Had a really good weekend with the Abbatiale in June this year and just cannot understand what the previous reviews are all about!
Of course not everyone wants to speak English in France or eat chicken and chips for dinner!
My wife and I have stayed in french hotels all over France during the past 30 years and yes, some are a bit quaint, a bit French, and isn't that why we go there.
If you want to speak English and eat chicken and chips it is better to stay in England. Any way, how many Hotels in England could you walk into and expect the staff there to speak French? I don't know of any where we live, in Cornwall. So why do we expect the French to speak English?
Actually, the staff at the Abbatiale could not have been more friendly and pleasant to us, and did speak back to us in English when our French faltered and on realising where we were from.
The food was excellent, service excellent, and you could eat as much as you wanted at Breakfast, fruit, cereals, ham cheese, yoghurts, croissant, pain au chocolat, breads, jams, coffee, tea (in pots! if you want) fruit juice etc, all constantly replenished.
Everything was very clean, the room fine and the two tone bathroom is not a problem! Clean towels every day. We had a lovely stay.
The Hotel has a large enclosed car park and is right next to the quays and beaches.where it's all happening.
Benodet is a beautiful resort, and we will be returning, of course to the Abbatiale for some more good hospitaility, french service and excellent french food, which is just what we want.
As for the prices in France, you get what you pay for, the secret is eat French, take advantage of the menus, the great sea food and smile at people occasionally - the idea is you are on holiday - enjoy ! That way you might even get better service.
Thank you - all at the Abbatiale!
The Mortimers of England

We have visited this hotel before, several years ago and benefitted from a sea view room at first floor room. I think we were spoilt! We asked for a sea view room on our return and indeed got one - but on the uppermost floor (5th) which is in the roof, with a small dormer window and sloping ceilings. This extended into the ensuite, where my wife (who is just over 5ft tall had to bend over to use the shower). Talking showers, as the previous review, no where to hook up the shower head - so a need to sit in bath or try various yoga or pilates routines?!! Room got very warm as we were blessed with fine weather.

Location by harbour is lovely and Benodet is well suited to everyone. However, we noticed a significant increase in prices, even taking into account the worsening exchange rate for Brits. Our first night we had a simple pizza and chicken and "chips" with a bottle of wine - £50!

The hotel breakfast was simple and limited. We did not eat in the hotel (again we though the prices were a little high - but actually were similar to other restaurants in the area).

We really wanted to like the hotel, but its tired and needs dragging into the 21st century. As suggested, its location is lovely but I am afraid we have been put off from revisiting again.

My husband and I stayed here with two friends last Friday. We booked for two nights however, stayed for only one. The hotel is in a good location but it is very dark and old. The rooms are exceptionally basic. They were really old fashioned and very dark and gloomy. The bathrooms were a joke really as although there was a bath with a shower, you had to hold the shower head above you as there was no where to attach it to the wall. The bathroom suite was white but for some strange reason the sink was grey. I thought we just had a room that had had a replacement sink but no, our friends had the same bathroom. Wierd! What was really annoying was going to the restaurant in the evening. Through the day we looked at it and decided against it as it didn't look very appetising but later on when we went out for a drink it was packed so we thought it must be good, let's give it a try. We walked in and asked for a table. We were seated with no problem. The head waiter came over and gave us menu's and we noticed that it was all French with no normal English translation underneath. Don't get me wrong, we are not the types who expect everyone to speak English but when we asked him if he would help us with the translation, he just said a rather arrogant "no" and that was that. I don't know why we didn't leave but we carried on guessing the menu. My husband and I got dishes that we don't like, we all had a main course which was described on the meny as beef however, the texture and taste led me to believe it was tongue and the only good part was the sweet which was lovely. We have never felt so unwelcome. It surprised me as Benodet is a tourist town! We checked out after the first night and got stung for the payment of the second. I was about to argue but then thought I'll just pay it and go as I couldn't wait to get out of the place. Never again!

Contrary to other reviews, we had a most enjoyable 6-night stay at this hotel. Ok, the decor could do with refreshing but it is a typical French 3star hotel. Our room was large, quiet (at the back of the hotel) on 4th floor with 2 windows allowing plenty of air. Bath towels were changed every day as were the sheets. Staff friendly, restaurant good (both dinner and breakfast). The location by the port was great with plenty of restaurants, bars within walking distance. We enjoyed our stay very much.