Mas Chante-Merle

The proprietor was friendly and spoke English, which was a plus. The property has a lovely setting with lots of lavender planted around it, though it’s a bit away from the city center, about a 12-minute walk. Our rooms were very nice, with individual bathrooms and temperature controls, and were decorated in a distinctly French Provençal style. Breakfast was out of this world!

The location is about an 8-10 minute walk from the center of Saint Remy. Don’t let the plain outside put you off, this place is a gem. My brother, mom, and I stayed two nights in November 2021, and we all loved it. Even the smallest rooms felt comfortable rather than cramped, with high ceilings, good natural light, and exquisite decoration. Chantal, the hostess, is a delight. Breakfast costs 13 euros, and was inexpensive for how delicious it was: baskets of pastries, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed juice, ham, cheese, yogurt, and an egg if you wanted one.

The place itself is lovely, tucked away in a quiet spot, with a lovely pool. It was clean, and our room was spacious with a rustic feel. The owner, though, made the stay difficult. She seemed welcoming at first and kept saying to ask if we needed anything, but the service didn’t feel welcoming at all. Breakfast had to be confirmed the night before, and the choices were tightly limited. There was a little bowl of fruit, which we sometimes had to request, and one morning a smoothie was brought instead. That might suit someone, but there wasn’t a choice. There was no kettle in the room either. We had a room at the end of a balcony, with a table outside each room. None of the other five rooms were occupied. The morning after we arrived, we moved our table a few feet into the sun and put a book on the next table. Mme Chantal objected, explained in a condescending way that our table belonged in front of our room and the next room’s table belonged there, then moved ours back and wiped the other table as if it had stains. The two rooms beside us stayed empty for the rest of the visit, so that reaction felt unnecessary and unreasonable to me. At breakfast another morning, she told us where to sit even though the restaurant was empty and the table wasn’t set. My partner asked for a boiled egg, and when I asked for two, she replied, “one and one,” as if she’d misunderstood us. It felt like walking on eggshells, as another reviewer put it. She seemed unaware of how bossy and mean-spirited she came across, and even asked if we’d return. I looked away instead of answering. It’s a pity, because the property is so nice. We’re in Arles now, staying at hotel La Muette for the same price, and the staff there are wonderfully friendly and obliging. Such a contrast to Chez Chantal.

The grounds are beautiful, with classic architecture, trees and flowers around the pool. But Chantal, the hostess, made the place hard to enjoy. We found her overbearing, with too many rules, and by the second morning we were nervous to ask for anything, despite her saying at check-in and in a room note that we should ask if we needed help. I’ve never felt shamed for asking for ice before. It felt like I had to beg for four small cubes in a plastic glass. I was also refused an extra blanket, then lectured about thermostat settings and temperature control. We couldn’t get a glass for our wine either. She worried about spills on the tablecloth and even corrected us on how to pour coffee. We wouldn’t recommend this hotel.