Château de Dissay, The Originals Collection

We had planned our vacation around the hotel and its spa, but were told the next day that we had to leave because of “water issues.” We were told the hotel had actually been banned by the government over water contamination, while still accepting guests. When we objected, management said we could leave or “go home.” We had no car, and the alternative hotel was 30 minutes away. A taxi cost us 100 euros, and the hotel refused to arrange one or help us with it. The manager wouldn't speak with us. I overheard him say, “If they don’t want to go, to hell with it.” When I finally confronted him, he replied, “I didn’t have a good experience either.” Problems happen, but management's rudeness, arrogance, dishonesty, and lack of responsibility are unacceptable. I have never been treated with such disrespect at a hotel. Avoid this place if you value your time, money, and dignity. Getting there was awful too. After hours of travel, we had to haul heavy luggage up three floors because there was no elevator and nobody offered help. The restaurant was closed, there was no food available, and we were in the middle of nowhere. They offered leftover breakfast and charged us 40 euros for it. Our room had no hot water, the TV was broken, and even basic things like toothpaste weren't available. Staying at Château de Dissay, The Originals Collection was a huge mistake, easily one of the worst hotel experiences of my life.

I left without staying, even though I'd paid the full amount through Booking. We couldn't book the restaurant, bar, or spa when we arrived because everything was reserved for a large group. We hadn't been told about this beforehand, and that's totally unacceptable for a five-star hotel. It isn't how customers should be treated. I thought for a long time before writing this, but after several very bad discussions with the hotel about getting my money back, this is where things stand.

The concierge was incredibly rude and didn't even try to sort things out. He said the hotel was fully booked and that if I didn't like the room, I should leave. I had booked a nice, bright superior room through booking.com, as shown in the pictures, but was given a dark room under the roof that I had to find on my own. I politely asked about the room we'd reserved, and booking.com showed that other rooms were available. I can only recommend avoiding this hotel.

The two dining options were both a treat: a bistro menu with equally delicious dishes, and a gastronomic menu worthy of Michelin with an excellent wine list. We had an unforgettable Christmas break at Château de Dissay, close to Poitiers and only 10 minutes from Futuroscope. The spacious rooms had comfortable beds, and the staff were warm, attentive, and really good with kids. They offered a flexible children's menu and paid attention to all their guests. We also loved the pool and spa, and the massages were top-notch. A lovely, relaxing and luxurious family getaway, highly recommended!