Logis Hôtel Restaurant Le Cheval Blanc

Our suite was spacious, and after long days the shower and tub were just right. Outside was so peaceful, it felt like a movie. We were only minutes from Château de Chenonceau, and the Michelin-starred restaurant's five-course dinner was unforgettable. The staff were warm and helpful and made us feel at home. 10/10, we'll definitely return.

The evening meal was the low point of our full-board package from Brittany Ferries. There were only two choices for each starter and main, and after trying everything available, we agreed it was poor, among the three worst meals of the many we've had in France. It was the most expensive meal of our trip. Service also felt very outdated and fell short of the excellent hoteliers we've met in France, even though it was delivered by two people in their 20s or 30s. They seemed not to have learned a successful approach from working in different hotels. I wasn't sure whether to give two or three stars, but everything else was just okay and didn't justify a Logis three-star rating. It was especially unfortunate after the five-star hotel where we'd stayed the night before. The hotel is part of an exclusive group, and we wouldn't consider returning.

The meal was mediocre, with only two real options for each course. The chicken was dry, and the fries were so bad they could have used lip balm. The fish came with two bland quenelles, mushy and doughy, and we left most of it. The owner said he was a chef, not a technician, but an apology and an offer to look into the problem would have gone a long way. We told friends visiting in September to book somewhere else. The stay was disappointing at the end of an otherwise wonderful trip. There was no privacy screen or wall around the shower, just a shower in the corner of the room. The portable AC was noisy and couldn't really cool the room after a day in the mid-90s. We gave up at 2am, turned it off, and opened the windows so we could sleep. The biggest issue was the Wi-Fi. There was no reception in our room. At the front desk, we were told the walls were thick and reception was poor there, and that they'd reset the router. We went out, but there was still no Wi-Fi when we got back. They suggested connecting in the lobby and then going to the room, but that failed too. Then we were told to use the lobby Wi-Fi, and later that they weren't technicians and it was the provider's fault. In the lobby, the owner complained to a friend about customers who expected Wi-Fi, while I was standing there. He was combative, took no responsibility, and blamed everyone and everything else. At checkout the next day, he told me there was a worldwide outage. I said I knew about Microsoft's outage, but that didn't explain why certain rooms had no Wi-Fi. He said that was impossible, then printed the invoice and charged 388 euros for our room and meals by credit card. He didn't see the irony. He kept going and said his job was to be a chef, not a technician. #LogisHotels

We booked at the last minute as lockdown rules eased, and my partner, our dog, Rubik, who was one year old, and I stayed for two nights. The staff were relaxed and charming, and Rubik was made to feel welcome. Our room was spotlessly clean and looked out over the village square. The food was excellent, and it was great value for money. I couldn't recommend the hotel more. Try the local wines!