Domaine de la Forêt d’Orient, Logis Hôtel, Restaurant, Spa & Golf

The meal was absolutely brilliant and well worth the price. The staff were attentive and very helpful, and the ground floor was nicely presented, with a gift shop, sports shop, bar and restaurant. The restaurant requires a booking. We stayed on our way home and didn't use the golf course or spa. Our family suite was roomy and recently decorated, spread over two floors. The decoration felt hurried and unfinished, probably because the work was done out of season. The bathrooms were the weak point: our bath was rusty, the fittings looked worn, the mastic dirty, and someone had quickly painted over the waste pipes. Sound insulation between rooms was poor, and we could hear the neighbours running up and down the stairs. It did get quiet early, though, since they had younger children. The hotel is in a beautiful area. It calls itself four star, but the entrance plaque says the rating was awarded in 2018 and needed renewing after five years. With some investment, this could be a four-star hotel.

For the prices they charge, the quality is poor, and I wouldn't stay here again. The bathroom seemed untouched since the 1980s: the sink was cracked and stained, and the toilet was in a separate little cubicle with pipework that looked filthy and uncleaned or unpainted for decades. The wall-mounted hairdryer had very yellowed plastic. The air conditioner was a large wall unit that rattled terribly all night, even after I turned down the fan. There weren't any drinks in the minibar fridge, not even a couple of small bottles of water. The room was reasonably spacious and wasn't awful, but the details let it down. At dinner time, I was told the restaurant was full and couldn't serve me. Nobody offered room service. Since the hotel is in the middle of nowhere, it was too late and I was too tired to go looking for another restaurant. It's meant to be a four-star hotel, but I'd have trouble giving it three.

The spa was enjoyable, especially the steam room, and they kept the number of people inside under control. The room was clean and big enough, with everything needed. It's a quiet spot in a good location, and the kangaroos outside were cute and appealing. I wish there had been a mosquito net on the window. The pillows were also tough and uncomfortable, so they could do with changing.

We had a family room on two levels, with a large double bed upstairs and two single beds below. It was much better value than booking two rooms, say at a Premier Inn. Both levels had a big flat-screen TV, and downstairs there were chairs and a desk. The hotel was clean and nicely decorated, the beds were comfortable, and the bathrooms were pleasant. At check-in we were told the pool and sauna were free to use, but we arrived too late to take advantage. Next time we'll get there earlier. You don't get that at a Premier Inn! The restaurant was a real highlight. My friend and I are both foodies and have eaten in plenty of fine dining places, and the food here could have held its own in any of them. The recipes were simple, the cooking was lovely, and the ingredients were treated with care. Prices were excellent value too. Try the langres cheese. I've paid twice as much elsewhere for food that was half as good. Compliments to the chef! Breakfast was buffet style, with a good range and very nice quality. We didn't use the golf course, but my friend was so pleased with the hotel that he plans to come back with his golfing buddies. I've stayed here twice now. It's not far from the A5, making it a handy, comfortable overnight stop when driving from the UK to the South of France for a skiing trip.