Domaine des Hautes Fagnes

We chose the romantic stay and it was just what we needed. The included 30-minute massage was great. The spa has plenty to choose from, with several saunas, a pool and four jacuzzis. You may have to wait for a spot in one, depending on how busy it is. We were very happy with the food too, and the restaurant had a lovely atmosphere. The staff were really nice :)

The wellness center was the main reason we booked, and it was the highlight of our stay. Our package gave us three hours to use all the facilities. Access is for adults until 5 p.m.; children and teens up to 17 can come in from 5 to 8 p.m. There's plenty to do nearby, including walking trails, if you need to fill the day. A robe, slippers and towel cost €22 to rent as a bath set, so next time I'll bring my own. We booked two nights for three people, with breakfast and three hours at the wellness center, for €217 per night. That's good value to me, and the package can be tailored to what you need. We had a good stay and managed to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Our family room for me and my two teenage sons was spacious, comfortable and well equipped for the two days. The location is remote, beautiful and peaceful, and the staff were attentive and helpful, speaking French and English. Dinner at De Brasserie was good, though we waited at least 30 minutes; with drinks and wine, it got a bit expensive. The staff there were friendly and helpful too, and generally spoke both languages. Breakfast was a nice buffet, included in our package. You need to reserve dinner and breakfast time slots when you arrive, or online if you book that way.

We slept OK, though the pillows were awful. The bathroom was large, clean and nice, while the rooms themselves were small, with no fridge or AC. No fan either, and no ventilation at all, so it was stuffy and very hot. There were no window screens, and the night turned into a mosquito festival. They'd left a bottle of warm water, capped, but no opener. The setting is lovely and the staff are super nice. The spa was clean and fine, if nothing fancy. Dinner was very good and reasonably priced. Breakfast had a generous buffet, but flies were buzzing around everywhere. I didn't see traps, zap lights or even a fan to keep them off the food. All in all, it was an OK stay, but I wouldn't come back.

The worst part was the service, which let us down at every turn. When we went to check in, the clerk passed us and said he'd be there in a second. We waited in the hallway for half an hour with all our bags. At the brasserie, our cocktails took so long that they came after our meals, and the wine we ordered arrived when we'd finished eating. The next day at the restaurant, they forgot our desserts, a cheese platter and a colonel, which was just a scoop of sorbet in a shot of alcohol. Those took over 45 minutes to arrive. Spa arrangements were just as confusing. Nobody explained what to do, and communication between the hotel and spa desks was poor, so we had to walk back and forth to our room three times. We weren't told at reception that bathrobes had to be rented for entry. They mentioned lockers, but those require a 1 or 2 euro coin, or you can't use them. The area is amazing, but the hotel's view is underwhelming. The rooms are simple, though nice enough, and we booked two nights with a day at the spa. The facilities were decent but didn't justify the price. Everything costs extra, and the whole stay felt set up to charge you at every step. For the service we got, it was far too expensive.