We went there to celebrate my father's 70th birthday. I had booked three rooms as well as a table in the restaurant a month in advance and explained the reason of our stay. We arrived at 6 pm and after having checked in (the receptionist was very helpful) we wanted to have a drink in the bar. First disappointment: on the pictures of the hotel, you see nice fire in the two fireplaces that comprises the bar and in spite of the fact that it was already rather cold outside (end october) none of them were working. Just two big holes.... We sat down and the barman came and cleaned the table for some cups and stuff without a hello or anything... He returned to the bar and just stood there without coming back asking us for what we wanted to drink in spite of the fact that there were very few people in the bar at that moment. After 10 minutes waiting we decided to go to our rooms and have our drink there instead. The rooms were OK, but noting more than that - definitely not corresponding to a 4 star hotel. We had decided to meet in the bar at 8 pm for a drink and this time the barman came but there were still no fire in the fireplaces. At 8h.30 pm the eight of us went into the restaurant and again what a disappointment: On the pictures you see big candelabras on each table but in reality there were only some small tee candlelights. Secondly, it was so nosy and completely packed - absolutely overcrowded and extremely hot. You could really see that they had placed much more tables than what should normally be in such a room which is supposed to be a select restaurant.... We went to our table and then we sat there for 20 MINUTES before they came and asked us what we wanted to drink. We observed that there were not enough staff to serve all these people (apparently there was a seminar that day). We started to be a bit fed up but well it was too late to go somewhere else. We ordered the menu to 72 Euros per person which was just OK, absolutely not what one could expect for such a price...The staff was so busy that it took hours before we were served and they did not have much time to refill our glasses. One positive thing was that the staff was kind and smiling once we managed to speak to them. After dinner we passed the bar but again it looked so depressing - still no fire in either of the fireplaces - that we decided once again to go to our rooms for a drink. Then when I wanted to take a shower before going to bed again a surprise: almost no hot water in the shower. It took me 10 minutes to get a little bit of hot water which arrived on and off... At 6 am some clients started to shower, which is perfectly understandable, but we could hear all the noise from the water in our room so needless to say that we did not sleep very well. Breakfast was nice and served in an old room having nice soft background music and the staff was very helpful, efficient and kind.
Globally speaking my feeling is that the hotel is more than understaffed and badly managed and that it should absolutely not belong to the Small Luxoury Hotels of the World and does not at all deserve 4 stars... My hobby is to visit and stay in 4 and 5 stars hotel and I have been staying in many fantastic places thus having a certain experience. As somebody mentioned: it only has the prices of the 4 stars. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone and needless to say that we will not return.
- Chateau De Gilly Vougeot
- Chateau De Gilly Hotel Vougeot
