Demeure Castel Brando Hôtel & Spa

Our stay at Castel Brando was enjoyable overall, but not without a few bumps along the way. We booked a superior room, which was spacious and well-appointed with comfy armchairs, a quaint little bookshelf full of books, and even a Tivoli Bluetooth speaker – a delightful touch for our music. The small balcony overlooked the modest pool, and while we weren’t graced with a sea view, the room's charm made up for it... mostly. The bed, however, was on the small side, and at this stage, the mattress and pillows have seen better days. A refresh here would do wonders. The hotel boasts two pools – one larger, heated, and quite inviting, which we used often. Unfortunately, the Jacuzzi appeared to have misunderstood its job and offered only cold water. A minor detail, but one that did dampen (quite literally) our enthusiasm for a soak. The grounds are extensive and pleasant, with a garden and a winter terrace, where the furniture walks a fine line between "quaint" and "you-might-find-this-in-grandma's-attic." Still, it adds a certain charm. Free parking was a lifesaver, especially given the tight parking situation in the village. The staff at reception? Fantastic. Kind, professional, and always ready to assist. Housekeeping, on the other hand, could benefit from some motivation. There's definitely room for improvement there, and it’s the only thing holding this place back from being a stellar experience.

This is a really pretty and comfortable hotel. We had one of the privilege rooms, which was lovely with an outdoor terrace and chairs. It was spotlessly clean. The grounds are well kept and the main pool, which was heated, was warm enough for me to swim in. I hate cold pools! The only reason that I haven’t given 5 stars is that the dinner menu was way too fussy for us. For example, the day we left the dish of the day was fish linguine with octopus. The food is very French and there was nothing that my husband could eat on it. They would do well to have one dish on the menu that is more simple…..just a suggestion! Also, for breakfast, it would be good if they prepared the fruit rather than serving it with the skin still on.