Domaine de Ronchinne - Château et Ecuries

Dinner and breakfast were good and plentiful, the service was friendly, and there was a nice choice of wine. The bar had a lovely atmosphere and the recommendations there were great. But the buffet got chaotic, with children crowding and pushing, and nobody seemed to be supervising them. The estate is beautifully set in nature, and check-in was welcoming. Our room was clean, cozy, and as described, though a strong draft around the window meant the heater had to run constantly. We could use the wellness area while waiting for the room, which wasn't ready until 4 p.m., but that area was a letdown. The changing room was dirty, the wooden paths were worn, and only one small, poorly maintained sauna was open. The larger sauna and outdoor bath were closed. There was no drinking water or cups, and the hammam hose didn't work. Noisy children made it hard to relax. The estate, location, room, food, and staff were all good, but wellness deserves only one star as it is now. Better supervision or a minimum age for children at the buffet and in the wellness area would help. With some improvements, this could be a five-star stay.

The best part was the surrounding nature, with its huge old trees. We had a lovely time and will come back. We rented one of the insolites, a beautiful space with a great big bath, and enjoyed the pool. It's quite large, though it can get crowded with this many guests, which didn't bother us. The mini golf is old, but super fun. We had both breakfast and dinner, and the food was tasty and fresh, from local producers. They could replenish the plates more often so latecomers still get to try most of the dishes.

The chateau is stunning and worth visiting. The wellness pool and hot pot were great, and there's plenty to do, including tennis, Boules, mini golf, and board games. Maison du Jardinier is the nicest place to stay, with gorgeous decor and a warm open fire in the middle. The saunas are small, with room for two people. The hammam is a little steam room without a hose to rinse the seats, which felt unhygienic. At reception, the approach was basically to check in, take your keys, and work everything else out yourself. Thanks to the helpful girl who upgraded our room so we could have three separate beds. And thanks to the lovely girl in the Chateau office at the back, who made me coffee twice when nobody was at the bar or lobby. The dinner buffet was 50 euros, a lot when you're on your own with two teenagers who don't eat much.

The grounds were peaceful and lovely, with lots of family activities, and the chateau itself is beautiful. But our room was awful, more like a storage closet than a proper room, looking out onto an exterior storage area. It was dark and cold, and mosquitoes kept us battling through most of the night. Our windows were shut, but there were wide gaps around the exterior door that seemed to let them in. We could hear everything from next door through the paper-thin bathroom wall. Maybe the other rooms are nicer, but we doubt we'll come back to find out.