Hôtel de la Baie - Thalassothérapie Previthal

The beachfront location, free parking, nearby walks, and pool were the best parts. Granville also worked well as a base for exploring Normandy. The town was easy to get around, and the pharmacy nearby was friendly and helpful. We ended up ordering dinner through Uber Eats because it was cheaper than the restaurant, and we didn’t want to spend our money there after our arrival. Poke sushi was yum, and the Buffalo Grill chicken wings were delish. We could even get cold beer delivered to our room for €2 instead of paying €10 per person for room service. The room cost €650 for three nights, yet the so-called family room was tiny and nowhere near a four-star standard. Broken fixtures, a broken toilet roll holder, a leaky sink, very basic toiletries, two paper cups, instant coffee, and a kettle. No fridge, no air conditioning, and no other room amenities. The kids’ single beds were squeezed into a hallway space with no window or airflow. It was stuffy even in November, though we faced the sea and could leave the door open all night for fresh air. Fine in winter, but I wouldn’t want to stay there in summer. The bathroom had only a small shower, and the separate toilet’s automatic light lit up the whole room whenever the door opened. There was decent storage once we unpacked, but barely enough floor space to open a suitcase. On arrival after a long journey with two kids, the restaurant said it was full at 8 pm, though we saw plenty of empty tables. The staff were rude and offered either €10 per person for room service on top of the already outrageous menu prices or told us to try another restaurant in town. When we explained we’d just checked in and needed to feed our kids, they didn’t help. Since the room had no fridge, we had to eat the perishable snacks we’d brought. Dinner on the bed was cheese, beer, yoghurt, and a €10 kids’ meal of ham and mashed potato, plus another €10 for delivery. The pool and spa area was nice, but access was blocked during lessons twice a day. You had to wear a head cap, sold for €5 if you didn’t have one, and board shorts weren’t allowed, so my husband couldn’t swim. The kids could go without caps. After the restaurant and the room cost, paying another €10 for adult caps for a quick dip didn’t seem worth it. I also couldn’t book a spa treatment. They had no treatment menu at the desk and said it had to be emailed. I replied to ask for an appointment the next day and got no answer. We were very disappointed and nearly left on the first night. It was my 40th birthday the next day and I had a haircut booked, otherwise we would’ve gone elsewhere. The location and free parking earn the three stars, but this is far from the four-star hotel it claims to be.

I only visited the spa, I didn’t stay at the hotel. Most treatments run on autopilot, with no one actually giving you a treatment unless you book a massage. My massage was the worst I’ve ever had. I told him I needed it soft, but after 30 minutes I felt like I’d been dragged across a carpet and couldn’t wait for it to end. They leave you alone during treatments without a clock, so you can end up wondering if you’ve been forgotten. It defeats the point of going there to relax.

The restaurant meal was great, and the wine pairing made it even better. For €16, you get three glasses, one with each course, and each wine is chosen to go with the food.

I enjoyed trying the therapeutic seawater pool, sauna, and massage. The staff were friendly and nice. I can’t really say whether the rates are fair, since this session was a gift.