenty of DVDs to watch, the kitchen was very functional, and the bathroom was plenty spacious as well. It sounds kind of cliche, but I would give this place 6 stars if possible. If you and/or your family loves animals, this is the place for you. The wolf sanctuary is only about a 40 minute drive as well for an additional experience. This place will always be in my favorite vacation memories!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Thank you. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the four of you & share my life and my animals with you all. I think historically beds in Europe have been smaller than beds in America, and so that's a really good bit of feedback. When I replace the bed, I'll definitely look to get a king-size. We all missed you when you left (Moleskine & Colin particularly so) & I'm chuffed that you enjoyed your stay so much.

10/10 Excellent

Samantha A.

AMAZING!
Loved the place from the minuet we got there. Sam is lovely and very accommodating even the lone of a bottle of red for our first night.....she really can’t do enough for you. The animals are a great addition but Mole the dog steals the show! Would highly recommend 10/10 and would live to visit again.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
It was great to meet you both & I'm glad you enjoyed your stay with us. It'd be lovely to have you visit here again, we hope to see you soon.

10/10 Excellent

Nathan P., Oxford

Wonderful little find in rural France
This gite is lovely and I can't recommend it enough. Although it's pretty small, the downstairs has a good sized lounge/diner, a medium sized kitchen and a small bathroom and upstairs has two very well sized bedrooms. The setting is perfect, not at all overlooked except for by the main house with great views of forests over rolling hills. The animals are fun and you have free range through the owner's private woodland. If you like rural or are looking to get away from it all for a while you will love this. I came in October and the weather was stunning, a pleasant change since I come from the UK where we rarely see the sun at this time of year! Sam quickly become more of a friend than a supplier and was very responsive to anything I required or any information I needed during my stay. She made the trip an absolute delight and went beyond what I could have expected both in terms of her generosity with her time and with little gifts she'd made in her kitchen.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2017

10/10 Excellent

Nick D., cornwall UK

Beautiful get away amazing Host highly recommend a visit
From the moment we arrived, we began to relax into our surroundings. The cottage was more than enough for the two of us. Well equipped for all our needs. Daily visits by the chickens and warm welcome by moleskin the dog was delightful. Getting to feed the rest of the clan was fantastic fun. Sam. You were an amazing host, attentive fun to be around and share the 'odd glass of wine' in the evening. The ready supply of eggs were delicious and your apple crumble superb. You really made our holiday with pointers of places to visit and helping us make the most of our time with you. We cannot tank you enough. Definitely a bientôt and merci beaucoup x
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

Jane Louise S., Bern, Switzerland

Many thanks Sam
My parents and I spent a wonderful week in the beautiful French countryside at La Chouetterie. The gîte was clean, comfortable and had everything we required and was good value for the money. We enjoyed meeting Sam who was a wonderful hostess and lives an envious life style. The daily visits from the animals was an added bonus. We would definitely return for more.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017

8/10 Good

Sue C.

As described, functional, cute, value for money, recommended
Arrived home yesterday and miss it already. The gite is compact but has everything you need and if it doesn't ask Sam and if it's a reasonable request she will do her best to accommodate. There is a lovely wood burner if chilly and a covered veranda if hot (we had both whilst there). Sam is lovely, friendly, helpful and accessible but not intrusive. The Table d'Hote evening with her was lovely and hope she considers continuing it, Sam is a good cook and the orange cake was yummy. The menagerie of animals are great, the dog, cat, 3 alpacas, geese (and goslings), chickens, guinea fowl and not forgetting Colin the huge boar that lives in the wood. They all love to be fed but if they are not for you they are all behind Sams gate and are not wandering freely (except maybe the chickens and cat as would be difficult lol). The setting is beautiful, peaceful and the views is lovely. We booked the property for house hunting in the area and it is great value for money. Would we stay there again? Absolutely.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Thank you for your review, it was lovely to meet you both. I wish you all the luck in the world with your planned move to France.

