Relais de Margaux

This has been the worst hotel, we have visited and we have visited lots of hotels all over the world. The pictures on the internet look nice and I have to say that we were welcomed very friendly. After that, everything went down hill fast. The property is very outdated and needs immediate renovation. Stains in carpet, paint is off the woodwork, and the hotel smells like the windows have been closed since 1992. The bathroom was up to date, if you were in the hotel in 1994. However, on a positive note: the bed was good. The price of the room including breakfast is way too much for the quality you get. You get the feeling that the owners are squeezing out every euro without investing anything in the property. This feeling is stressed by the fact that housekeeping “forgot” to clean our room. The chairs in the restaurant were broken (see pictures). Housekeeper from Tunesia was very friendly and helpful. The main restaurant is closed and we needed to eat in the bar of the golfclub. Breakfast was okay but nobody of the staff was there to greet you and to refill the buffet. The price of € 19 per person was too high. Flexibility in service (we wanted to have a burger for dinner as we had a good lunch somewhere else earlier) was not there. We could only order a burger as part of a 3 course dinner and not only a burger. Really? Avoid the “hotel” (I am not sure if this qualifies as hotel, because I could not find hospitality anywhere) at all costs.

So I tend to book the hotels as my husband has picked awful places. I saw the pictures and thought great this looks good, pool for the son and food for us!. You drive past some beautiful chateaus and I thought great I’ve don’t it again!. We took a sharpe right, went down a bumpy road and then we passed a sewage works, I thought this isn’t good my heart dropped. We drove a little further and well the gates were less than perfect. We then pulled up to a tired looking building with a miss mash of other buildings. I was gutted. We entered the lobby after me being in a wheelchair as I’d recently been recovering with a broken ankle. Being wedged in as doors weren’t great and there was a lip. Receptionists were busy chatting about something more interesting than their new guests until another receptionist came along to show us to our room. Knowing I was in a wheelchair obviously she took us so far and said sorry the lift is out of service, can you walk up these stairs, I did with a struggle, my husband dragged the chair up. We walk a while and got to the room. The room was fine, bathroom fine and toilet separate which was good. There was a fridge, safe, trouser press and hairdryer. The bathroom had two robes, towels for two and two pairs of slippers. Unfortunately there was three of us. Fridge had two waters. There was a balcony overlooking the golf course which was nice but still for two. We went to the indoor swimming pool and was told it was 16 and over, my son is 12. Fortunately she let us in. The spa lady was lovely. The pool was fine, the steam room fine sauna was fine but a bit tired. We went looking for the restaurant and eventually found a staff member to show us. It was a bit of a walk from main reception but very close to our room. We the dribbled across disabled parking and an outdoor lift a stone throw from our room. Not once was we told this. We booked the restaurant, unfortunately they don’t really cater for fussy kids but we thought the food was lovely. Staff were really friendly too. If I was local I’d definitely visit the restaurant. The only small thing was there chairs were fraid underneath so looked scruffy. But food was lovely. So room 303 kettle no plug socket near, plug socket not working and lamp with not socket to plug it in. Bathroom the shower knob was broken and came off in hand. I’d say if you like golf it’s fine but I’d not return. It’s definitely not wheelchair friendly. It’s dated and not worth the money. The room was ok but mismatch and dated. The outside and some buildings were awful in appearance.

On paper it looks and sounds amazing, with old chateau style main building, spa and pool. In reality it is a confusing mish mash of grand old building, which is no longer in use and being left to decay, and new golf resort wing which has been badly designed and built maybe in the early 2000’s. Which doesn’t add anything to grandeur of the old part. All the facilities are located in the new wing, including restaurant and bar. With the exception of the outdoor pool, which is a long walk and had no facilities near by. The restaurant was very disappointing with very limited menu on both nights that we stayed. It seems they may be running things down to close soon?? Mojitos in Bacardi glasses but not using Bacardi rum. The last straw in the building so had to cut it in half so we could each have one! No vegetarian options on the menu at all and when asked, the chef did prepare one ,but it only consisted of a mixture of the side vegetables used in other dishes and charged at full price! Our room was ok, with a terrace overlooking the golf course and working AC. Very quiet which considering the size of the hotel and time of year is surprising. But this goes for the whole of Margaux. As a world famous wine region producing very expensive wines you would have thought the place would be heaving and busy with Porsche and Mercedes drivers everywhere as is the case in Cognac. But not so. Maybe there’s no where decent to eat or to stay? This hotel isn’t particularly cheap and not particularly good. But could be amazing.

After having read some pretty negative reviews I was expecting the worst! Ok, the carpets and the sanitary facilities have seen better days, but the rooms are very large, the bed is perfect and wifi is quite fast and reliable. Friendly staff, especially the breakfast team is efficient, even in preparing specialty coffees at no extra charge.

I like tranquility

The relais de Margaux is a bit worn out. Rooms are very big but would need a refresh, very disappointing for the price paid. Food was mediocre. Service was good.

The whole hotel looked in need of a bit of repair and a lick of paint. Shower leaked as sealant at base had perished. Room was described as a junior suite with terrace but was just one room with a 2-seater sofa and coffee table (separate bathroom and toilet). So not a suite really. The terrace was good. But it was very clean and tastefully decorated. Staff were absolutely lovely - friendly and helpful. Restaurant was closed and the golf club brasserie menu was very basic so we went elsewhere for dinner. But it served a good breakfast.

Charmant

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