Le Chateau Japonais

The breakfast and bedroom were lovely, but they didn’t make up for a disappointing stay. I’d booked because the listing said every room had a jacuzzi. After I’d paid, I was told the one in our room wasn’t working, and no refund or discount was offered. Check-in was rushed, and although we were told we could use the outdoor pool, its changing room was completely dark with no obvious way to switch on the lights. We also stepped on tools left on the floor, without any warning that renovation work was underway. Customer service was poor, and the price felt too high.

This was my third visit, and I’ve tried two different rooms. The superior one is worth paying extra for, though even the standard rooms are better than most hotels, mainly because every room has a hot tub. There’s an outdoor heated pool too. Breakfast is still lovely, but it’s continental now. I used to enjoy choosing between a full English and a Japanese breakfast, which was a great option.

The heated outdoor pool is great, and I love having a hot tub in the bathroom. The room is comfortable, the mattress is good, and breakfast was good too. This is our third visit, and we’ll definitely come back again.

The hot pool was okay, though it felt cold in the water and even colder getting out. It was disappointing to return after first visiting about ten years ago and find the place had gone downhill. Breakfast is now just bread and jam, with no Japanese option. We’d emailed to ask about gluten-free food, but a management miscommunication meant there was nothing for us. They did give us some money back because there was no hot water in the evening. One shower also had no hot water. The bathroom smelled of urine from the wooden floor, and the bedding didn’t seem properly washed. The fabric softener smell was so strong that it gave me an allergy reaction and a runny nose, and I slept badly. The facilities felt a bit dated too. I’m not sure whether the change has anything to do with the young management, but this wasn’t like my previous stay.