Chateau d'Ayres - Hôtel & Spa

Can highly recommend pool, ambience, reception, courtesy of staff. Breakfast needs a little updating to be in line with dinner standard. However I would return despite the enjoyable but pricey evening meal.

THIS IS NOT EVEN A ONE STAR HOTEL! This was the worst nightmare on any holiday. We drove all day through the most scenic landscape and were looking forward to a stay at the 4 star spa hotel we booked , but this was not what was waiting for us! The first site is a once beautiful pond, neglected and muddy, with the swimming pool and tennis court in similar neglect. Although we were the only guests, we were made to wait 15 mins to check in, this was enough time to make us decide we won't stay. Instead of just leaving, we were nice and explained that this was not what we booked and will find another place. WE WERE MADE TO PAY £106 PER ROOM!! Wanting to avoid confrontation and just get away, we regrettably did this and found a beautiful PROPER 4 start hotel 30 mins away. I don't understand how this hotel can have a 4 star rating. DO NOT BOOK THIS!

The town of Meyrueis is a hard place to reach, having visited some of the Causses et Cezennes beforehand. Some of the roads up are narrow, requiring careful driving. The chateau is a nice reward for your endurance, set not unexpectedly high above the town. I liked the interior more than the exterior. There are no elevators, the rooms a floor [or two] above. There are a half dozen rooms you can explore to the right of reception, the first one tending to double as the bar. The staff were excellent, from the lady at reception to the maitre d’ at dinner. The room was large. It was quite warm so I did not have to sweat again under another duvet. There were quality toiletries. I suspect most people that stay here dine here as well. It was fine dining in a room opposite reception, a crackling fire going. The meal was very good. Parking was on site, behind the chateau. There is a pool, tennis court and table tennis. The breakfast was in the same room. It was very good, including hot items. The fireplace was still crackling. There were several things I did not like. Short of spraying water everywhere, you are almost forced to have a bath, the room equipped with just a bathtub and a partial shower door. Flies were annoying, especially the one that landed in the bottom of my not quite empty wine glass. There were no coffee and tea making facilities I would associate with a 4* property. Lower graded places would also offer complimentary water. Worst of all was the wifi. I could not get it to connect in the room, requiring me to attend the reception area to deal with a host of matters. Even there I could not upload photographs, a real irritation. The cumulative effect of the small things and the major disappointment re wifi issues necessitate a star less than this place probably normally gets.

We had a lovely time. The hotel rooms were typical French shabby chic, it was perfectly located for us - out of the town, quiet with plenty of space to walk our dogs. The landscape around was breathtaking with plenty of activities available. The little holiday town was perfect - had everything you needed I Mc using a choice of restaurants to suit all budgets and was quaintly attractive. The hotel restaurant was very good and not expensive, breakfast average. The Indoor pool was lovely, new, clean and warm. The outdoor pool wasn’t open as it was not warm enough at the time we went and it was being renovated. The only real negative was despite advertising free wifi throughout the hotel reality was it rally was only accessible in the public rooms. The staff were very accommodating so that we could watch the Grand Prix on the tv in one of the public rooms.