T. Freude
Google
We had high expectations for The Fontigall Hotel, having chosen it as a special final stop at the end of our holiday. The hotel presents itself beautifully on the website, and at £400 per night, we anticipated a level of quality and service in line with other high-end hotels we’ve experienced. Unfortunately, we were deeply disappointed - both during our stay and in the hotel’s response afterwards.
Although the setting is picturesque and the design of the hotel is tasteful, the overall experience fell far below the standard we expected. Our room had not been properly prepared: it had clearly not been aired, and several (6) dead mayflies were on the floor upon arrival. There was no warm welcome, no explanation of the hotel’s services, no luggage assistance, and no clear point of contact throughout the stay. We were also charged for items we hadn’t consumed, which we only after the checkout.
The room itself was very noisy — something we would never have expected at this price point. On both nights, we were kept awake by loud staff activity and background noise late into the night. Instead of a restful, rejuvenating stay, we left feeling sleep-deprived and frustrated. In this price category, one expects full relaxation and attention to detail, which was simply not delivered.
It is important to say that the Restaurant Staff was very friendly and the friday night pub evening was absolutely wonderful — lively, warm, and full of charm. It was a highlight of our stay and showed what the place could be at its best.
Following our visit, we shared detailed feedback directly with the hotel in a constructive and respectful manner. Sadly, the response was brief, impersonal, and offered no gesture of goodwill.. which only reinforced our sense of disappointment.
We have stayed in many upscale hotels over the years, and this was by far the most underwhelming experience. The potential is there, the location is beautiful, and the hotel is well-designed, but the quality, service culture, and guest care do not live up to what is promised online, nor to what one should expect in this price category.