My husband and I just returned from France using Rick's book..as did many others we encountered carrying "the bible"..We chose the B&B Rick suggested which was also the cooking school...HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!!! the only people staying there were all there on Rick's recomendation in his book. First and foremost we all agreed it was filthy!! and unsanitary. Food on the stove was left for several days, the dishes in the sink were not washed, old food was left in our room, the towels were grey and stiff, and Eric, the teacher and host did not speak one word of English. Of the 6 other couples we encounter all using Rick's book were agahst at the condition of the place. Old is old, but this was unsanitary!! Please take it off your list, no one should have to go there in those conditions.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
You might want to report this to the office, using the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page. Neither Rick nor his staff regularly monitor the helpline.
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 posts
under what category? when you hit contact us..there really is no option..
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2782 posts
Click on customer service.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32964 posts
Jeanette, you must have had a really bad time in Arles with all of you having horrible rooms and getting robbed at the ATM too. What else went wrong?
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 posts
I did send an email to customer service..so lets hope they read it
it is such a shame since all of us staying there got the info from the France 2010 book and it was the worst place I have ever stayed...I do not mind small, old, quaint, cheap, etc...but I do want CLEAN
I don't want used soap slivers left in my bathroom, or used sponges or left over food etc.....
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 posts
I am not out on a vendetta..It is just that everyone one of us staying at the place when we were[ 3 days] all had gotten our reccomendation from Rick's book and over the 3 days it was 6 different couples..so it is my conclusion that the only ones who go there or find out about this place is from the book..and that is why I want to alert the readers of the France guide that it is unsanitary...and filthy
and the writers of the book should be notified that it must have changed since their visit...
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I just combed thru the 2009 RS France guidebook and found only one place that fit this description. I think ETBD prefers that complaints be handled outside the Helpline.
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 posts
The place in Arles does not really have a name..it was listed in the book as cuisineprovencale.com
it was Erik and his wife Madeline who ran the place and also gave cooking lessons..no real name to the location..
but I tried to describe it the way it is listed in the book..
only good thing is it is within walking distance to the train station..so that is why people choose it..
It is a B&B at 11 Portugal Rd..a small one way alley..in a building from the 14th century..
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
524 posts
On a more positive note, several years ago (2003? 2005?), our family of four stayed at the Hotel L'Amphitheatre in Arles (also in the RS book) and absolutely loved it! We were there 5 nights, had a room/suite large enough for the 4 of us, wonderful breakfast in the courtyard, excellent service, affordable. I highly recommend it.
Posted by
Lima, Perú
126 posts
Sorry you had a bad hotel stay, Jeanette. You can post why that hotel is the worst under under "Reader Feedback - Provence & the French Riviera 2011 - best and worst accommodations" (http://www.ricksteves.com/books/feedback/static/165_2.htm)
Also on a happier note, I'm glad to see that Hotel du Musee in Arles is still a "best" hotel on this site. We followed RS recommendation & stayed there in 2005 - historical hotel built in 16/17 Cent. We had very good breakfasts in one of their lovely courtyards, and we could see the Rhône river from our room!
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 posts
I am pleased to tell everyone that I got a reply from Steve Smith at Rick Steves..he told me that Erik had gotten a divorce and the place had indeed fallen apart and it was taken out of the France 2011 book and was sorry that we had to endure it.
So, fellow travelers..they do listen!!
But I did suggest they put it on the website that it was removed since not everyone gets an updated book