Castelbrac Hotel & Spa

We had what was probably the best room in the hotel (#16), on the very top of the original aquarium tower. We had a large balcony overseeing the bay/boats. At first, we loved the room and were already making plans for a nice breakfast on the balcony and to returning next weekend for a calm weekend away, but then… Positives: - Nice small property, ~23 rooms. Historic building. The original rock walls everywhere are just beautiful. - The lap pool is small but nice to swim a bit. Negatives: - Service lacks the 5-star touch. As Hyatt members, we were very disappointed. - Check out time is 11am, even though the app and our reservation said 12pm. The front desk was even annoyed when we mentioned that our reservation stated noon as the checkout time. Having paid for the most expensive room in the hotel, a surprise 11am-check out time was disappointing. - There was a very loud party that was open to the public that started at 6pm and went until 11:30pm in the large veranda next to our balcony. The cleaning of the space continued until 12:30am (clanking of glasses, equipment and chairs being moved). When I told the front desk that we got very little sleep because of the party, they simply didn’t care. They did as if they didn’t hear me. More importantly, we weren’t warned that there would be a hotel party open to the public next to our balcony. The lack of courtesy! We were in our robes or changing, and the people were there in front of our windows. Paying for a sea view and having to shut the curtains and close the windows was not what we had in mind for a calm weekend away on the beach. - Beware: That veranda is open to the public all day, every day. People who are not hotel guests come and go to take pictures of the bay, while peaking at your room windows (which look directly into toilet, bed). - There is no fitness room. - Other than the small lap pool, there are no other amenities.

While this hotel is extremely well located it is not a true five star experience. Reasons: inadequate service at breakfast. Three days: gluten free bread day 1 inedible, day 2 -- tried harder and passable, day 3-- good.... and not enough. Served to everyone without any notation so when I asked for a second slice of toast I was told there isn't anymore! Unheard of! Breakfast was so poor that we canceled our reservation at the Michelin starred restaurant for dinner! Coffee orders: macchiato.... took 3X to get it right 2 out of 3 days Gluten free bread-- disastrous Omelette orders mixed up! Room-- great view-- but-- bugs.......no a/c in bathroom or WC! Check in, the person who assisted us knew very little (even about opening the bathroom shades! Concierges in the evening were lovely. Overall, management is lacking. We complained, yet there was not even a follow up from owners a week later!