Domaine des Roches Hotel & Spa

We were invited by friends for lunch and both the food and service were very good. Prices reflect the seasonal ingredients and the level of service. We were surprised to find it's also a four-star hotel. Next time we're in Briare, we'll try to book a night here and have a meal or two.

The buffet restaurant serves really good food, and there's a pool too. Families can get a cottage, which is what makes Domaine Des Roches stand out for me. They also have universal adapters and rooms in the main building for one or two people. Good service, all of that, and the cottage option add up to five stars!

I felt right at home here. The food at the restaurant was amazing, and the whole place is gorgeous, with local stone called mozaic decorating the hotel interiors. There's also a 13-hectare parc with deer and a tennis court, plus lovely castle-style rooms and a warm indoor pool. Loved it.

At €145 for one night, the price felt high for what the hotel offered. Our room had mold on the door and no fridge, and even getting water meant buying and carrying it yourself. The facilities didn't feel like those of the advertised four-star hotel. Staff were rude and inelegant, from the top down, and their English was limited. The manager yelled at me and my wife and called us liars, saying we hadn't understood what we'd been told. The late checkout situation was especially frustrating. Booking sites showed no availability, but the hotel had options when we called. We booked by phone, then were told to reserve on the hotel's website to add extras. We wanted late checkout for an extra €30, and the attendant said we could decide at the hotel. At 10:50 pm, after getting confirmation of our flight, we called reception to request it and were told it wasn't possible because we had to choose it when booking. When we asked them to check, since we'd been told otherwise, the manager responded by shouting at us and calling us liars. The restaurant staff kept pressing us to dine there, saying there were few other options in town and that we should decide at check-in. But the hotel's restaurant costs 30% more than the average in town, where there are at least three good options at the same level. The hotel also doesn't provide any paid or free infrastructure for green car rentals, and seems oblivious to that market. It felt like they were encouraging pollution. For a pleasant trip without surprises, I'd look elsewhere or use Booking or TripAdvisor for some protection. Good luck and safe travels. The photos showed mold on the door and no fridge, with the caption, “maybe do you want a duvet!”