Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Unfortunately, we did not have the experience we were hoping for at Le Vallon de Valrugues. I think this hotel is misclassed -- it's a solid 4-star experience, but otherwise the luxury is largely skin-deep. Also, the art around the property is egregious and they really need to get rid of those tacky country flags outside The aspects that met a 5-star standard for us were: 1. The quality of the steak and vegetables at dinner; 2. The overall aesthetic of the outdoor areas (though much of this can be attributed to the natural beauty of Provence); 3. The bed sheets. These are some areas we found especially disappointing: 1. We were placed in a room directly over what we can only assume was the utility area and/or loading dock of the premises. We actually wouldn't have minded the view itself if it hadn't been for the excessive amount of mechanical noise first thing in the morning. As we only stayed one night and were eager to leave, we didn't raise this issue with management. 2. Mandatory valet is not ideal or accessible for everyone who is travelling by car. For people who require more time and personal space -- especially after a long journey -- it's very uncomfortable to have members of staff hovering over you while you disembark. I think more awareness and discretion around the actual needs and preferences of the guests in this regard would improve the quality of service. 3. While most of the staff were courteous, we found our server at The Valrugues Bar to be excessively rude and obnoxious. When we asked to sit outside, this Particular Server insisted that reservations for the outdoor area were fully booked for the entire evening. Not only was this the opposite of what hotel reception had advised us, but we couldn't help noticing that more than half the outdoor tables were empty for the 2 hours or so we were there. Perhaps we can just chalk that one up to quirky seating operations. The rest of the experience, however, was less ambiguous. Despite the rest of the staff being proficient enough in English to help manage our stay and the dinner menu including an English version, this Particular Server claimed not to speak any English at all and then acted like he didn't understand my basic French -- which thus far has been sufficient enough to get me around the entire rest of the country. I may not be able to orchestrate a rocket launch in French, but I can definitely order a meal. Then when we ordered our food, this Particular Server actually PUSHED BACK to say he didn't think what we were ordering was suitable (we wanted to share a salad and a steak) and launched into a long explanation *in French* about what we *ought* to order. Funny behavior for someone who seems so aware of dealing with people who don't speak French. Another behavior we found quite aggressive is that every time he passed our table -- meaning not when he was coming to address us or drop off a drink, but simply passing by to get elsewhere -- he would DRUM HIS HANDS on t

Le Vallon De Valrugues is situated in a beautiful spot in St. Remy. Perfectly located for day trips to towns in Provence. The outdoor restaurant and pool are very nice after a day of exploring. Weather permitting, the delicious breakfast is served outdoors (fantastic buffet of wonderful fruits, cheeses, breads, cereals, etc.). While it is all very nice, the original hotel building could use a bit of a renovation and the new building has a bit of a smell issue. We began our stay in the new building and after 24 hours, moved to the original hotel building because the staff was unsure of when the problem could be solved. The original building, while very nice had its own issues - some of the tiles in the bathroom were lose and falling off and on our last night, there was a leak in the ceiling. We do our research prior to trips and Le Vallon not only has good reviews, it is a member of the Small Leading Hotel Group which generally indicates a level of service and accommodation. Unfortunately this time we were a bit disappointed. The staff is professional and knowledgable. It was a pleasure figuring out our plans for the day with Roman! There is shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the room. There is a coffee machine with pods and a minibar.

The hotel setting is beautiful the surrounding area was typical Provonce. The room was light and airy, we had a terrace with a charming outlook. Breakfast was fantastic the food selection and staff added to this experience. The nightly room serving with fresh towels and water was appreciated. The linen, bed and amenities were first rate. The spa was packed with options including a gym with the latest equipment. The pool area and grounds were delightful. We used the shuttle to the village which was very handy as we ate lunch and dinner there. People did walk to the village we didn’t as the streets are narrow with no footpaths.

The concierge and reception were very good, welcoming, efficient and helpful. They called up the shuttle within a few minutes every time wherever we were, we found that really useful. The room was spacious and comfortable, the bed was excellent. The bathroom and separate loo worked fine. Everything was well designed and cleaning service was top notch (if a bit over zealous in changing towels etc). We only used the pool area once but it was lovely and the bar was a good spot for a snack and drink, with pleasant service. The breakfast buffet was good, varied and plentiful.

Our stay in Villa Marie was very nice. Great villa with hotelservice and that service was fantastic! Very good airco, beds and bathroom. Kitchen ok, we used it often. Only disappointment was the pool. It was large and the water had a nice temperature but it had no part where you could stand. So when you want to have a pool for very good swimming it’s great, but we like to play with a ball, etc. and one of us can’t swim so that was difficult.

Beautiful hotel great customer service, the pool is gorgeous. Fabulous 5 min location from the centre great shuttle service from the hotel to the square. If I had to fault anything the rooms could do with a slight update starting to look marked and dated.

A great hotel for families where the kids can enjoy the large, heated pool and have ice cream in the pool bar, and play in the large garden, whilest not compromising the parents wishes of beautiful, provencial surroundings, ambiance, food and wine. The perfect combo for us. The kids absolutely loved the breakfast buffet, which was a bit on the sweet side for me, but I really enjoyed the staff who always was quick to offer me a hot drink. We stayed for a week and really enjoyed the restaurant at night. The best night was the night when the musicians came and played. I think they could have live music every night in july. Nothing special on july 14th. The junior suite was a little snug, but we recieved flowers, wine, macrons and fruit apon arrival. A nice touch. And cleaning was fenoumenal! Heads up: extra charges for childrens beds and childrens breakfast on top of the rate you have booked, even when booking for 2 kids inkluding breakfast. A little strange. Have stayed in some of the nicest 5 star hotels in the south of france, and this hotel was nearly there amongst our favourites

The rooms and service in the hotel certainly don’t do justice to the restaurant, which is very good. Service in the hotel (reception and rooms) is no better than any 3 star hotel even though they charge 5 star prices! The rooms are very small and basically furnished (like 70’s flatpack) and badly in need of updating. The safety box was Iccked when we arrived and they still couldn’t get it to work after an hour; the fridge leaked water onto the floor, which they mopped up when I pointed out the problem but it still provided no cooling; no bottle opener in the room and could only get someone to come open a bottle rather than leave us a bottle opener. By contrast the service by the restaurant staff was very good and the food was very good value for a Michelin so I would recommend the restaurant but not the hotel.