8/10 Good

Dominique D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Calme....
Le gîte correspondait à ce que nous attendions . Equipement minimaliste dans la cuisine pour qui aime cuisiner... , un grille pain et une grande casserole auraient fait mon bonheur. Le gîte était très propre et le lit confortable.... Le terrain face à la terrasse manquait d'entretien ,mais Sam était blessée au genou , donc on lui pardonne ...! Sam est très agréable et n'est pas avare de vous montrer ces adorables animaux. Nous lui souhaitons encore un très bon rétablissement. Dominique et Bernard
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

marianne b.

Liked: Cleanliness
Super séjour avec des enfants, plein de gentilles attentions de la propriétaire
Nous avons beaucoup apprécié notre séjour. Le logement est simple mais très bien pour un long week-end comme nous l’avons fait. Les lits sont confortables Les alpagas, le cochon et la basse cour ont été une très chouette attraction pour nos enfants . Ils ont adoré donner des carottes aux alpagas! La propriétaire est aux petits soins et plein de petites attentions ont jalonné notre séjour. Nous recommandons ! Merci Sam
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020

8/10 Good

Roger L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Conforme a ce qu'on attendait
Logement agreable
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Magali R.

Bol de nature
Très bon accueil de Sam dans sa propriété au calme, dans un écrin de verdure. Logement indépendant et terrasse abritée permettant de manger en extérieur au son des oiseaux, avec une vue très agréable. Les enfants ont grandement apprécié la présence des trois alpagas, poules, cochon. Merci !
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Corinne F.

Un week-end dépaysant et agréable
Nous avons passé un super séjour notamment grâce à l'accueil et toutes les attentions de Sam. Ses animaux sont adorables. Nous avons trouvé tout le confort nécessaire dans le gîte où nous avons très bien dormi dans un calme bien agréable. La nature environnante invite aux ballades et à profiter, tout simplement. Merci Sam !
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Karl S.

Schöner Urlaub in atemberaubender Landschaft
Wir (Familie mit 2 Kindern, 13 und 15 Jahre) verbrachten Anfang August zwei wunderschöne Wochen in dem Ferienhaus. Es ist der abgetrennte Teil einer ehemaligen Scheune. Man hat im Untergeschoß das Wohn-/Esszimmer mit angeschlossener Küche. Alles was man zum Kochen braucht ist vorhanden inkl. Backofen, Mikrowelle und Wasserkocher. Im Obergeschoß befinden sich die zwei Schlafräume. Einer mit Doppelbett, der andere mit getrennten Betten. Vor dem Haus hat man eine große, überdachte Terrasse mit Gartenmöbeln, Sonnenliegen und einem Grill. Das Anwesen liegt äußerst ruhig in einem kleinen Teilort. Viele Sehenswürdigkeiten und schöne Badeseen sind mit kurzer Autofahrt erreichbar. Was dieses Haus zu einem ganz besonderen Ort macht sind die Tiere und nicht zuletzt Sam die Besitzerin. Colin das Wildschwein und die drei Alpakas wurden von unseren Kindern täglich gefüttert. Gänse, Hühner und Perlhühner versorgten uns mit Eiern. Die Katze Vienna und Moleskin der Hofhund waren äußerst lieb und genossen unsere Streicheleinheiten. Sam war sehr hilfsbereit und stets für alle unsere Fragen da. Alles in allem haben wir uns sehr gut erholt und vermissen Euch schon jetzt.
Stayed 17 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

JANINE M.

Plein de choses à faire. Très jolis paysages. Région très calme et reposante.
Gîte parfait pour des vacances agréables et reposantes. On s'y sens tout de suite à l'aise grâce à Sam et à Moleskin. Les visites a Colin sont très amusantes et enrichissantes, et donner une douche aux Alpagas ainsi que les nourir permet de découvrir ces merveilleux animaux que nous ne connaissions pas. Un grand merci à Sam pour son accueil et pour nous avoir fait partager sa relation privilégiée avec tous ses animaux. Nous espérons pouvoir y retourner l'été prochain.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Françoise K.

