Hotel Le Provençal

“I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't”

I recently spent a few days at Hotel Le Provençal, and I have mixed feelings about my stay. I genuinely wanted to love this hotel because I believe it has all the potential to become one of the standout properties in this part of France. However, several aspects of the experience left me wondering,… more

I recently spent a few days at Hotel Le Provençal, and I have mixed feelings about my stay. I genuinely wanted to love this hotel because I believe it has all the potential to become one of the standout properties in this part of France. However, several aspects of the experience left me wondering, "Would I come back?" and my answer would probably be no. At least, not for now. The overall impression is that everything revolves around the hotel itself and its incredibly photogenic swimming pool, rather than around the guests. Unfortunately, having one of the most Instagrammable pools on the Mediterranean isn't enough to make up for service that often feels inconsistent and a general lack of attention to guests. The hotel is still undergoing renovations, which inevitably causes some inconvenience. In our case, the fire alarm went off several times during our stay. I never understood why, the first time it happened, the staff insisted it had been triggered by a guest smoking in their room when that was clearly not the case, but never mind. I had booked the smallest room category, which fortunately also came with a lovely little balcony overlooking the village. The room itself reminded me somewhat of certain Japanese hotels in terms of size, but I absolutely loved its intentionally vintage style, as well as the overall design of the hotel. Not having a television wasn't an issue for me, but the lack of a minibar was more noticeable, as was the complete absence of USB charging ports. Even though the hotel is still being renovated, I was surprised to see that several details already require attention: torn curtains, various stains, and a bathroom light fixture that looked as though it was about to fall off and was never repaired during our stay. Greater attention to maintenance would certainly go a long way. Once the renovation work is finished - which, of course, it eventually will be - the remaining issues are of a different nature. The hotel's location, right in the heart of Giens, is charming, but it also means that the pool, the beach, and the paid private parking are all located quite a distance from the main building. Reaching them involves a fairly long walk, with steep slopes and numerous steps along the way. If you're booking expecting direct beach access, you should be aware of this, especially if you have mobility issues or are travelling with a stroller. There is also a rather strange policy regarding beach towels: they are only replaced once a day, ideally by housekeeping (although when my room is being serviced I'm usually already at the beach?), or at reception, where clean towels never seemed to be available. The hotel doesn't offer valet parking, so you'll need to unload your luggage and then walk about ten minutes to park your car yourself. Likewise, I think a shuttle service to the beach, perhaps operating at scheduled times, would be a welcome addition for guests who are unable or simply unwilling to make the walk. The pool area is also completely unserviced. Apart from a lifeguard, there are no staff, which means no drinks or snacks by the pool, not even a water dispenser for guests. I also witnessed two guests being told off for bringing their own food to eat on their sun loungers and being instructed to go elsewhere. If you want something to eat or drink, you have to climb back up to Bar du Soleil (Le Barbecue restaurant was closed during our stay). While pleasant enough, I found the menu rather limited, especially when it came to fresh, summery dishes. In the afternoon it would have been nice to stop for an aperitif, but seeing every table already fully set for dinner hardly felt like an invitation to sit down. Breakfast at La Rascasse was fairly underwhelming. The buffet selection was limited, and the carpet was covered in several large stains, which certainly didn't create the best first impression. My best dining experience was at La Brasserie, where I found the staff to be the friendliest and most attentive in the entire hotel. To sum it up, Le Provençal will undoubtedly be a much more interesting property once the renovation work is complete. If, in addition, the management addresses the many small details that currently detract from the guest experience, it will truly deserve its four-star rating/pricing.

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“Somewhat disappointed”

We were very much looking forward to visiting this hotel but left somewhat disappointed. The staff were very nice and the view from our room was amazing, but there was almost constant noise from the renovation work the whole time we were there. It started early and did not end until about 5:30. It … more

We were very much looking forward to visiting this hotel but left somewhat disappointed. The staff were very nice and the view from our room was amazing, but there was almost constant noise from the renovation work the whole time we were there. It started early and did not end until about 5:30. It sounded like someone was drilling or chipping away at concrete. Made it almost impossible to enjoy sitting on the balcony and inside the room the noise seemed almost louder due to the vibrations. I understand the rates are lower this time of year but the hotel should warn guests that the hotel is under renovation and there will be construction noise.

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