Château les Merles et Ses Villas

My wife and I stayed at the Chateau Les Merles for (sadly) just one night in June. However, I have now booked to go back for 3 nights in September as we enjoyed our stay so much. I will admit I was wondering whether or not to give a review as we thought the hotel was so special that we wanted to keep it 'a secret'. But that seems unfair on the hotel and staff who were exceptional. The property, which is delightfully secluded, is charming and our double room on the first floor overlooking the swimming pool and the valley beyond was delightful. A simple blend of gloss back flooring and white walls, the room was simply and tastefully decorated with a superb large bed. The bathroom was spacious and had a large bath, shower and dual sinks. Again tastefully decorated. The staff were superb from the start; the greeting glass of champagne was delightful and very welcoming. We had lunch there (a superb 25 euros prix fixe) and then an a la carte dinner which was a delight eating under the umbrellas in the courtyard. And good value again. Chatting to the English couple on the next table we discovered they were planning on having their Wedding there next year they were so impressed; we could see why. The combination of the buildings, quality of food and of service and the easy vibe are enticing. It is a genuinely special place and deserving of being kept 'a secret'. Which is why we are going back; not as part of a trip but as the trip. Flying in and out of Bordeaux for a long weekend in September when we hope the pools will still be warm!

Absolutely charming! To start with, the hotel is less than 30 minutes from Bergerac airport, which is hugely convenient if you have had a tiring journey. We stayed in villa nº 8, which sleeps 8 people and has its own pool. The upstairs bedrooms are air conditioned, which was a Godsend, as our stay coincided with a heatwave of 36º. The lower bedrooms are not air conditioned but were cool enough to sleep in and were equipped with fans. The owners and staff of the hotel could not be more friendly, polite or helpful. The breakfasts were generous and tasty. If you are staying, it is definitely worth having an evening meal in the courtyard and choosing the 'signature' menu, which is delicious and extraordinarily good value! We would thoroughyl recommend this wonderful hotel.