This is a long overdue review for a truly superior little gem of a hotel. My wife and I had actually checked into another nearby hotel in the Dordogne that came highly rated, but after one night in a sad two-room suite that looked like it was decorated at a Salvation Army thrift shop, we immediately began making plans to get out while the getting was good. Having read positive reviews about La Boetie, despite its not having a restaurant, we drove to Sarlat, checked out the sole accommodation that was available (a romantic bi-level suite) and immeidately put down the credit card to secure the room while we raced back to the former hotel to pack and check out.
It was the best decision we could have made. The hotel's setting was peaceful, but only four blocks from the town walls and all the activity that is Sarlat. We quickly found a little cafe for breakfast (the hotel does serve breakfast but dining in town among the regulars was more fun). After just a few days, the proprietor of the cafe even had our tea waiting for us as we walked down the street toward our favorite outdoor table.
Back to the hotel, the true star of the show. Our suite could not have been more romantic. The odd roof line (we were at the top of the mini-turret of the manse) and colorful French provincial fabrics, little sitting nooks and bric-a-brac created a real country house feel that was both comfortable and sophisticated. When the Internet didn't work one evening, the staff climbed into the attic to try to get it fixed. They didn't get it fixed that night but we appreciated the sincere effort - the router was fixed the next morning so not much lost on a holiday in any event. The staff was helpful at every turn, oh so polite and able to speak English well (we speak French and like practicing when we travel).
Some have complained that street parking can be difficult around the hotel. Funnily enough, we never found the hotel's private parking lot on the side street, as we just never knew which gate to try to unlock. However, we never had difficulty finding parking on the street and one at least a couple of times we were within a whisper of the front door.
Sarlat is charming but gets crowded. By our smart move to La Boetie we had the best of both worlds - the bustle of Sarlat whenever we wanted it, and the serentiy of what felt like a private home where we could be coddled whenever we needed it.
- Clos La Boetie Sarlat Canéda
