Vichy Spa Hôtel Les Célestins

The breakfast was generous and good, and the staff were dedicated and exceptionally friendly, which added a lot to our stay. We spent two nights at Célestins Spa Thermal & Hôtel. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well maintained, with fantastic views of the park and river. The bathrooms were large and well equipped too. The place has historic charm, but feels like an ageing lady, with clear signs of wear. Time has taken its toll on the former palace, especially in the public areas, pool, and connected spa. A lot of surfaces seem neglected and are starting to rust and deteriorate.

The only thing that somewhat redeemed the place was how friendly the reception staff were. Everything else was deeply disappointing. Other thermal areas were closed, and you had to leave the building just to get drinking water. The food at the hotel and through room service wasn't good either. Another guest that day was clearly upset and complaining. The spa was a scandal: worn-out robes, a tiny pool, and a sauna that could fit only two people. The hammam wasn't working at all. The young receptionist on floor 0 seemed displeased and told us quite rudely that she didn't know when it would be operational, without even a simple apology. I was shocked by how small the thermal pool was. There was no soap in the shower. It was all awful and not worth going. How can a place like this even have 5 stars?

I checked in yesterday and barely got to experience the hot springs. Across the street, the facilities are in a three-story building, but only a tiny corner on the second floor was open, with one pool and two small saunas. The hotel itself is okay, but that building felt cold and dark, with almost nothing available. The hot springs are a joke. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have stayed at Vichy.

The bathroom and shower were really nice, with lovely Rituals products and great water pressure. But the toilet area is tiny, with the toilet facing a wall in the corner. I'm over 6 feet tall and had to sit diagonally to fit. Also, the spa isn't included in the room price, so be aware when booking. We only stayed one night, and this didn't feel like a 5-star hotel. It's incredibly dated, the room had lots of flies, and the hallway on floor 4 absolutely stank when we arrived. The room itself smelled pleasant, but by morning it was obvious someone on the floor was smoking. The upstairs pool was warm, but its fixtures looked very old and were covered in limescale. The door wasn't working, so we had to enter through a side door. The staff at check-in were nice and helpful, and it was a nice touch that they took our bags up to the room. We skipped the restaurant because the prices were extortionate, and the general feel of the place made it seem not worth the money, so I didn't expect the food to be good. One more thing, don't keep the key card in a wallet next to your phone, mine got deactivated. I stay in hotels almost every week, and these old cards that are affected by phone signals make me think the hotel's systems need updating.