L'Auberge Provencale

The terrace is lovely and the setting is nice, but that wasn't enough to make the stay worthwhile. The whole place feels worn down, from the service and food to the property itself. It needs investment and a very different approach to management. Raising prices won't fix the lack of care. Things felt unwelcoming from the start, and I got the impression the manageress doesn't enjoy the work. At check-in we learned the chef had left a couple of days earlier, so the menu would be very limited. That alone wouldn't have been a disaster, but the food and prices were awful. The kids got chicken nuggets and chips followed by ice cream for 14 Euros each. The adult choices were few and basic, with what seemed to be tasteless frozen vegetables, at 25 Euros per person. I suspect those are the normal prices, with no reduction despite the missing chef, almost no choice, and food that seemed pre-prepared, arriving seconds after we ordered. It was shockingly poor value, the worst I've had in a long time. Breakfast cost another 8 Euros each for a croissant and orange juice. Our room was OK, though very basic and neglected. Around the property there seemed to be little care or investment. Even a burnt-out light bulb might not get replaced.

The place looks nice, but getting a refund after cancelling well in advance took three months, a phone call, three emails, and finally an in-person visit to the hotel. The woman in charge offered no explanation beyond saying they were having trouble with their booking system.

The views were amazing, and we had a lovely room and wonderful food. After the long hike from Breil Sur Roya, it was a great place to spend the night. Book dinner ahead!

It felt like modern-day Fawlty Towers. If you expect working things, problems to get sorted, or friendly service, go somewhere else.