Dormy House

The view is spectacular, and the hotel sits halfway between two hiking routes. Service at the bar and bistro was seamless, just what you’d hope for. I’d happily come back, except perhaps during the hottest part of the year, since there’s no AC in the rooms. At this price, bathrobes and slippers would be a nice inclusion. Also, the terrace and beach chairs hadn’t been cleaned before we arrived, so we wiped them down ourselves.

The town is small, and you can walk to everything. There isn’t much to do, but it made for a relaxing day or two. The hotel itself is lovely, up on the hills in Étretat, and I’d recommend it. The front desk was helpful the whole time, including when I realized I’d forgotten something after checkout and when we needed taxis and transport. Most of the room was clean, though there was some dirt on the sheets and towels. The temperature control didn’t work that well, so the room felt muggy even in spring.

I’m giving this place two stars because of how it handled personal data. The hotel’s system was compromised, and afterward I got targeted scam calls and emails from people who knew the exact details of my booking and tried to steal my credit card information. I had to call the hotel myself to get confirmation of the breach. They hadn’t proactively warned guests. Then they sent a mass email about an unrelated issue and exposed everyone’s email addresses by leaving the recipient list visible. There seems to be no training or care around client privacy. I’m also disappointed by the lack of transparency and apology, so I won’t stay here next time, even though I’d have liked to return. The property itself is beautiful and well placed for a short stay exploring Étretat, hiking, or golfing. The terraces look out over the sea and cliffs, breakfast is great, parking is plentiful, and the staff on site are very friendly.

We came during a heat wave, and the room was unbearably hot in the daytime and still uncomfortable at night. They said there was no AC because of environmental concerns and suggested opening the windows, but there were no screens, so insects came inside. With the windows open, the loud hedge trimmer they used around the property for two days, starting before 8:00, made sleeping in impossible. The lights were frustrating too. There were bedside reading lights and small lamps, but a single master switch turned everything on together, so you couldn’t read with a bedside light while someone else slept. Breakfast cost €22 per person, and after 10:00 there were no lunch or brunch choices, just the same limited menu as dinner. At the terrace bar, they charged our card as soon as we ordered, and wouldn’t let our group run a tab.