Chambre d’hôtes
In France, bed and breakfast accommodation is called Chambre d’hôtes. This literally means guest’s bedroom, and is genuinely like staying as a guest in a friend or family member’s house. Like your average B&B, breakfast is provided, but slightly less common is the idea that the owners will often sit down with you to enjoy the meal. This was new to us, but we absolutely loved it.
The owners at Hello Velo are Jo, Greg, and their son Solomon. They are originally from England but made the move to Burgundy after falling in love with the location ten years ago. They’ve built both the accommodation and the accompanying bike hire business (hence the velo in Hello Velo) from scratch, renovating their barn-style house from an empty shell to a comfortable and welcoming home.
As a family home there are many features that meant our stay at Hello Velo was a highlight of our time in France. Although the rooms are basic – there’s no tv or guest wifi – this meant that we felt like we could really relax and unwind in ways that we just don’t have the time for in our hectic lives back home. We went for bike rides, read books in the beautiful garden, and watched shooting stars in the night sky. Even our dog Liquorice was welcomed into the family with open arms, especially by Solomon.