Domaine De Fontenille - Fontenille Collection

“Amazing experience”

I cannot say enough positive things about this property and the staff. We had a magical time here as a family. The food was delicious. The room comfortable and spacious. The hotel is also by far the cleanest property I have ever stayed at.

“Why oh Why did they let the ambition die?”

Through wrought iron gates, you catch a glimpse of the buttermilk colour building with its green shutters. Your heart races with anticipation and yet sadly this was the highlight of my stay. Somewhere along the way this beautiful hotel lost the plot. There must have been someone who once dreamt … more

Through wrought iron gates, you catch a glimpse of the buttermilk colour building with its green shutters. Your heart races with anticipation and yet sadly this was the highlight of my stay. Somewhere along the way this beautiful hotel lost the plot. There must have been someone who once dreamt of creating a truly exceptional hotel but along the way that flame has been extinguished and mediocrity has been allowed to reign. This is a beautiful canvas, lovely grounds, charming looking buildings and rooms with tall ceilings. But who cut corners on the lighting in the rooms. A smattering of rickety Ikea lamps, some randomly spaced spots and you are left rummaging for your glasses because you can't read a thing. Those eco-friendly pump bottles in the showers continue to vex me, but just shower gel and shampoo in a luxury hotel? Until you realise someone dropped a small toothpaste shaped no brand white tube of conditioner in the shower as an after-thought. Never mind you say, it's a spacious bathroom with two sinks. So ablutions done you head down to the terrace for what you expect will be a dining tour de force. Breakfast is a an all buffet affair of fruit, bread, cheese and cold cuts. There were eggs and small baskets in which to boil them but someone seems to have pinched the machine into which you boil your eggs. You want a hot breakfast, try the Premier Inn down the road - they probably do it but not here. Coffee - tepid and made from nasty and cheap beans. Perhaps I am too gluttonous for the French breakfast scene so I took that on my chin. Set myself up for a lovely dinner after a long day in the Provencal Sun. A motley collection of tables, chairs greets you and I've seen better decked out pub gardens than this terrace. The sadness is amplified in the evening when you notice that the genius in charge of creating an ambience has once again raided the IKEA bargain of the weak spotlight bin in eye piercing white. So it's more a visit to a dentist than a posh dinner. You can though dine under fairly lights and on a charming table for 85 EUR a head as you surrender all choice to the chef. Oh did I mention no table linen or lighting on the table. Nevertheless the food was well presented and redeemed the ambience, but it made my heart ache all the more. Perhaps we organise a gofundme campaign for the F&B Manager to visit Finca Cortesin to see how a proper meal service is done. Someone had envisaged a garden which was well planted and there are signs pointing you to an eco-bio kitchen garden. Along with the rest of the charm in this hotel, that kitchen garden died out a long time ago. The green house lies open and the herb garden overrun with weeds. I am sure there is a fruit and veg wholesaler out there who is doing very well from the current state of affairs. You are though helpfuly directed to see the donkeys in the field if you like. The gardens of Gibbs Farm this is not. Need I say more about a pool that never sees a human hand. They dunk a robot in at the end of the day and he does his best but he's not really equipped to deal with the bugs. One cries at what could have been but the ambition and vision has been firmly yanked out of this hotel and it's been dragged back into 4 star mediocrity. You wanted Sean Connery - you got George Lazenby. Oh - and I am not sure when this post will pop up as the Wi-fi - non-existent.

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“A beautiful place to relax”

Environment- The terrace where we dined at was very well maintained with a beautiful view. After dinner, people can stroll around the small garden and vineyard area just to soak in the environment. Staff- the staff members were very helpful. One of our travel adapters wasn't working. One of the ma… more

Environment- The terrace where we dined at was very well maintained with a beautiful view. After dinner, people can stroll around the small garden and vineyard area just to soak in the environment. Staff- the staff members were very helpful. One of our travel adapters wasn't working. One of the male staff greeted us at the door and offered to take our luggage to our room. The hotel staff lent us one when we asked. Food- The salad that we had for dinner contained ingredients that were very fresh. We had breakfast buffet in the morning. There were fly repellent fans to shoo away the flies from resting on the food. It would be better if more were used.

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