Thalacap Île de Ré - Thalasso & Spa

Good position but otherwise just ok. Located at the end of the island it is pretty remote. Hotel was clean. Good outdoor pool Breakfast ok but not a show stopper. Limited restaurants nearby so if you (like me) don’t fancy a buffet, then you must get struggle at the hotel.

Do not believe all you read! The hotel is tired and lacks staff. We came for one-night and were looking forward to checking in and then not moving until the end of the following day just to chill. Unfortunately this was not to be. We found ourselves a nice spot by the pool and we're going to spend the afternoon there. The whole area is tired without a working toilet and at around 5pm the locals are then allowed in to use the pool too taking all sunbeds. The water in the pool is very cold and this topped our afternoon off the hotel has a bar but is only open when the restaurant is so therefore during the afternoon if you require a drink you can only purchase a coca cola or bottle of water from reception. When questioned they replied we don't have a bar only if the restaurant is open!!!! I have never been to a hotel where you cannot sit by the pool and have a cold drink! That evening we decided to go out to the local area and have a drink then head back to the hotel for something to eat and drink. Upon walking into the 25% occupied hotel restaurant and asking for a table at 8.20pm we were asked had we booked? Which we replied no we were not advised to and that we were residents. The restaurant manager was so very rude and refused to try and accommodate us or help us. We returned to reception who then tried to find us somewhere to eat. We then asked if she could speak to the restaurant for us which she did but the restaurant manager was so very rude and shouted at her. We did end up with a table and the food was OK but not worth the 38 euro each that was charged. It was bland and not particularly hot. The mille feuille dessert was lovely but was one leaf of pastry topped with piped cream. Certainly not million leaves of pastry! As others have commented breakfast is not much better, 20 mins waiting for bacon and then if you got some you were lucky but you could easily get a glass of wine and oysters for breakfast! The restaurant manager again was rude and again we were an inconvenience, his staff were sad and uncommunicative and exactly at 10am when breakfast ended everything was removed preventing anyone who arrived any later than 0945 to get anything to eat. Fawlty Towers springs to mind. The lack of access to drinks during the afternoon and the exceptionally rude restaurant manager are only 2 reasons not to return but then there was also the lack of air conditioning in the rooms, the pathetic shower in the room and the very cold and odd swimming pool. I would advise to just to visit the thalasso spa only for the day! I will never remember this hotel break in a positive way and would recommend those thinking of staying to not. There are not any shops or bars close by you will need to take a good 15min walk.

Today (23rd June) we experienced the worst bus service and bus driver in our lives (and we have travelled the world). We purchased return tickets from Portes en Re to St Martin en Re, for ourselves and our pet spaniel. Absolutely no problems or issues - so far so good. Had a great day looking around St Martin, including excellent lunch at the harbour. As planned headed off to catch the 1653 bus return, went to board showing our return tickets to be confronted with a driver who simply wouldn't let us on the bus. Next bus was in 2 hours and we were 20 km from our destination. The fact we had return tickets and had travelled without issue to St Martin meant absolutely nothing to this individual. He just left us standing. We spoke to another driver who was there and he simply couldn't believe it. We went back to Tourist Information to complain and work out how we would get back if we could go on the bus this afternoon which we had gone on in the morning. They phoned the Bus Company and wait for it they said and I quote "oh yes this is NORMAL" we leave it to the drivers to decide if a dog can go on the bus or not. In summary the Ile de Re to La Rochelle Bus Company NORMAL service is to sell a return ticket take people one way and leave them to make there own way home!! WOW - and admit this is quite normal! I will leave it there - make you own decisions folks but if you travel with a dog be prepared for a long walk back. The only good news in all this was a lovely lady called Laura at Tourist information managed to sort us out even offering to drive us back personally - Shame the bus driver / Company with whom we had a contract don't have anything like the same levels of service.