Domaine de Ronchinne - Château et Ecuries

Sensationally underwhelming. This about sums up our experience over the course of a weekend getaway to celebrate a special birthday 😌 We’re the first to understand the complexities of running a hospitality business & to be understanding but at the end of the day, when you price yourselves in a certain category & market yourselves as offering certain services, you simply have to deliver. What’s great ? - The location is simply beautiful with stunning backdrops, as well as some beautiful historic architecture & contemporary renovations ; - The catering staff (bar & restaurant) are also lovely, friendly & make you feel directly at home ; - Although the style of massage should be better communicated for those expecting something more ‘standard’, the therapists were lovely & the massage itself very good ; What’s not great ? Too many things unfortunately - if it was just 1 or 2 this review wouldn’t be here but it’s not the first review of its kind underlining similar issues & it appears the message simply isn’t getting through to management. The most disappointing was the wellness space, which they do underline as neither being a spa nor a wellness, however a space of “délassement profond” - this is sadly a very bad joke. After 72 hours of trying to find a brief period of the day to finally enjoy the pool or the spa facilities to relax, on our last day we finally gave up & headed home… A wedding reception on our arrival which essentially privatised the pool area, kids screaming at all moments whilst dive bombing into the water, parents shouting across the pool at them & small children relieving themselves in the pool, all make for a pretty un relaxing time. A real shame as the location itself is beautiful & very well suited for a relaxing space. The reality is that you find yourself in an environment that would be more akin to a Center Parks than a luxury resort. - The spa facilities are insufficient for the amount of guests (sauna). Over 3 days unable to use them ; - They charge you to rent a dressing gown ; - They charge you to use the lockers in the changing rooms ; - The jacuzzi was OOA for the entire period ; - No staff in sight to ensure that all guests can enjoy their experience, children included ; - The decking needs a solid refurb with holes & wood splinters all over the place ; The room itself is nice but again, is slightly underwhelming for the price you pay & what you expect at this level. - Shower leak meaning water went all over the place ; - 3-in-1 shower gel ; - A slight smell of toilets upon arrival ; - A couple of sachets of tea for a 3-day stay but no coffee machine ; There’s a few more things we could mention like the quality of the buffet dinner, the wedding reception upon arrival with Britney Spears blaring across the resort but it all reflects the same thing, far too many negative aspects for the price you’re charged & the expectations sold. You have a beautiful space with beautiful facilities and for us at least, you

This is an odd place: it looks like a luxury hotel, but it's more like a holiday park. Lots of people in such a beautiful location means it's not exactly a calm place. The decoration in the public rooms in the chateau is very nice, but go to the rooms and the corridors and rooms have a dark grey/brown colour which is not inviting. The price for the rooms is expensive when there is very little service included, although the room and bathroom was quite sufficient. Plan ahead - the car park is a walk away from the hotel, although you can drop off people and luggage near by the entrance. There is a big beautiful terrace and the barman was friendly. The restaurant is a self-service buffet. There was plenty of choice for starters, less so for main course, and no choice for dessert if you are allergic to dairy products. There are waiters/waitresses to show you to your table and explain how everything works. Even the wine is self-service, but if you want a cool bottle that takes a bit longer. I thought the price for the buffet was too high. Breakfast is also self-service. Again plenty of choice, but long queues for orange juice and coffee, and the price for a self-service buffet again seems excessive. The grounds are beautiful for walking and it's a nice location with lots of nice walks / cycle rides around. The swimming pool is warm and a good size but needs some maintenance to the wooden surroundings and for the seating. There was some noise at night with large groups somewhere in the grounds having a party until late. So this is a decent place, but make sure you know what to expect before you book.

The castle itself is simply amazing! The decoration is so beautiful, the staff was helpful and the whole property is breathtaking! The garden and the lake beside the castle is so beautiful even in the morning!