Domaine de Presle Saumur, the Originals Relais

Amazing staff, beautifull location, also the restaurant is exceptional and beyond expectations.

An overnight stop over on our trek from Southern Spain. We had an RV so pleased to see first that the hotel and restaurant had plenty of safe parking. The room we had was a terraced chalet outside the character building. I would expect there are traditional rooms in the main building and I could see they had what looked like glamping sheperd huts as another option. Ours was more traditional, a little basic but suited us. The real surprise was the restaurant which was very classic French with a great selection of wines and a very traditional menu. All very good.

Small bedroom situated within what could be described as a “farmyard”

I booked a week there and checked in on Saturday. The room I had booked was in the main building at the top floor - it was cold and did not have a shower - I asked for another room with a shower and they showed me a tiny room with a shower - it was even colder so I said no to that. When got back, I had to wait for the maintenance guy to add a closet rod to the closet. After that was done, I sat down and realized how cold it was then turned up the heat. After sitting there for an hour and trying to connect to the wifi - you have to validate your connection but if you don't have internet or have spotty internet, it's very, very difficult to validate that connection - I realized it was still very, very cold and it was 3:30 in the afternoon. So I went to the windows to close the curtains - and discovered bugs crawling all around the windows - they were everywhere. Mostly ladybugs but some black beetles that were fairly large (over a cm in length). Now, you may think - ladybugs, how cute...but they eat aphids. So, what else is in that room? At this point, I wasn't going to stay there, so after less than two hours after check-in, without having so much as even sat on the bed, I checked out. And they charged me for a night as they said I was offered the other room and turned it down - the much smaller (half the size), and even colder room. Which they said was cold because they had not turned on the heat yet - well the first room had the heat turned to high and it was still freezing cold so I said no. I told them I didn't agree with the room charge but they said that I had to pay. So I paid and left and found a real hotel. I also emailed The Originals customer service with what happened and asked for a refund and have not yet heard anything back - it's been a full week. This hotel brand is not impressing me so far. I tried this hotel in particular as I heard their restaurant is spectacular. I never got to try it as based on the room experience, I did not want to go back there ever again.

Have stayed a few times and always enjoy it

Beautiful property.