Hotel Romantik di Arcachon

This was the second time we have stayed at Les Bains d’Arguin. We has specifically asked not to be in a certain room which we had last year. We had booked an Executive room with a view of the Bassin. Please note all these rooms look onto the car park with a very limited view of the Bassin if you are standing right out on the small balcony. Last year our room overlooked the bins and staff entrance to the kitchen. Once we checked in and were given our keys, we discovered that we had exactly the same room as the previous year and I went back to Reception to ask to change room. We had specifically asked not to be in that room and having booked 3 months earlier they had certainly had prior warning. The Receptionist said there was nothing she could do for 5 days until a large group checked out. I complained that it wasn’t good enough and it was our second visit to the Hotel. So we had to stick with this awful, dark room and the smell of the bins wafting up every time we opened the balcony doors. The rooms are very tired and would need some investment. The shower door leaked as it had done the year before. You are given paper cups instead of glasses. The bath robes were very worn and had seen better days. The Staff in the Thalasso were not very welcoming either and it seemed like we were bothering them when trying to book some treatments. I managed to book a couple of treatments but found them very average. Both of the treatments were carried out by staff who had only been there a few months and I found them quite inexperienced. My cuticles are still recovering from the manicure I had. The Thalasso centre itself is quite nice and the indoor pool is very nice. The outdoor pool was very cold and it is always difficult to find a sun bed. Guests fight over them and people are constantly on the move between treatments. We had booked half board and the breakfast is passable, nothing special. I however did enjoy the evening meals and I think this is the highlight of this hotel. The meals are well balanced and enjoyable. The Staff in the Restaurant are probably the nicest in the whole of the Hotel. We did ask one evening why the service was taking so long and we were told as the Hotel was full it would be like this for the next 15 days! The French lack of Customer Service does make me laugh at times. Luckily the hotel is situated 400m from a very nice beach. The centre of Arcachon is quite a walk away but always a joy to visit. We also really liked La Mouette which is the next beach and town up from the hotel. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel and would never go back to it. It is no way a 4 star hotel. I would give it a very low 3 stars. They really need to invest in the upkeep of the hotel and in staff Customer training. Although I love this area of France, I wouldn’t want to be disappointed again and not enjoy my well earned holiday. I absolutely hate feeling stressed on holiday and having to fight for what I feel I have paid for.