We are used to staying in a lot of hotels (11 so far this trip). After many decades of traveling extensively for business and pleasure, I feel we have a rather good perspective as to what to look for in a hotel. As an attorney for a company that owned many hotels and loaned on other ones, I also have some professional knowledge of what it takes to run a hotel well. That is all a rather long winded way of saying we were delighted with the Royal Emeraude. Yes, it is an older property, at least the building. It has been carefully updated. Most of us enjoy a bit of nostalgia, but rainwater showers, modern elevators, good wifi, firm mattresses and premium towels and gels are not things most of us wish to give up in a ”4 star hotel” for the sake of authenticity. Yes, luxury railroads and china on airplanes were better in the past, but not everything was perfect. The location is both central and attractive for enjoying the town. The hotel decor celebrates a bygone era when the grand tour wasn't done in economy class. Our second floor room was a bit cramped, but had all the expected mod cons. Would have preferred some stronger lighting in the bathroom, but that seems to be a common problem. Kudos for the Clarins products throughout. What really sets this hotel on the highest level is the amazing staff. Front desk, bartender, maids, everyone we encountered, was genuinely kind, cheerful, the kind of people you want to associate with whether you are traveling or not. I can't emphasize enough how rare this is. Every hotel is in the hospitality business, and most do a credible job. But you can tell when staff are being polite, bored, somewhere else mentally. Almost all are trained to bite their lip and not tell a poorly or unreasonably acting guest what is really on their mind. But to gsther such a completely charming staff reflects leadership and presumably a very fine job of taking care of your employees. Bravo and Brava. We are not big fans of buffet breakfasts, but they are fairly necessary these days. The Royal Emeraude's is a superior one, in terms of choice and quality. The freshly squeezed juice, wide range of pastries, wonderful Malo yogurt, all put one in a good mood to start the day. I would wish every hotel to use real Italian coffee, but that is another story. Theirs was acceptable. Having a fine 9 car garage right next door is terrific. It was a deciding factor in our booking the hotel, but as I have said above, everything else fell into place. One of your lady colleagues was especially helpful in assisting my wife in getting a coiffure appointment on short notice with a very skilled salon. That was mission critical for morale. We had already made a selection of restaurant reservations, but your colleague was able to confirm we were on the right track. As with any city of depth, it takes time to begin to understand it. The Royal Emeraude is a splendid place to stay and begin to savor what Dinard has to offer.
