I have read the reviews of Hotel Bissonnier and just wanted to add my own viewpoint. I have stayed at Hotel Bissonnier on numerous occasions. This is because my Husband and I used it as our bolthole whilst looking for and purchasing a property close to Gourdon.

Now, to qualify - I'm 34 and I've travelled to the Americas, Oz, much of Europe, Asia and beyond (is there a beyond?). So I've stayed in some nice places and some not so nice places.

Why all the background info? Well, it seems that it's necessary to demonstrate a degree of authenticity because evidently a fellow reviewer deems that previous positive comments for Hotel Bissonnier may be, shall we say, a bit shifty. I'm telling you, I've genuinely stayed there and this is my account:

We were originally recommended Hotel Bissonnier by another hotel we’d enquired with which was full. Bad luck for them, because after our first visit we never chose to stay anywhere other than at the Hotel Bissonnier.

Whenever we booked at Hotel Bissonnier we did so directly and without any problems. On arrival we were met with much courtesy and offers of assistance whenever required. We had numerous excellent meals (which can come as a relief after too much ‘Quercy’ cuisine) and a perfectly clean room. Yes, the activity from the street can be heard from some rooms at the front of the Hotel, but then this is Gourdon – a market town. Management and staff were all extremely courteous and on more than one occasion the manager helped to translate for us whilst we sifted through a thick wad of French property documentation.

I completely appreciate that Hotel Bissonnier is probably more suitable for a certain type of vacation. Some of the reviews I've read here I am completely unable to equate with my own very good experiences. If you plan to explore the area, the cuisine, the architecture and the history of the Northern Lot region and need a friendly, clean, hospitable place to shoot the breeze and rest your head, then Bissonnier is probably your kind of place.

As for me, I shall always be extremely grateful for the very warm and hospitable welcome we received at Hotel Bissonnier, for all the help given and also for the fabulous food and wine consumed.

recently stayed at the Bissonnier on my way to Spain, food was great and well priced, with a modern twist to the usually heavy food of this region.
The rooms were clean and comfortable, great value for money.
The staff were extremely friendly, helpfull and english speaking, highly recommended

Unlike some of the reviewers of this hotel, we stayed at this hotel and found everything more than satisfactory. And no we are not connected to the hotel as some less than trusting reviewers may think when someone disagrees with their opinion. I stayed with my husband and teenage son for 2 nights as we were touring in the area. The rooms are perfectly adequate (the bath was small but good fun!) the food was very good and the service was friendly. This is not the Ritz but then it doesn't charge Ritz rates. I have stayed in several hotels that seem to have had poor reviews posted in Trip Advisor and think that sometimes expectations do not match prices paid, and that the attitude you arrive with sets the scene. i would not hesitate to recommend this hotel.

Firstly, whilst I obviously cannot prove it, it looks suspiciously like someone connected with this hotel appears to have been writing reviews here. This is an excellent site with the caveat that you should not believe everything you read - good or bad. I say that only because I've been caught out before by some suspiciously good but non-specific reports of other hotels.

We stayed here last June, and would never choose to stay here again- the food is pricey, rooms smokey (cigarette smoke rises up from the bar into the bedrooms), staff rude (except one guy - Derek- who was really friendly and helpful and was at pains to make up for the manager's utter rudeness to us.)

Our room was extremely noisy on the main street- affected by the market at the weekend where stall holders set up at 5 in the morning. When we asked to move, the manager refused, and was incredibly rude (even though it didn't appear to be full). We were so insulted that we tried to change hotel but everywhere else in the town was full as it was high season, and we wanted to stay in the town because it is so pretty. We eventually managed to convince the manager by begging him, and he reluctantly moved us to another room at the back, which was less noisy.

We were charged London prices for food and extras such as bottled water.
Having said that, the rooms were reasonably clean, and we would have stayed a little longer but for an abusive outburst by the manager that actually made my wife cry!

People who like to party and enjoy a lively atmosphere may like to stay here as the bar had live music and went on until late - but if you are looking for somewhere to sleep or for professional customer service don't stay here.