Miss H.
Yelp
My last stay here was 3 years ago and I had the most memorable time with amazing staff/service. With that in mind, when we knew we were coming up to Healdsburg for a wedding, I told my husband, "I only want to stay at Hotel Les Mars." This time around, my most recent stay left me quite disappointed and sadly, my last. Things have changed for the worst not the better.
Before, the staff were impeccably polished in manners and dress; we were greeted immediately coming in and out of the lobby (every time) and if they saw us coming, would open the door for us and give us cold bottles of water due to the 100 degree heat.
This time around, during check-in, when we drove up in the loading zone, no one even came to the door or to us at the car. There was no offer of a glass of wine and after a bit of time at the front desk, two bottles of Dasani water were delivered to us. Really, you are giving us Dasani, filtered water?! Shortly after, as they were going to show us to our room, I stopped and had to ask about our bags and the two people at the front desk were surprised that we didn't have them with us and that they were still in the car. I was really turned off that they would assume and not even think to ask. I should explain, there is a service charge of ~$30 tacked on each day of your stay to cover all gratuities/housekeeping etc. I really like this aspect and don't mind paying for it, since it means I don't have to worry about carrying cash, but only if I get some service. I do want to say though, when I needed ice for our little cooler of medication; the guy showing us to the room offered a mini-fridge and went and brought one up to us immediately. I appreciated this immensely, but this one good deed did not make up for the rest of the odd and bad.
As for coming in and out, we'd get a hello, but really nothing more. If I wanted water, I had to call and ask for it. As for dress and grooming, I felt the staff in the front were a bit sloppy and unkempt. There was no protocol on fit or tailoring of clothes and grooming of hair/facial hair. It didn't fit for a hotel of this caliber. Maybe a uniform needs to be put in place? Interestingly, housekeeping were well-dressed, well-groomed and very polite; I think the front needs to take some cues from housekeeping.
One thing I was extremely happy was their offering of gluten-free options for breakfast since I've been diagnosed recently with a gluten allergy; it has been difficult to travel and eat out. It was one less thing to worry about. The first morning was wonderful: breakfast was hot, the gf breakfast sandwich was tasty and the bread and muffin almost tasted like the real thing. The next morning, I ordered the sandwich again, telling my husband I wanted my own and that I wasn't sharing. However, the happiness wore off and I had the opposite experience. The entire breakfast was cold, with the exception of lukewarm coffee. The bread was stale and breaking apart; that's when you know it's old gf bread. I couldn't eat it and spat it out. I called the front desk, told her our sandwiches were cold and stale. She didn't say anything, so I continued and just said "please remove them from our bill." She said "ok," no apology, no asking what we can do or "would you like another?"
You know what the strangest thing about this breakfast occurrence? Breakfast was delivered at 8am, we were in our room till about 12:30pm with the breakfast tray on the table with the two sandwich plates set next to the tray; one sandwich plate completely untouched. We left our room for 30 minutes and when we came back, the untouched sandwich plate was gone, the only thing gone! The breakfast tray, the other sandwich etc. were still there. How CREEPY is that and so violating! The only way they knew we were gone was either via the camera outside our door or the front desk guy who also delivered our breakfast noting that we were out of the room and either he or someone else came to retrieve it. Why and why only when we were out of the room? Did you not think we'd notice?! It makes me wonder what else they do when they note we are gone?!?!
With all this, it really didn't feel like I was staying at a Relais & Chateaux hotel. I wonder if it will even hold this distinction. Sorely and deeply disappointed with Hotel Les Mars!
P.S. There is no longer a pool and we were not told of this. It was sealed up a month ago to provide outdoor seating for their hotel restaurant.