Le Vieux Castillon

The pool was lovely, and our room was spacious and clean. Parking by the church is free if you use a space between the blue lines. The hotel also offers parking for 15 euros. A very nice hotel.

We were charged €15 per day for hotel parking, though nobody told us about the price beforehand. We were only warned not to park in the town centre because we'd be charged. It didn't spoil the stay, but guests should hear the cost before they're offered parking. Even with the bad weather, the staff made our visit much better. They were so attentive and lovely, especially in the bar, where they couldn't do enough for us. The hotel is well looked after and has a really relaxing feel, and my Clarins spa treatment was great. Castillon-du-Gard is small and quiet, but has three or four high-quality restaurants well worth visiting. We had a wonderful stay and would love to come back, or try another hotel in the group.

Parking was difficult in the narrow lanes, and the hotel only has a temporary drop-off area. When I carefully parked my rental car there, the valet staff opened his arms at me impatiently because he thought I was taking too long. The valet service was terrible: they held your car key and waited for tips. At reception, the staff were nice but seemed impatient when I asked questions. One receptionist asked why I was waiting outside while I was waiting for friends. I found that completely inappropriate and weird, especially at a five-star hotel. When I asked where to park, the receptionist wasn't helpful and said I should go look at the signs myself instead of showing me a parking map or explaining the area. They asked for valet service, which I haven't seen at other five-star hotels. The room was good and had famous toiletries, but that doesn't make up for the service. The shower has no glass to keep water from spilling out, which is a strange design I haven't seen in another five-star hotel. If you speak French, you may have a good experience. If you don't, I wouldn't recommend it.

The food was the best we had on our whole trip in Provence, and for the price this felt like the best deal there. The pool was immaculate, with an incredible view. Our gorgeous rooms still had that old chateau charm. One of my best hotel stays ever. Can't wait to return!