Hôtel Le Grand Large

The service was incredible, and I had a wonderful time here. The setting is beautiful, the bed and shower are good, and the swimming pool is the best. Breakfast and the restaurant were yummy too. You can rent bikes and use them till late at night. The staff are very flexible, and they organise navettes to the ferry for you and/or your luggage.

We went for a birthday lunch, not a hotel stay, after someone local recommended the place. The large terrace has a spectacular view of the sea and cliffs, with a fresh breeze. There were several waiters, and the head listened to everyone's choices without writing anything down. As she said, "you will know if you received the chosen food", and we did. The wine was great. The little gaspacho appetizer was delicious, and we were all happy with our entrées. The main dishes were nicely presented and brought together lovely flavors. My dessert took me back to my mother's cheesecakes in Wisconsin. I'd forgotten that taste, but it was enough to take me back in time. It's not cheap, but worth it for a special occasion. Every member of staff was pleasant, kind and attentive. That's special for France.

We enjoyed the rooms, the pool and the surroundings, especially the lovely coastline and being close to Monets 'needles'. Dinner came with a beautiful sunset view, and the cuisine was excellent. Some of the restaurant waiters were rude at times, though not all of them or all the time. In the café, the hair metal in the afternoon wasn't to our taste. The scenery reminded me of Land's End in Cornwall.

The location is exceptional and the staff were helpful, but the bathroom was so tiny I could barely fit. Rooms and corridors were noisy, with doors banging and cleaning staff vacuuming as early as 9 am on a Sunday. The food was average.