Hôtel Restaurant Verger des Châteaux, the Originals Relais, Proche Sélestat

The hotel was generally clean, and breakfast was good, but certain amenities—or the lack thereof—should be noted. The room had a very small and flimsy Ikea closet, which made it difficult to store anything properly. They provided a water boiler and cups, but no complimentary tea or coffee. There was also no mini fridge, so if you’re planning to buy treats to take home, like cheese, keep in mind that you’ll have to buy them on the last day of your stay. They removed one of the bedcovers and the extra pillows two nights before we left, which was an issue for me since I needed them due to my back problem. We were charged €10 per night for each dog (we had two dachshunds), and luckily we always travel with a full kit for them (cushions, blankets, food, and water bowls) because the fee only covered cleaning. Dinner was okay if you chose the menu, but if you plan to order à la carte, I’d recommend going somewhere else.

This hotel requires a significant upgrade. When you arrive there are virtually no staff to welcome you in. The smoking area is at the main entrance which isn’t very welcoming. We got to our room only to be greeted with dust, insects and spiders on the ceiling. No tea/coffee or a kettle. It was 28 degrees and no source of air conditioning. We could of open the doors but then you let in all manner of bugs. There was a fan but this didn’t work. Dinner was lovely and very generous portions. The staff did seem a little run off their feet. Breakfast was rather disappointing as we were served our buffet food. There was a queue and you felt like you had to rush. Thankfully I only had the cereal as the lady (who wasn’t very pleasant) behind the screens (not sure what the point of that was) touched the bread then handed it out with tongues. Very odd and very unhygienic. The croissants were solid and very dry. This breakfast setting seemed very very outdated. The views however are spectacular. It’s absolutely not on my list to revisit I’m afraid.

We arrived after one day driving, expected nice dinner and comfortable sleep. Howevwer, the first phrase of the staff was : we are full for dinner, the ohrase was repeated several times, no effort made to find an alternative (such as sit us in the bar and provide with snaces, offer room service or at least suggest some restorans around. "We are sorry" and some kind of smile would have also helped not to ruin the mood.

Overall, a good stay. In particular, the evening meal was excellent and the dining room is large and airy with attentive service. Our only issue was with Reception - we arrived early and were told we could wait in the garden until 15:00 which we did. In fact, the room wasn't ready till 16:00 because "the hotel had been full the night before" but we were irked by the receptionist who was quite rude/discourteous saying that she had "no idea" when the room would be ready as though she couldn't care less. A little hospitality would have helped.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay here. If you are visiting the Alsace region and just need a place to stay and some dinner then this is fine. The place is out-dated but the rooms are rustic in their charm and they are clean, with a decent shower. We had dinner here and the menu was pretty good. It was also clearly popular. I must admit the portions were generous but the food wasn't really my thing, and I thought quite expensive for what it was. However, this might be just me being a little fussy as it was clearly popular, with guests and locals, though I get the impression this is the the only local restaurant available in the area! So, if you are going to stay here, you don't have much choice! Overall though, the room was decent and the price reflected its age, so I got what I expected at that price. The staff were friendly and there was plenty of parking. Yes, I'd stay again.

L’accueil est chaleureux. Le petit déjeuner est copieux, varié avec des mets alsaciens. Les chambres sont spacieuses et confortables. C’est simple et efficace pour une halte étape car l’établissement est très bien situé! Le parking est gratuit.