Bonne Terre Cottage: Louisiana Cajun Country Artists' Retreat

• Buffalo, NY retired travelers

  Buffalo, NY retired travelers

  • Guest Buffalonian
  • Date of stay 10/16/12
  • Review Submitted 05/29/13
  This property was wonderful. It was a whole house separated from the owner's home by a large pasture with donkeys and chickens. It had originally been the owner's home which they had built and lived in. It was beautifully maintained. The area was quiet and tranquil. We spent more time there than we usually do when we travel because we enjoyed the house so much. The owner was one of the most hospitable people we have ever met. She checked on us and our needs. She gave us suggestions for buying food or eating out. She had stocked the kitchen with many items for our stay including coffee, juice, water, and local bakery products. The washer and dryer were in the house and easy to use. We would go back again if we were in the area and would recommend it to others enthusiastically.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• Louisiana Country Heaven!

  Louisiana Country Heaven!

  • Guest dogmama
  • Date of stay 04/26/13
  • Review Submitted 05/02/13
  My husband and I had the pleasure of staying at Jen and Todd's little gem of a cottage for four blissful days. We were down for the Festival International in La Fayette and boy, did we need the quiet and serene surroundings of Bonne Terre after a day of festival revelry! Horses in the beautiful pasture, goats and chickens too - right outside our window. It couldn't have been more relaxing - we felt our bones and muscles relax just minutes after we'd get "home" each afternoon. Jen was an incredible hostess (and very sweet!), and made sure we wanted for nothing. We will be back!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• Perfection, as advertised.

  Perfection, as advertised.

  • Guest dj
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 04/18/13
  We use VRBO quite a bit and there is a large range in acurracy of the descriptions and reviews. Bonne Terre was exactly as advertised and reviewed. The setting was superb. The cottage was fabulous. We had absolutely everything we needed and so much more. My favorite moment had to be the first morning when I sat out on the porch in my pajamas drinking coffee and watching and listening to the birds. I could feel my body decompressing and relaxing. Thank you Jen for providing the perfect getaway. We will be back.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• A Louisiana haven!

  A Louisiana haven!

  • Guest Ruth & Peejay
  • Date of stay 02/05/13
  • Review Submitted 02/19/13
  I first chanced upon Bonne Terre’s website about 2 years ago and would often return to gaze longingly at the photos, re-read the gushing testimonials of its guests, and wonder if it could possibly be as idyllic as it looked. This delightful haven, however, is every bit as peaceful and soul-restoring as it appears. Right from Jen’s warm welcome, we began to experience for ourselves just what all the fuss was about. The amenities in this beautiful retreat are astonishing; I struggled to think of a single thing we might have needed during our stay that wasn’t already here. I’m a keen cook and a big fan of Cajun cuisine, and one of the many reasons I longed to stay here was to be able to shop for authentic, locally-produced ingredients (well, there ain’t a lot of Andouille or Boudin to be found in grey old London town!), cart it all back to my own Louisiana kitchen and cook up a storm! Let’s face it, we’ve all stayed in self-catering accommodation before where, unless you possessed MacGyver-like improvisational skills when faced with the usual motley array of ‘kitchen utensils’ you were more likely to end up in ER with a blunt corkscrew in your thigh than actually managing to enjoy that nice bottle of Pinot noir you picked up at the market. No such problems here; I lost count of the times I muttered, “Ooh, I could really do with a… oh, there’s one!” The thoughtful provision didn’t end in the kitchen either; from gorgeous artisanal soaps and creams in the bathroom to the wide choice of music in the living room, every small pleasure one might want to indulge in when getting down to the serious business of relaxation has been anticipated and provided for. Want to soak in a claw-foot bathtub with a good book? Check. Want to dance to Clifton Chenier while preparing Jambalaya? Check. Want to review your stocks and shares portfolio using the cottage’s own wi-fi? Strange notion of a vacation you have, but, check! I found it a gratifyingly immersive place to be too, surrounded by evidence of Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage; local artists’ work adorning the walls, Zydeco music on the turntable … all this, and we haven’t even ventured beyond the cottage gates yet! It sounds amazing, but however eager you think you might be to leap in your car and go exploring the rest of Louisiana, every time you do so you will feel some reluctance to leave the embracing charms of Bonne Terre behind … this place has nestled deep in my heart and I cannot wait ‘til the day I retur

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• Bonne Terre

  Bonne Terre

  • Guest Janna
  • Date of stay 02/10/13
  • Review Submitted 02/16/13
  On our leisurely trip across country from Maine to CA, we tried a last minute booking. Despite complications of departing visitors, cleaning, and the host's flu, arrangements were made! My husband and I enjoyed a very quiet, comfortable three night stay in this sweet clean, well stocked cottage. Our host's husband was very helpful and most welcoming, providing detailed information on great local tastes and sites. A delightful place to stay. Thank you!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+.

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• Charmes de "Bonne Terre"

  Charmes de "Bonne Terre"

  • Guest Fred
  • Date of stay 01/20/13
  • Review Submitted 01/23/13
  Quand j'entre dans le cottage de "Bonne Terre", le temps semble être suspendu. Tout y rappelle la nature, ses bois intérieurs ainsi que le joli jardin avec le chant des oiseaux et les différents animaux qui animent les champs d'à côté. Le soleil brillant au firmament m'enlace dans sa chaleur et les chants divers que font les carillons poussés par le vent me transportent vers d'autres contrées, celle de la reflexion voire de la paix intérieure. Le temps est arrêté et c'est comme ci soudain je retrouvais un petit coin de paradis perdu. Un jour....je reviendrai à "Bonne Terre". Fred

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• Delightful!

