SOWELL HOTELS du Golf

The outdoor setting is lovely, and the terrace could have been a great place to eat. Rain meant it was closed, though, so we were seated in a cold, charmless room indoors and the atmosphere was gone. Service was the bigger issue. The two young servers were arrogant and dismissive. Whenever we asked for something, they acted confused, as if we were bothering them. It came across as unprofessional and disrespectful, not just inexperienced. Some of the worst service I’ve had. One man, in his 50s and with a slight Italian accent, was the exception. He was kind, professional, and smiling, and was the only person who made us feel welcome.

We felt especially well cared for throughout the visit, traveling with our 1-year-old. Everyone, from the front desk to the pool bar attendant, went out of their way to welcome us. The staff’s kindness and attentiveness really stood out. Our room was spacious, the pool refreshing, and breakfast and dinner were both excellent. The architecture brings old and new together beautifully, with thoughtful touches in the Provence-style landscaping. Château Bas is nearby, and Aix-en-Provence is just a 20-minute drive away. There’s also a beautiful golf course for anyone interested. A truly beautiful, memorable stay. We’ll definitely consider coming back next summer.

The location and views are beautiful, and the WiFi worked reasonably well. Breakfast was good quality with an excellent selection. Staff at arrival and checkout were helpful. Some other staff could be quite blunt or rude, especially when guests were having trouble with something. I was put in room 31, which staff call the hobbit hole. I’m about 2m tall, and its door is only about 1.6m high. There’s no warning about the low doorway, so I banged my head on it several times. Simply put, it’s dangerous. The room felt tired, and the air conditioning heater was either very hot or not working. There weren’t enough blankets, leaving the heater as the only option. There’s no decaffeinated coffee anywhere in the hotel. If you stay, I’d recommend refusing room 31 unless you’re under 1.6m. Also, some guests make noise outside quite late and don’t seem to care about others.

The service was appalling because there weren’t enough staff, though I don’t blame the staff themselves. The evening menu was very limited, and the food didn’t meet expectations for a hotel at this price. In the new building, our room was a good size, but the layout wasn’t useful. There was no washbasin in the toilet, and the toilet paper was the cheapest they could find. I wouldn’t stay there again.