Domaine Le Martinet, The Originals Relais

After more than 20 years of visiting, it hurts to see how much this hotel has slipped. It used to be a magical place, with beautiful rooms, a lovely pool and an excellent restaurant. Everything felt perfect, and you had to book weeks ahead. Now, even in September, only three or four of roughly twenty rooms are occupied, and the hotel feels lifeless. The pool still gets cleaned by a robot, but the coping is cracked, the liner is black, weeds have spread inside the pool enclosure, and the enclosure itself is never cleaned. The veranda needs a proper makeover too. In our usual room near the pool, the towel warmer was rusty and the tiles were cracked. We first came for weeks at a time, later for a few days, and now my husband and I still come for a few days in that same room. This isn't meant as a malicious review. I'm hoping it might prompt a response. It's a real shame to see such a magnificent hotel with superb amenities become somewhat neglected.

We spent two nights in a family room. It was simple, but had what we needed, and the pool was lovely. Breakfast came in a beautiful dining room, with plenty to choose from and good quality products. The staff were welcoming, and the hotel is a pleasant, quiet place. We'd gladly come back if we get the chance.

We found this place while cycling through the area and felt at home right away. The hosts were very friendly, and our large room, number 9, had a view over the village and everything we needed. The old house has a long history and has been turned into a charming, inviting hotel with a lot of care. It's also a nice spot to stay for a few days and unwind by the pool.

The family room was filthy, with black mold in the shower grout and grime in every nook. Old furniture had been shoved into a corner, and holes left by pictures hadn't even been filled. It felt soulless, like we'd been put in a storage room. We were disgusted at having to sleep there, wondering what the mattresses might be like. The place has real potential, but nothing seems to be maintained. The pool and the area around it will soon look just as bad if that's left to continue. We stayed one night, and I won't be back. Such a shame for a lovely place.