  Delightful!

  • Guest Charlotte D.
  • Date of stay 12/01/12
  • Review Submitted 01/10/13
  My husband and I stayed at Bonne Terre for 3 nights following a Caribbean cruise. I can honestly say that our three days in this charming cottage were more delightful than the week on the ship. The cottage is just as it is presented, if not more charming. Morning coffee on the wide veranda watching the horses, goats and hens appear at the fence out of the fog was a treat. I felt like I'd known Jen all my life; she is that friendly and personable. She provided us with breakfast ingredients when we arrived and gave us fresh eggs when we left! She even provided us with a CD of Swamp Pop, Zydeco, and Cajun music which we played on our long drive to Illinois. Sightseeing highlights were the Evangeline State Park, a non-commercial and educational local swamp tour, Shadows-on-the-Tesche Plantation with original furnishings in New Iberia, and Avery Island with the Jungle Gardens. We want to return in the spring sometime to see the nesting Snowy Egrets there as well as spring blossoms. Camellias were blooming in December. In addition we learned about growing rice, raising crawfish in the rice fields, and sugar cane harvesting in the area. Get out of New Orleans and experience the friendliness and history of Bonne Terre and the Breaux Bridge area. You'll love the food, too! Read Longfellow's epic poem Evangeline before going, even if you read it in 8th grade like I did. You have a different perspective now.

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• Three Sister's Getaway Weekend

  Three Sister's Getaway Weekend

  • Guest Ann
  • Date of stay 10/26/12
  • Review Submitted 11/07/12
  We are three busy sisters that lead very full lives. We wanted to have a quiet, relaxing weekend with a little wine, laughs, and bonding! We heard about the little shops in Breaux Bridge, so decided to stay close to home. We knew that we wanted to be able to relax and maybe do a little cooking, so our search led us to Bonne Terre Cottage. This was the best experience ever. Jen is most accommodating and organized! It was a little slice of "heaven." Every time we looked in another direction, we noticed another little "treasure"! It was the perfect spot for us and the cottage was great! I could live there and be very happy! The porch is awesome and the bathtub was wonderful! We could have spent the whole weekend in our pj's! I would (and did) recommend this cottage to anyone who wants to "kick back" and relax! It was a sad moment on Sunday afternoon when we had to say our good-bye's and head back to our busy lives. We are going to plan another weekend at Bonne Terre Cottage! It was definitely worth it! Jen Rocks!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+.

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• No need to go anywhere else - very relaxing

  No need to go anywhere else - very relaxing

  • Guest Nature seekers
  • Date of stay 10/20/12
  • Review Submitted 10/24/12
  We just had the best long weekend away from hustle and bustle, enjoying the beautiful Bonne Terre Cottage. Jen was waiting for us when checking in on our first day, and she was the warmest and most welcoming host we have ever met. She gave us a tour of the cottage, explaining everything we needed to know, and if we still had questions, we were able to find answers in her neat binder, which was full of important information, showing that Jen really cares about her guests. Besides that, she was only a phone call away to assist us if needed. We found the cottage exactly as pictured on the website, and when we entered the home, we were immediately captured by its personality, which we felt reflects the hosts at its best. There are little treasures everywhere throughout, inside and outside. Each must have its own story. Spending time on the back porch was so relaxing, watching the horses and goats feed and getting frequent visits by the chickens, the little rooster and the cat. There are at least 20 bird feeders throughout the yard. We saw Carolina Wrens, Eastern Blue Birds, Hummingbirds, Sparrows, House Finches, Chickadees, Eastern Wood Pewees, and Eastern Phoebes enjoying the little paradise, probably watched by two Cooper Hawks circling over the property. We even discovered a tree frog hiding in the ashtray out on the deck. You wouldn’t have to leave this place ever to be happy. The location is ideal for sightseeing as well as it is close to many interesting places. We especially enjoyed a 2-hour swamp tour on Lake Martin, which is only 20 minutes away. Don’t miss the sunset! Our experience was better than we ever expected. You won’t be disappointed spending time at Bonne Terre Cottage.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• Writing Retreat

  Writing Retreat

  • Guest Aspiring Writer
  • Date of stay 08/11/12
  • Review Submitted 08/12/12
  A little piece of paradise is nestled down Lawless Tauzin Road outside of Breaux Bridge. The drive is well worth it. Upon arrival you will see a sugar kettle pond of goldfish. The solid wooden cottage feels better than home. I settled right down with my laptop placed on the writing desk, looked out at the pond beyond where a great white egret was coming in for a landing. Then two hummingbirds fought over the red feeder. Nature, art, scents of lavender and wood all inspire good writing and a quiet retreat. Even though the cottage only sleeps two people, there are plenty of spaces for writers to spread out for a retreat, the inviting porch swing, the hanging hammock, the dining table nook, or nestle on the futon. The cottage is a poem, full of personal details that offer inspiration to the universal themes.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+.

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2 people $110.00 per night - $50.00 added for an extra person
Two-night minimum stay required; A 50% deposit confirms your reservation hold
$135.00 per night during festival periods and holidays - $50.00 added extra person
$500.00-$800.00 per week with discounts for extended stays
Sorry - No credit cards accepted. *All guests must be 25 or older.
* Requested dates will be marked as tentative until signed contract and security
deposit is received. (Damage deposit is required & is refundable after inspection)
E-mail us to inquire about our monthly rates. No children or pets please. 

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.