Thalacap Camargue

The staff were mostly very friendly, though some kept a professional distance. I spent half a day here as an outside guest for wellness treatments, so this is about the spa and its atmosphere, not the hotel. Given the nice staff and seaside setting, I really hope they make changes soon. There is so much potential being wasted. The treatments were pleasant enough, but nothing special, and the place's gloomy feel spoiled the experience. Only one of my three treatment rooms had what I'd call a relaxing style. One was too bright, and the other felt like a sterile cellar hole. There was no soothing music, although something tribal played over a basement speaker, or maybe it was the AC. No pleasant smells either. It missed all the touches you'd expect from a modern wellness place. I asked about the relaxation area shown in the brochure, but the staff didn't know what I meant. The pictures are misleading. The space is scattered across a small, dark room I found creepy, a solarium, and a nice daylight area near the terrace. I rested my sore feet there before carrying on. By the time I'd had all my treatments, I was more than ready to leave. The complex dates from the early eighties and badly needs renovation. The outdoor pool was shut, and the indoor one was too small and outdated. There's only one very plain sauna. To cool off afterward, you have to go all the way to the pool area, and you can only enter after taking a soapy shower. In the toilets, paint was peeling and fittings were rusty, while the doorknobs were loose. Some treatments take place in the basement, which has the charm of a slaughterhouse. White plastic aprons on the staff don't help.