"chouette" accueil
de l'eau attendait les chiens, des friandises pour eux et pour nous (fête de Pâques oblige) et des oeufs frais pour le premier repas. Très joli endroit, gite simple et joliment décoré et surtout hôtesse très accueillante.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Frans M.

Super leuk plekje
De eigenaresse Sam, heeft er een super leuk huisje van gemaakt. Het ligt mooi (terras op zuiden) uitkijkend over een dal. Haar alpacas voeren en varken aaien, waren een leuke ervaring.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Adrien d.

Très bien !
Sam est accueillante et à l écoute. C'est un retour aux sources. Ne pas avoir peur des araignées et de la température fraîches du logement en hiver. Le coin est idéal pour la randonnée. Pour résumé nous avons adoré. Merci Sam.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

roger l.

a recommander
séjour agréable, au calme. gite très propre,une petite note négative,le manque de télévision.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

Manon B.

Génial
Supers vacances avec des enfants en bas âge. Endroit très joli avec beaucoup d'animaux, reposant et surtout une propriétaire très accueillante et très gentille.

10/10 Excellent

kristof m., Staden

Nice cottage in the countryside
We stayed in the cottage for 3 nigths (2 adults and 2 children). We all loved the place. Very comfortable and clean cottage and it has everything you need. Sam welcomed us and provided information when needed. The children loved to wonder arround together with all the animals and helped Sam to feed them. Would definitely recommend this cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

liliane d.

sam est tres accueillante et disponible ainsi que tous les animaux presents gite propre
belle campagne environnante calme belles promenades et super de retrouver les animaux de nos campagne sauf les alpagas bien sur!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017

10/10 Excellent

Nicole P.

Großartig für Familien
Wir verbrachten eine Woche mit unseren beiden Kindern in der sehr gemütlichen und gut ausgestatteten Ferienwohnung und wir wären gern noch länger geblieben. Sam ist eine sehr herzliche und hilfsbereite Gastgeberin. Unsere Kinder konnten überall auf das zugehörige Grndstück, um die vielen Tiere zu entdecken. Sehr ins Herz geschlossen haben wir alle die sehr kinder- und auch viele Steicheleinheiten lliebende Hündin Moleskin. Der Abschied fiel uns wirklich schwer. Auch die Umgebung ist sehr schön und es gibt Einiges zu entdecken und an heißen Tagen ist auch ein großer See nicht mal eine Autostunde entfernt. Kurzum: wir hatten einen sehr schönen Aufenthalt und haben uns sehr wohlgefühlt.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

Se Ressourcer en Plein Nature à St. Dizier-Leyrenne
Nous avons passé une semaine inoubliable avec Sam et tous ses animaux sympas, amusants et si mignons (surtout les alpagas). Le gîte se trouve en plein campagne. On a adopté très vite l’habitude de prendre notre café matinal en écoutant les chants d’oiseaux parmi les hirondelles qui faisaient l’aller-retour entre le champ d’en face et leurs petits dans leur nid à l’interieur du grange à côté. En journée on a exploré les parcs régionaux naturels et aussi les petits villages de Limousin, leurs rivières, des beaux ponts anciens et, bien sûr, des restaurants et des cafés des environs. Le soir, on prenait une verre en plein air devant le gîte en regardant le coucher du soleil. Le gîte est très bien equipé mais garde toujours son ambiance authentique d’antan. Le rapport qualité/prix est excellent. On espère bien retourner retrouver Sam et ses cheres amis : Myles, Egg, Warren, Sydney, Rodney, Colin, Molesky et tous les autres, l’année prochaine.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Merci beaucoup. J'espère vous rencontrer a nouveau. Sam xx