Les Petites Maisons Hameau des Baux

The Sunday buffet lunch was a magical meal and great value, and the restaurant was delightful. Plan ahead, though, since dinner, lunch or brunch needs to be booked about three to four weeks before your stay. We had a baby and found the hotel very welcoming to families; there were other families there too. Our balcony room had a lovely view of trees and the bar. There are two pools with plenty of chairs, plus a coffee and wine bar that's open pretty much 24/7. The place blends modern and old nicely. It's well located for Arles, Avignon and Baux. We had a great time and highly recommend it.

The setting has a laid-back, relaxed feel, and the location is excellent. We had a very enjoyable three nights as a couple. It was extremely quiet and calming, with good quality fellow guests. Breakfast had excellent local produce in a pleasant, if somewhat clattery, atmosphere. We ate in one evening and the meal was superb. The pool area was beautiful, with warm water and a great place to read or do very little. The staff were friendly and pleasant, without the over-the-top service of a top-end five star hotel. The rooms have charm and character, though they're quite different from a modern five star golf resort. Very, very good.

The hotel's infrastructure was the best of the places we stayed on our nearly two-week Côte d’Azur trip, after Saint Tropez and Nice. Our spacious room, lovely pool and very Instagrammable corners were just what you'd expect in Provence. But the welcome and service were the most disappointing. We didn't feel at home and definitely wouldn't return. At 400-500 euro, I think other area hotels could offer a much more personal experience. We arrived on Easter Sunday for the final stop and left Thursday. The breakfast was the same each day, and on the last two mornings there was barely anything left. Though service ran until 10.30, by 9.50 the small buffet, mostly cold cuts and just one cooked item, some kind of runny scrambled eggs, was not replenished or only partly replenished. Guests paying 400 euro or more for a room were walking around with empty plates, looking at empty platters. One waiter went back and forth looking panicked, and instead of apologizing for the delay, even blamed us for arriving late. With maybe 15 people eating at once, most of us were left with unattractively peeled boiled eggs and a pile of prosciutto on a narrow plate. Most cakes were gone, only ends remained, and the coffee machine had run out of water. The lack of personal attention might have been understandable since the property isn't family-owned, but the awful breakfast was too much, and the staff's sudden attempts to engage us made it worse. No one talked to us about local attractions. For three nights we were simply told their Alegria restaurant was fully booked, without being told how or when hotel guests should reserve or being sent a menu. Only on the last day, after I'd voiced my disappointment loudly, did they email the menu and invite us to dinner. We had been curious and genuinely wanted to try the food, but the timing felt improper and we lost our appetite. After all that, they asked us for a tip. Having travelled for many years and worked in hospitality at one of Greece's top destinations, we were stunned. The hotel is named small houses, and maison in French also means home, but we certainly didn't feel at home.

The restaurant food was fantastic, and the shared spaces were quiet. My partner and I had a great time in this little paradise, with its wonderful book shop and relaxing Mediterranean feel. It's a lovely fit for art lovers and people who enjoy reading. I've stayed in other so-called luxury hotels that were crowded, noisy, pretentious and overpriced for what they offered. This place was peaceful, beautiful, unpretentious and served quality food. Loved it.