Le Grand Cabourg

The arrival at the hotel creates a good first impression. A beautiful old building in a neat square filled with flowers. The voituriers/men who took our cases were smartly dressed, welcoming and efficient. As was the man on reception. So far so good. However, our initial disappointment was with the room. We had a sea-facing room with a balcony. The room was very large but very old fashioned. The bathroom enormous. The maintenance in both was poor. A damaged, scratched headboard on the bed; turquoise and brown decor (whoever thought that was a good combination ?), a lack of general warmth in the room. The bathroom comprised a bath with an overhead shower (and plastic shower curtains) requiring considerable manipulation to get into and out of … I certainly didn’t feel very safe using it. The paintwork on the cupboards was dirty and of poor quality. And, as someone else has mentioned, brown toilet paper, surely there must be a better looking recycled toilet roll ? The wind-screens on the balcony were dirty and the balcony generally poorly maintained. Breakfast was served in the main restaurant with lovely views over the promenade and the sea. Breakfast was okay but items weren’t regularly replenished, with the need to ask for juice, etc there were empty bowls previously filled with fruit, etc. Smoked trout (not salmon). The restaurant, the Balbec, also in the same, potentially lovely room, was poor. Dishes with a lack of taste/seasoning. It didn’t really feel as if anyone was in charge of anything or that anybody cared. We got the impression that the staff just did what they thought without clear direction. This hotel does not warrant five stars and it is difficult to see (apart from the location) how such high prices are justified. We would not return.

Stayed as a couple. The hotel is splendid and has kept its traditional touch. Direct access to the beach. The staff is available and pleasant, we will be back!

A magnificent view, staff who are very attentive, helpful without being overbearing. We really had a dream stay to celebrate our anniversary. Warning: do not eat the madeleines on the reception desk, they are just there to tempt you..... ;-) If there is one "complaint" to make, it is that the bathroom is huge and it would have been nice to add a bathtub in addition to the shower