La Bastide de Moustiers

Le Bastide de Moustiers was a huge disappointment. Upon our arrival, we were greeted and shown to our room. We inquired about getting a small bite and they said they could prepare a charcuterie and cheese plate. A table was set but not worthy of a Michelin restaurant - the place mats were not ironed and there were no glasses or water. When we mentioned this we were told: “This is only a one star not restaurant not a three-star Ducasse restaurant.” We ordered a bottle of Perrier and we asked for some lemon, but we were told the restaurant had no lemons?? The charcuterie and cheese plates arrived were very plain – just two slices of common ham and two slices of smoked meat. The cheese plate only had goat cheese – nothing else. There were no napkins or bread - it took15 minutes to get napkins and bread. We asked for two glasses of rose and that also took 10-15 minutes. The salad had some leaves that were spoiled and had turned black. We complained at the reception. They called the Directrice, Sarah Chailan. We complained to her about the terrible service. “I’m sorry – what do you want me to do about this.” She did not seem shocked by what had occurred nor did she seem very genuinely sorry. Her attitude only served to infuriate my wife and I further. She made no attempt to resolve the problem. 15 minutes later, she knocked on our door – her solution - send us to another hotel! We found this to be exceptionally insulting. We went to the pool and it was filthy. The property was full of weeds. The pool’s foot rinse was dirty and full of leaves. The pool was dirty and there was a big pile of dirty towels and water bottles. The pool house walls were full of mold. The umbrella stands were full of rust. Nothing evoked a luxury experience. This spot is in a lovely setting but is in bad disrepair. The service is truly awful and unless you want to spend $1000 or more on a run-down place with terrible service you should avoid this place.

We stayed in the “Amande” room which had a view of the country side, was not very big, but was comfortable and very quiet. The bathroom had a double sink, bathrobes, and large bath towels. There was a minibar in the room, but not very cold. Free mineral water was offered only the day of our departure. The staff was pleasant and helpful. The breakfast was priced at 32 Euros per person, with no cheaper option for guests who simply want a coffee and a croissant. However, coffee and tea were available in the room. Be aware that the road which leads to the front gate is very narrow with deep gutters on each side; 2 cars cannot cross in opposite directions without one of them backing-up until finding a little space at the entrance of a driveway. That happened to us more than once; stressful, impractical and somewhat dangerous, especially when it is dark. After passing the front gate, the path to the parking spaces is very steep and not wider. Again, 2 cars cannot cross without one having to back-up (up or down on the very steep slope) to let the other car go by; this happened twice during our stay. It appears that the property has enough space to remediate this situation, by widening the path, or create a second one. They should also work with the village to improve the narrow road.

We stayed one night in this establishment. The check-in was perfect, the welcome warm and professional. The room was completely in line with our expectations, comfortable and pleasant. The friendly atmosphere as well as the magnificent setting contributed to the success of our stay. The breakfast was of good quality. Certainly a bit minimalistic in its offerings, but served with a smile, that's already something. On the other hand, regarding the restaurant and its star, our feeling is more reserved. Without wanting to minimize the work done by the teams, we unfortunately did not find it on the plate. We did catch a glimpse of it at 135 meters high, between the two cliffs of the village, but unfortunately not in the gastronomic experience that was offered to us. In our opinion, the level does not yet justify such a distinction, especially when compared to other establishments that, in our view, would deserve it more. That being said, the potential is certainly present and there is a real margin for improvement so that the cuisine and the quality of service match the setting and the welcome, but the basics would need to be revisited...