• I participated in the adventure of L'Etoile... Yes, I did say adventure because for me it was no longer a job, but a real pleasure ... So, for future trainees, if you want to experience hotel-business, please feel free to join Philippe. So certainly there is work, I will not hide you... between home, the evening service, cooking, maintenance, and contact with the customers, there was never a dull moment. This internship is diversified in terms of tasks, which has attracted my attention immediately when I found the internship offer. This course provides a good overview of life in individual enterprise and all that is manageable for an independent. On a personal level, it allowed me to be more mature because it was the first time I left Paris region for so long... On a professional level, I was able to develop my self, my rigour... Finally, we meet a lot of people what is really great ! I keep very good memories ! Angelique Devaud, University of Marne la Vallée
• I underwent a three months internship at L'Etoile. This experience added tremendously to my professional and personal growing. On the work front, i was able to learn about the planning and operation of an especific branch in the hospitality industry: the bed and breakfast business. Also, this was a great opportunity to practice some skills related to custumer services, such as receptivity, objective thinking and quick problem solving. All the skills i was able to acquire/practice through my experience at L'Etoile have been crucial to the development of my career in the hospitality industry. On the personal side, i was able to apply my french speaking skills, enjoy french cuisine, explore the beautifoul sourroundings in southern France and make many new friends, starting by Philippe. This remarkable, talentous and amusing business man sets the example of how good dosages of creativity and positive attitude may lead you to success, in the professional realm as well as in life. I'll always keep a warm and loving remembrance of those happy days being part of L'Etoile's team." Testimony by Ana Ribeiro who has recently accomplished a Bachelor of Science with concentration in Commercial Recreation and Tourism at Montclair State University (NJ, USA).
• To get to La Bastide-Puylaurent, I took the train and I was impressed by the beautiful scenery of this region. Initially, my internship was scheduled for a month. But finally, I stayed the whole summer. With the innkeeper Philippe Papadimitriou, a good contact is installed. I participated in all the tasks: service, housekeeping, home customers, and even the kitchen. The work was never dull. The sense of team is really important in this business. And we must always remain positive. The evening, after dinner, we were gathered around the fireplace. Cyclists, travellers and hikers who came from the Netherlands, Australia, the United States or Ireland… When you talk to these people, you feel to travel with them. They were raised early in the morning. The breakfast. Apples before leaving on a hike ... "Thank you for your welcome, and who knows, perhaps we will meet again !" - they said. Olga Chulichkova, Université Nancy 2, Langues étrangères appliquées de Metz

• I think getting a chance to work in a french enterprise for me, who just came to France for one year and started french learning for 2 years, is a very lucky thing. I got the email from Philippe saying that he could offer me this internship in L'etoile. At that moment I said yes right away and sent my contract as soon as possible. I became the first person who found an internship in my class, plus, in a real french company. From June 8, 2009, I think my life started changing, I experienced many different and unusual things. I eased in to the working style, with the help from Philippe, and the comfortable atmosphere in L'etoile caught me right after I arrived. I never felt the anxiety or the stress as a new bird, and the 3 months after passed quite easily as well, I was working rhythmically and seeing different customers everyday, talking to them, learning everything I can see or hear with my own eyes and ears. I think this is really a very precious experience for me. L 'etoile is a very successful case as an small sized company in France. As a student of learning business administration, this is a very good company case in practice, the theoretical study at school is for one day to use in reality, to participate. But is doesn't mean that this is a easy job and it's simple, contractually, I must say this is a very challenging job, a good opportunity to practice, because you will be participating every functions and management. Under the influence of Philippe, I think I changed from many aspects, from former attitude of “ not possible” to right now “ perhaps”. I must admit, Philippe gave me a lot of courage to consider and plan the real life I want, to make my wishes come true. I don't know if they are going to happen in the future, but I am dare to do it, it's already been a progress for me. When we were having breaks, we usually chat and have a drink on the terrace, our topics included all kinds of subjects, it's also a very good chance to practice and improve my oral expressions. And Philippe always criticize and give me advices about how did I work recently, which helped me a lot to better recognize myself and self-perfection. In one word, to experience the real french style vacations and enjoy the beautiful country views, and also gormandize french cuisine, it offers a wonderful opportunity. I think I will never forget here, L'etoile and Philippe! Ji Ying Administration des entreprises IAE de l'Université de Poitiers

