Châtellerie de Schoebeque

The views were wonderful, and it was easy to walk into the centre for a good choice of bars and restaurants. Free parking was a nice bonus. We had a spacious, impressive historic room with a large bathroom. The staff were friendly and helpful, but the place felt more like a B&B than a hotel, with limited service. Reception hours were restricted, breakfast had a small selection (though it improved on our second day), and the room had a coffee maker but no kettle or milk. Our room also wasn't serviced during our two-day stay, which was disappointing. It's a great place for a one-night stopover for the room and the view, but I wouldn't choose it for a longer holiday.

That breathtaking view was the best part, and our suite was beautiful, spacious, and had a Greek theme. The bed was really comfortable, too. There was a hottub, a large shower, and a complimentary bottle of bubbles. Some other rooms had been newly renovated as well. The heating in our room didn't work, and it stayed cold even after we mentioned it to the friendly lady, who said she'd look into it. There were stains on the mirrors and no free water bottles. Breakfast was pretty basic for a place marked four-star, and we didn't feel the high price was justified. Based on our experience at many hotels, we'd say it was more like three-star. We'd booked a suite after our anniversary trip from Belgium to London fell apart. We hadn't known that passports were needed for Le shuttle, the vehicle train, and had booked with just our IDs. After driving for more than two hours and then being held up at the British douane for over two hours, we were heartbroken. We looked for somewhere nearby to salvage our anniversary, saw the hotel's good reviews, and called to reserve the one suite that was available. The building felt worn out. Several areas were empty and not maintained, and the pool that had belonged to the previous owners was shut down and left to decay. A book showing the hotel in its former state made the contrast striking. It needs renovation and upkeep in many places. The kitchen is gone, so there's no option to have dinner, and many rooms once in use are now empty. Our impression was that one very kind person was handling the whole hotel. She was friendly and clearly working hard, and we don't know how she manages to run it on her own.

For our anniversary, my husband booked us a stay with a private spa. The room was clean, and the staff were so friendly. They made it feel special with a card and paper hearts on the bed, which was really thoughtful. The hotel interior was clean and the view spectacular, though the garden outside could use some care. The private spa was clean, with coffee, water and fruit available. The sauna was out of service, so we just used the jacuzzi, which was perfect for us. Because of covid, breakfast was pre-ordered and served at our assigned table. We had a great stay!

The hotel itself is lovely, and we had a really good stay. My problem was with the payment afterward. I booked directly on the website, and the hotel charged me for one night before we arrived. That would have been fine if it had stayed pending and been refunded after I paid the final bill when we left. Instead, the charge was confirmed. I sent screenshots from my revolut bank account over the course of a month before they finally agreed to refund me. It's now been another two weeks and I still haven't received the 125 euros, so I'm chasing them again. Replies can take a week, and the first person I dealt with was downright rude. Honestly, I don't think they care. I've never written anything like this in my previous posts and reviews. Be warned.