Château les Oliviers de Salettes

The staff were lovely, and their enthusiasm made up for them being young and sometimes short on knowledge. We had champagne and room service food on the terrace overlooking the valley and hills on both nights, though we didn't try the formal restaurants. Even our least expensive petite room was roomy enough for a couple of days, and the pool area was beautiful. There can be lots of children in the pool in summer, so keep that in mind if you want quiet. The adults who used the pool without showering first bothered us more.

No internet or Wi-Fi, and the fridge didn't cool. The rooms we were given, in separate buildings despite booking five months ahead, smelled strongly of damp and mold and were hard to breathe in. Staff didn't speak English and weren't friendly. After check-in, someone entered the room to do things that felt unnecessary and intrusive, like rolling back the wet bath mat so it couldn't dry and taking the cover off the bed. This was barely a three-star experience, certainly not a five-star hotel.

The breakfast is what I'll remember most, especially the warm baguette with honey and homemade butter. The estate grounds were beautiful, and the staff friendly. I also had a fantastic massage and spa visit, and they managed to fit in my last-minute request. There aren't many places I'd want to bring my parents, but this is one.

Tucked away in the small village of Charols, this château hotel was one of the best I've visited. The mountain views were stunning, and the infinity pool and rooms were great. Service was brilliant, even when accommodating an unusual group of 12 cyclists. Breakfast was an amazing spread.