alexandandrear2026-08-07
A disappointing experience…
We have been Hilton Diamond members for nearly 15 years and have stayed at many true five-star resorts around the world. Unfortunately, our experience at Les Bories Resort & Spa fell far short of that standard. In our opinion, this property is a four-star resort at best, and the five-star designation is misleading. While the grounds and location are beautiful, they are not enough to justify a luxury rating when the service consistently misses the mark.
When we arrived, our room was not yet ready, which was perfectly understandable. We decided to have lunch by the pool while we waited. Unfortunately, the service was slow, disorganized, and lacked the warmth you expect from a luxury hotel. The two young servers appeared to have very little communication with each other. We ordered wine, waited over 15 minutes without receiving it, and then watched as they removed our wine glasses before ever bringing the wine. We eventually had to remind them and place the order again. My son's fish and the gazpacho were both good, but my club sandwich was soggy and had an unpleasant texture.
After lunch we spent time at the pool. The clientele was primarily older adults (mostly in their 60s and 70s), but this is still a family-friendly hotel, and there is no adults-only pool. Our four-year-old son was happily playing with other children when an elderly guest approached us and rudely demanded that he be quiet. I mentioned the incident to the young woman working at the pool restaurant because I wanted to provide feedback for management about interactions like this. Instead of listening, she launched into a lengthy complaint about how stressful her day had been dealing with children and how overworked she was. It was completely inappropriate and incredibly unprofessional. She was condescending and dismissive throughout the conversation. The young man working alongside her seemed as though he wanted to help but ultimately came across as equally condescending. My husband later spoke with the front desk, and I sincerely hope both employees received coaching on the standards expected in hospitality.
When our room was finally ready, we were surprised to find there was no welcome note, amenity, or even a small gesture acknowledging our stay. Nearly every five-star property we've visited offers some type of welcome, particularly for loyal Hilton Diamond members. It's a small detail, but one that leaves a lasting impression. Here, there was simply nothing.
Dinner that evening was equally disappointing. The meal lasted more than three hours due to the slow pace of service. By 10:45 p.m., our four-year-old was exhausted, and honestly, so were we. The food itself was average and significantly overpriced for the quality. The one standout was dessert - the pastry chef is exceptionally talented. It was easily the best part of the meal, and we found ourselves wishing we had gone into Gordes for dinner instead.
Breakfast the following morning continued the pattern. We entered the restaurant and no one greeted us or acknowledged our arrival. The staff simply stared at us until we initiated the conversation and gave them our room number. The coffee was watery and bitter, and the breakfast buffet was surprisingly limited with very little variety or quality. Even more surprising for a hotel claiming to be five stars, there was no option to order made-to-order eggs, Eggs Benedict, or any other à la carte breakfast items. It was extremely disappointing.
After checking out of our room, we spent a few more hours at the pool before leaving. Once again, no one greeted us when we arrived, and throughout the entire afternoon not a single staff member checked on us or asked whether we wanted food or drinks. That level of inattentiveness is simply not consistent with five-star hospitality.
I'm grateful this stay was redeemed using a free night earned through our many stays at other Hilton properties. Had we paid the full nightly rate, I would have been extremely disappointed with the value received.
Ultimately, Les Bories Resort & Spa is a beautiful property in a stunning location, but beautiful scenery alone does not create a luxury experience. Service is what defines a true five-star hotel, and throughout our stay it consistently fell short. Based on our experience, and after reading many similar reviews mentioning poor service and high prices, I would not recommend this hotel. In our opinion, it is a three- to four-star resort charging five-star prices.
