Ben and I enjoyed a lovely weekend in the Dordogne region of France, about 4 hours South, which of course required accommodations. There are a plethora of options in France: chain hotels (including many American brands), boutique hotels, luxurious château stays (a room or the whole castle!), chambre d’hôtes (aka a B&B), camping/glamping etc. On our personal travels, Ben and I prefer an apartment (gîte in French – pronounced “jeet”) not only to utilize the kitchen, but really to feel like we actually live wherever we’re traveling, even if it’s just a few days. We had no idea we were in store for a true couple’s retreat!
Airbnb used to be amazing for private apartments in years gone by, but has since transformed from staying in someone’s real home to a high-turnover, income-producing Ikea showroom. I still check out what’s available, but more often than not, I book directly with actual small businesses.
(Airbnb has many other issues now too, like increasing the cost and scarcity of apartments for locals. This is a serious problem in many areas all over the world. You also may not be aware, but platforms like Airbnb and Viator charge at least 20% in fees that are passed onto the small business. It will almost always be less expensive for you to book directly and a much more friendly and personalized experience.)
Enter LPC Dordogne Holidays, a stunning property owned and run by Chrissy and Dave Laycock, located in a tiny hamlet in the Périgord Vert. Chrissy is an active member of local Facebook groups and a delight online, so I already liked and trusted her prior to booking. In fact, I paid without really examining the photos or being sure everything would meet our needs. I just knew it would be lovely!
And yes, it certainly is!
The white gravel leading up to the property sparkles in the sunlight, bordered by beautiful spring flowers and an expanse of manicured green grass which blends seamlessly with the natural landscape. The stone buildings, wood trim and terracotta roofs are extremely attractive, especially in the park-like setting. We’ve stayed at many, many gîtes over the years, but this one is the most beautiful and comfortable so far, simply because of Chrissy and Dave’s attention to detail.
Everywhere one looks is something interesting and pretty. An inviting in-ground pool surrounded by deck chairs. A BBQ area for the gîte tucked into a corner with the old stone bread-oven. A leafy tree with a round bench encircling the trunk. A keystone marked 1798, likely the year of initial construction. A welcoming Buddha head showing a smile as you arrive and a pout as you depart, which perfectly conveys the feeling. We immediately wished we could extend our surprise couple’s retreat to a week instead of the weekend!
While the property is truly stunning, the interior of the gîte is equally as appealing. Housed in a former tobacco drying house, the entire apartment has been completely remodeled by Dave and Chrissy, having purchased the property 5 years ago as essentially a ruin. The amount of work–and love–they’ve shown this property is visible everywhere!
The front door opens on a fully-equipped kitchen, with a step up into the living and dining areas. The old wooden beams nicely frame the comfy double bed and closet in the loft. Speaking of lofts, this is often the case in France to eke out more room in a smaller space. That is not the impression given here, nor is the staircase up anything but solid and trustworthy, which also isn’t always the norm. (We’ve seen some that require the traveler to limit wine intake to be sure to make it safely up the ladder-like stairs!) This one is an actual staircase.
The bathroom is spacious and, like the whole apartment, well-appointed. The shower pressure is fabulous and the water gets perfectly hot! We really enjoyed the log burner (with wood and kindling supplied) on the cold evenings and relished watching the flames dance since we can’t use our apartment’s fireplace. The layout of the gîte is perfect and while very bright in the day, the lower lighting at night with the glowing wood stove was very romantic.
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words so please check those out for more on the appearance of the property and gîte. It is just so charming and truly is the perfect couple’s retreat! Now on to how staying at LPC feels.
We arrived a little later than hoped for, but instantly felt welcomed by Dave first and then Chrissy. They are very open, kind people and we instantly felt comfortable. Chrissy gave us a tour of the gîte and explained how everything worked. They so thoughtfully provided a welcome charcuterie board for dinner and a chilled bottle of wine. The cheese, Saint Félicien (from 26100 Romans-sur-Isère) was particularly delicious and should be added to any fromage lovers list to try!
The kitchen is also equipped with a wine fridge, which is another little touch that sets LPC Dordogne Holidays apart from others we’ve seen. This is what we strive for with our clients as well: anticipating every need and providing a solution in advance, so it’s waiting there when the guest arrives. I believe that’s how luxury travel can be achieved at almost any budget with the right local knowledge, which is definitely the case with LPC. It feels like a luxury retreat from your everyday world.
Particularly the outdoors. Lounging by the pool, with warm sunshine, birds chirping and a gorgeous view, is incredibly peaceful and relaxing here. As we were enjoying the moment (and the wine they provided!), Dave came over to check on us and we managed to corral him into an interesting conversation and a tour of the gardens. They are absolutely lovely, with various fruit trees, veggies, and even gardens left natural with wildflowers to encourage the bee populations.
The breakfasts they prepared included freshly picked produce from the garden and were delicious both mornings! Dave introduced us to a species he has growing in a wine barrel: Jerusalem Artichoke. Neither of us had heard of it before, but it’s a tuber similar to a potato with a chestnutty flavor. “Sounds yum,” I said and Dave kindly offered us an offshoot! (Thank you again!) Looking forward to tasting them in the fall.
Unfortunately it rained most of our time actually spent at the gîte and we didn’t get to try out the ping pong table, the BBQ, or the pool. Luckily we’re already planning a return visit later this year and so can you!
LPC Dordogne Holidays still has a few dates available this fall and more in 2024. Their season runs from 1 March – 31 October, with a 2 night minimum that increases to 7 nights in July and August. There is also the possibility to add Tai Chi, massages and guided meditation to truly complete the retreat experience.
To inquire about booking, email Chrissy at [email protected] or visit their website https://www.lpcdordogneholidays.com/.
Or we can include LPC in a dream vacation crafted just for you. Let us handle every detail while you focus on soaking up the French lifestyle!