• When we talk about an internship, the first question comes in our minds is always like this: what are we going to do there? But we never know what happens the next.  We couldn’t plan everything, control everything, because sometimes life makes it for us. As a student doing a master degree in hospitality school, with almost 3 years working experiences in some top hotel groups, eg, Sofitel ( Accor ),  Partouche,  I thought I was ready to take a position in a luxury hotel , even the position as a head of one department. However, is it the career or life that I am looking forward? Is it the real thing that I am going to do in the next 3 years or 10 years? I was wondering. I was waiting an oppotunity which can bring me to a different land, widen my horizon. So this year, I was not planning to work in some high-level hotels, all my previous experience were in 4 star or 5 star hotels, my future won’t be limited. Fortunately, I found Philippe’s website by chance, a guesthouse in south of France, for most hotel professionals, we all have a dream of having our own hotels one day. That place looks wonderful in pictures, and actually I didn’t look through everything on the website, there are too much information for me, but the atmosphere there is like a big family, even including the guests, that impressed me a lot and let me send an email immediately to qpply an internship. Before I signed the contract, I even didn’t ask Philippe about my working assignments. The techniques in hospitality are never difficult, just sometimes you should take more time to practice. The biggest obstacle for me is how to connact with people. As one of the young generation, the communication is always through the internet, in real life we don't like talking with others, we don't even want to be disturbed. It is definitely not the way in this hospitality industry. Another thing, personally I have been living in France already for one year, but I knew so little about this country, I stayed in one college residence, all my friends are foreigners, we speak English everyday in France. Now, let’s go back to the life ( I prefer call it a life rather than an internship) in L’etoile. As I mentioned before, the service, the purchasing, the housekeeping work are not difficulte to learn. I worked for the website every afternoon, it connects to the e-marketing knowledge that I learned before at school, and it is gonna be an advantage for me in my future career. Btw, Philippe has more than 20 websites and has already been working on them more than 15 years. Then, the most most important thing is that I did feel my heart was getting warmer, the subconsciousness of hiding myself  no longer exists, I am willing to talk with the others, knowing how to make them happy to please myself at the same time. Look at Philippe, he always catch everybody’s attention, no matter where he is, he is always the star in the centre. So, ask yourself at first, what are you looking for? If you are not sure or not satisfied about your current situation, just go to try something new, lots of surprises are waiting for you, for me, till now, the piano, many good friends …LOL.  Don’t hesitate, go to L’Etoile, find them by yourself… Hui Shen, Vatel Ecole Supérieur de Commerce et Gestion Hôtellerie et Tourisme de Nîmes

• My summer school
  I've been looking for words to describe my first internship at L'Etoile Guest-House in La Bastide-Puylaurent (Lozere), and I captured them just after a short thinking: "fun, surprising and challenging".
  People make the fun of life, and what we have the most in L'Etoile is people-our customers, the diversity of people brings in so much different information and dynamics, and also it surprises me sometime when I am standing in the other side of the kitchen, the laughter in the dinning room is so loud which gives me the impression that those people were not just met at the table but have been old friends for decades.Besides the fun and surprises of associating with people, I surely was challenged by the work itself, it was not only about how to complete a mission but also how to do it well every single time, and how to develop myself while getting along with people around me. Thanks to the great variety of people I could meet here, doubtlessly I grew my abilities and learned some valuable attitudes. And talking about the attitude, who has the most attitude, or we say "style" in L'Etoile? Philippe, he is like the coach or the captain of the team, determined, generous, passionate and having a good sense of humor. Well, I think he is representing L'Etoile pretty well.This is my real feelings without any decoration, my summer internship gives me a lot, as to understand better the real french people and the real world apart from my desk, the 4 months internship in L'Etoile is more like in a summer school, I get credits from my university and also the credits for my own life.
  But, even after all my words, it is surely not enough to present all what I want to express, you must see those beautiful pictures to understand where my joys are from, and someday be there to see them in your own eyes. Yongsin Bian, Institut d'administration des Entreprises (IAE) de l'Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV

• L'Etoile Guesthouse
• Practical information
• Accommodation and services provided
• Old romantic Hotel
• Impressions and testimonies of stays
• Guestbook
• Google Maps
• Hiking loops
• Round trip by bicycle
• Meet Philippe Papadimitriou
• L'Etoile An adventure in the Cevennes
• International Innkeepers Exchange
• L'Etoile Guesthouse is looking for 1 motivated trainee, with contract of training course, between April 1 and October 1 (at least 3 months). Internship in France

Around L'Etoile (Hiking and area) La Bastide-Puylaurent Lozere, the walking country Cevennes National Park GR7 From St Etienne (Loire) to Lodeve (Herault) GR72 From Col du Bez (Ardeche) to Barre des Cevennes (Lozere) GR70 Stevenson Trail GR70 From Puy en Velay (Haute-Loire) to La Bastide-Puylaurent (Lozere) GR70 From La Bastide-Puylaurent (Lozere) to Ales (Gard) GR700 Regordane Way GR700 From Puy en Velay (Haute-Loire) to Chamborigaud (Gard) GR700 From Chamborigaud to St Gilles (Gard) Roundtrip of Cevenol Hiking in Ardeche and Gard on Le Cevenol Along the Gorges of Allier River Roundtrip of Roujanel Roundtrip of Ardechoise Mountain Roundtrip of Margeride Roundtrip of Gevaudan Roundtrip of Masmejean Valley Roundtrip of Three Lords Summit Villages and Cities of Cevennes and Auvergne GR Long Distance Footpaths Lodging Directory Links exchange Sitemap

Old romantic Hotel with beautiful grounds bordering the Allier River. L'Etoile Guest-House is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche and Cevennes. Hiking trails GR7, GR70 Stevenson, GR72, GR700 Regordane (St Gilles), Cevenol, Roujanel, Margeride, Allier, Ardechoise, Gevaudan and many hiking loops around. A mountain retreat in the South of France. The right place to relax.