Okalani Bed and Breakfast or Chambres d'hotes
by Helen Perris from Lewes, Sussex.I'm not sure I should be telling you this, I have a feeling a large number of Brightonians and their off spring may be descending on a small French hide-away next summer. But this is between friend's right?
After just one holiday in 6 years and lots of hard work, we decided, at the last minute, that we needed to get away with our 20-month-old daughter Livvie. Somewhere warm and child-friendly. And affordable. That wouldn't necessarily involve holding down a struggling toddler for the best part of 3 hours on a plane, or packing as if for a 6 month expedition to a remote corner of the world with no access to baby wipes and Teletubbies.
Cornwall is of course trop cher during peak school holiday times, not to mention wall to wall with families having a lovely time. OK I thought, we'll nip over to France, what could be easier. After hours of fruitless research on the Internet for a hotel that would be child friendly and nice to adults too, and below 150 Euros a night, I decided to throw in the towel. I was getting stressed about getting relaxed, so what was the point?
And then I found it. Tucked quietly away on a whole page of ABC magazine, was the answer to my prayers. I didn't even stop to check where in France it was. Food and toys for children, beautiful scenery and wine for adults. Perfect. After a series of emails on my part, and a steady response of helpful and friendly ones on Sarha's, co-owner of Okalani, it was booked!
Having taken this step I decided to visit the website, at www.okalani.com which reassured me that we had made the right decision and further increased our excitement. And within minutes of arriving, I knew we had found heaven for a week. In the traditional style of Chambres d'hôtes, Okalani offers a basic bed and breakfast service within the home of the owners, which creates a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and aims to provide exactly the sort of environment you need if you're travelling with small needy people. An additional evening menu is also offered, making the most of regional specialities and local ingredients.
Having tried Sarha's cooking once, we were on the terrace every night to make our way through 5 delicious courses including vegetarian options such as Spinach, pine nut and feta parcel, followed by a very comforting Sticky Toffee Pudding. Livvie was provided with whatever she liked, when she liked, favourites included 3-cheese pasta, spag bol, and imported baked beans!
Our spacious room was kitted out with all the essentials like tea and coffee, bathroom toiletries, but there were lots of extra touches such as a bag of toys for Livvie, which instantly settled her. And of course a baby monitor and cot which made packing much easier. A highchair, bib and cups etc. can also be provided, not to mention buggies, pop-up UVA tents, videos, swim nappies and anything else you can forget, on request.
Our room afforded a stunning view through deep shutters of a looming mountain, and the river, which runs through a portion of Okalani's garden, made secure for children. Within 5 minutes of arriving Livvie was in the paddling pool, fully clothed and developing a crush on Noah, 5-year-old entertainer in residence, who demonstrated on the swings and slides and numerous toys for her benefit, whilst we drank tea and ate cake. Her enchantment was complete when she spotted the chickens residing in a Wendy house, and feeding them her saved up weetabix became a daily pleasure.
Okalani is situated at the edge of the Languedoc National Park in the Tarn region, so there is lots of beautiful countryside to explore, and plenty of sporting activities for those so inclined. Within an hour's drive are the cities of Toulouse and Carcassone, a medieval fortress that floats above the landscape, and 5 minutes away is the bustling market town of Castres. The beach is also just over an hour away, but the nearby Lac du Montagne offers a sandy beach, beautifully clear water, stunning landscape and a café and restaurant so you needn't venture too far.
And for really active families, the nearby aqua park offers slides and funnels for the kids, sunbathing on the lawn with a cappuccino for the adults.
Okalani is much more than a bed and breakfast, we felt inclined to while away the days in the sunny garden, listening to the church in the picturesque village, whilst Livvie was content to play, we read and relaxed, and ate far too much…And once bedtime had dawned, we could really relax as we took an apéritif on the terrace, listened to the owls hooting, and chatted to other guests and our hosts. It felt like staying with friends you haven't met before, except you don't have to do the washing up.I'm already plotting to return next year. And the worse thing about Okalani? You have to leave......
Okalani - South France Bed and Breakfast (Chambres d'hotes)
15 Route de CastresBurlats 81100
Tarn - Midi Pyrenees - South France
Tel: +33(0)563 516 401
Website: www.okalani.com
