Product Description

The first of the Special Places series, this established guide is a bestseller. With its huge variety and range of good value places to stay, it’s an indispensable guide for those travelling round France – it is as much about making good friends as staying in really beautiful homes. Fresh, informative write-ups are backed up by excellent maps and directions, symbols and quick reference indices. Our approach is unusual. There are no set rules, no interminable checklists and no hard-and-fast criteria for inclusion. We look for what we like, and celebrate the unusual, the beautiful and the individual.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53237 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Marie Claire, 2002
The best guide to staying in private B&Bs throughout France

BBC Good Food magazine, September, 2002
The best guide books ever

France Magazine, June 2004
"French Bed & Breakfast is widely respected among the proprietors of gites and chambres d’hotes"

Customer Reviews

France for individualists
For those who wish to enjoy the variety that France has to offer this book has it all, from chateau to modest house. Places in town, the mountains, the coast. The authors give you full address details so that you can enter the postcode into a route programme to plan your itinerary down to street level. The English spoken symbol is a godsend to those who are hesistant in French. The e-mail addresses enable quick and easy contact and the viewing of additional features on related websites, such as bedrooms, gardens etc. We found that all the places we contacted this way responded quickly, with enthusiasm, and rarely required a deposit. In many cases you can order meals, great when teamed with the local wine. We have stayed in places from 38 euros up to 120 euros per room, all different, all welcoming. I can heartily recommend this book to those wanting to see the real France, whether touring or just for places to stay en route. You will not be disappointed.

Sawday's Book provides the key to successful French holiday
This book was a real godsend in helping us plan our holiday to the Southwest of France (Aquitaine and Pays Basque). Had it not been for Sawday's acutely-observed and judicious recommendations I think the holiday would have been something of a disaster.

The book is well laid-out and provides an quick-glance but trustworthy opinion of some of the best kept secrets in France. Each place has a fair photograph (not the estate agent type), a well-drawn, charming summary and all the essential information. Besides the practical side of the book, it is a real delight and inspiration to read each vignette - it really provokes confidence in going to stay in such places rather than the faceless chain hotels or formules in the alternative.

We stayed at three of the recommended places during our trip: Monbet, Latille, and St. Quentin-de-Baron and all were marvellous. Beautiful chateaux, post-houses or priories...breakfast on the patio with fresh croissants and the company of Madame...unobstructed starry nights...peaceful slumbers interrupted only by the call of the woodpigeon...absolutely marvellous and all modestly or validly priced.

The only problems that I can see with the book is that the information can run out of date quickly if the book is not researched and reissued on a regular basis. Also it is not pointed out clearly whether places accept credit cards or not which can be a little inconvenient and embarrassing. Otherwise a bible for living on the road in France. Enjoy and bon voyage!

French Bed & Breakfast 9th Edition
This book does equally well whether you are planning a holiday in a particular area or just looking for inspiration. My only problem is the embarrassment of choices. The layout is excellent. Personally I'd rather not choose a place to stay without knowing what it looks like, so the photos are invaluable. In addition, you know that each property has charm and character : exactly what I look for in a B&B. Highly recommended.