La Villa Mauresque

The hotel is charming and well located, but it falls short of a true 5-star experience. As frequent travelers who enjoy staying in luxury 5-star hotels around the world, we were disappointed that La Villa Mauresque didn’t live up to the level of service expected. We often stay at a particular 5-star hotel in Cassis that sets a much higher standard. Unfortunately, our sea view room at La Villa Mauresque did not match what was advertised on the website. We had to repeatedly request room service because it was overlooked, though the staff were kind and accommodating. The most frustrating moment was when we reserved a table for dinner at Bougainvillier and were told there were no available spots on the terrace. We suggested being seated under the pergola, where there were no guests, but the waiter refused, saying it was too far for the staff to serve. Minutes later, however, the staff set up chairs for a group of eight in that very area. This left us feeling undervalued as customers. Additionally, there are only two on-site restaurants. While Olivier offers a beautiful view, the menu is limited, and as we visited towards the end of the season, even fewer options were available. There were 2 starters and 2 main dishes out of 3 that were not available. The waitress was lovely and empathetic but unable to resolve the situation. Also, every Monday the other restaurant, the Bougainvillier is closed. It’s unfortunate because La Villa Mauresque has the potential to be a wonderful place to stay, but due to these issues, we won’t be returning.

I stayed at the Villa Mauresque with my girls - my wife of 9 years and my newly minted daughter, a mini dachshund of 4 months. They both enjoyed the amenities of this 5 * resort - the private access to the beach, the two private pools, gardens and both the Olivier and Bougainvillier restaurants. The staff was tops - multilingual and very polite, a credit to the hotel's manager. Everybody loved the wee puppy who pursues her life a spoile little doggy. The breakfast and lunch at the gourmet restaurant was fabulous.

My experience began with a less-than-ideal introduction to my room. I was not provided with any information regarding the facilities or the location of amenities such as the gym or the safe. Moreover, I found myself in a room that lacked the desired privacy, as it was situated near the main pool and restaurant. This proximity led to frequent disturbances from passersby throughout the day and night. While a potential room swap was offered, the manager was unable to find me that morning. When we finally spoke in the evening, I was informed that the hotel was fully booked and no alternative rooms were available. She said that there may be another room available, but only on day before my scheduled check-out, rendering any potential solutions ineffective. The bed in my room was supposed to be King-size. However, I was disappointed to find that they had simply pushed two single beds together, resulting in an uncomfortable gap down the middle. Additionally, while I appreciate the traditional and quintessential old French style of the hotel, I found the room to be tired, dingy, and not particularly clean. Inconvenience continued as we had to personally visit reception for even the smallest requests, such as shower gel which was not replenished on one day and room service, due to the lack of a functioning phone in our room. Additionally, a concerning issue arose with a flying ant infestation in our bathroom. Enduring ants crawling on one's leg while using the toilet is far from a luxurious experience. Furthermore, I discovered that the hotel charges a 50% markup on cigarettes without a reasonable explanation. When I inquired about this, the receptionist simply stated that it was an instruction from their supervisor. Although the breakfast offered was satisfactory, I found it to be monotonous, with the same food served each morning in the buffet. On the upside, the view from the hotel was breath taking, providing a serene atmosphere and stunning vistas of the sea. To their credit, I appreciated the manager's kindness and apologetic demeanour regarding the issues faced during my stay. In an attempt to make amends, I was offered a complimentary glass of rosé. However, while this gesture was appreciated, it did not adequately compensate for the various shortcomings. Unfortunately, I feel that spending around £2500 for 3 nights at La villa Mauresque proved to be a regrettable use of my funds. I have had the opportunity to stay in far superior accommodations at a more reasonable cost.