We wanted to stay in the vicinity of Bayeux , as part of our recent tour of Brittany and Normandy. We were very attracted to page 325 in the Rick Steves 2014 France Book, "La Ferme du Pressoir" (the cider press farm). Per the book, the owner is Odile, and she only speaks French. I could not get a connection to the website, www.bandnormandie.com, nor the e-mail address, laferme du [email protected]. I then searched for the name and found a link through "Gites (cottages) de France". I sent a request in my best high school French, and received a reply from Odile, confirming our dates. She asked that I pay a deposit via wire transfer, which I did (cumbersome and expensive).
We arrived early evening the date of our intended reservation, only to learn that there are two fermes du pressoirs, both in Normandy, and both owned by women named Odile, who only speak French. I had managed to reserve with M. Odile Anfrey near Honfleur, in Conteville. I thought I had reserved with the other one, near Villers Bocage. I learned that this owner is Odile Delalande, 14310 St. Louet Sur Seulles.
M. Delalande was extremely helpful and kind to my wife and me. Fortuanetly, she had room. She called M. Anfrey and explained the confusion, and that we would be staying with M. Delalande instead. We enjoyed two wonderful nights there, before and after our all day tour of the D-Day beaches and Normandy battle sites. She also has several military history books, covering the great WWII tank battle between the British and German forces, that demolished nearby Villers Bocage.
Since returning, I have written to M. Anfrey, hoping to get our deposit returned. Lesson learned.