Baumanière Les Baux de Provence

We spent 3 nights at the property at the end of September and enjoyed our stay. The property has that rambling just slightly unkempt southern french charm and the rooms are comfortable if a bit dark and oddly a bit tight to each other (if you're on your front terrace and your neighbour is as well, you're very close to each other with just a spare hedge between you). How much you enjoy this property probably depends on your tolerance for a slightly indifferent approach to service. The staff are friendly and I have no doubt if you ask them for something they'd happily do it, but this is not a seeing to your every need sort of place and this might rub some people the wrong way given the high price. I'm happy to pour my own water - even if you're charging me 6 euros for filtered tap water. A bigger example: the middle night we were there there was a large, dramatic thunderstorm that came through, knocking the power out for 4 hours over the dinner hour. No one came by to offer candles, flashlight or even explain the problem (also, no generator?), so the residents were just wondering the property with their smart phone flashlights. We ended up having a candlelit dinner in the bar and it was sort of great - but a truly great hotel would come by and offer guests a glass or bubbles or a whisky to make a nod to the inconvenience being suffered. Baumaniere simply proceed with their very precise wine pours charged at full rate ;) In the end we enjoyed it - but it helped we were midweek and paying less than 500 Euros a night - had I been paying double (which is not uncommon) I might not be so relaxed.

We had a very mixed experience during our 3 night stay here. It’s a shame because the hotel bones, grounds and setting are all amazing. However, the rooms and interior spaces are in dire need of improvement. Much of the hotel has old, worn furniture and the service was very spotty. And the pools are totally inactivated, lacking umbrellas and comfortable lounge chairs. There is also basically no service there. On the positive side, we did like the food a lot. However, I couldn’t recommend it in its current state.

Pretty hotel and grounds, our room was actually beautiful and very comfortable .breakfast was pleasant. Spa treatments amazing( although spa itself lacking) and spa and hotel staff were lovely. Dinner in the none three star restaurant was incredible, dinner in the three star highly disappointing, I didn’t enjoy a single dish. Thank god for the bread. Checking in on our arrival night - very hard to find the entrance. We were left to our devices to drag luggage in the pouring rain across the gravel whilst the one member of staff looked on. Shame as it could be terrific.

The hotel has lost its charm, decor, quality of bedding, towels, food etc. The rooms are moldy and tired, and not to the standard of a 5-star but a 3-star at best.

Arriving at Baumanière was like being in a Bond movie. The hotel grounds are stunning and vast, and our room was pristine. There was so much to explore and try out - amazing food, the best bath tub, goat garden, gorgeous wine - and a shuttle to make our trip even more easeful for short trips in the area. Staff were attentive and highly responsive. Can't wait to come back for more magic.