Hi, we are travelling to the Dordogne area to stay for 4 nights and explore the local areas. We have located accommodation just outside Sarlat (5 mins drive or 20 mins walk) although it is quite expensive and doesn't include breakfast. Our other option is right within Sarlat above a restaurant at the market square area although this would mean we would need to park car on outskirts and walk to accommodation. We are travelling with 2 young children and not sure this will be convenient each day. Has anyone stayed in this area and can advise if it is better to stay in centre or outside town? Also, is this the area we should be staying as a base or has anyone any other recommendations of places that they enjoyed?
thank you
Stay in town. You can park in the market area except something like starting at midnight of the day before the markets. You'll just have to move it two or three blocks. I think Sarlat has two markets per week.
Check out Les Cordeliers, a truly wonderful B and B in Sarlat. The Brits running it help find street parking right in front. Wonderful breakfast, beautiful decorating, huge rooms.
Thank you, I have checked Les Cordeliers already as they had such wonderful reviews but unfortunately they were fully booked.
We stayed in Beynac for five nights, Le Petit Versailles, http://www.lepetitversailles.fr/page/eng/accueil.html, enjoyed it very much, including a couple of drives into Sarlat for the market and the self-guided walk. A small town like Beynac might be an easier base than Sarlat for exploring the area by car. There were several restaurants there, but of course you'd have more food choices in Sarlat, including perhaps more options for the kids. We also considered the Hotel le Perigord, http://www.hotelleperigord.eu/hotelperigord/en/, a few miles south of Sarlat on D703, just north of the river and Domme. We didn't stay there because the only place to eat was the hotel itself, but we stopped there for a glass of wine and liked it a lot. I'm thinking it might be more kid-friendly than other places. Has a pool and lots of grounds to run around. If this trip is coming up soon, you may have a hard time finding better than what you've got. But enjoy the fascinating Dordogne.
We loved Hotel Montaigne right at the southern edge of the old center. Parking lot right in front made it easy to get in & out of town. The hotel was a great deal with large rooms, close to the action but just on the edge.
We enjoyed Hotel la Couleuvrine in 2006 and in 2010. The bar and the restaurant were both excellent and parking was very convenient.
Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. We have now made a booking based on your recommendations so thank you!