Castelbrac Hotel & Spa

It seems unkind not to give this an exceptional score as it is a very good hotel but there are some elements (trivial you may think) that make this so. It is a very agreeable building and its conversion to a hotel has been done with imagination, flair, style, care and thoughtfulness. You have, as a result, an elegant hotel with charm and character. All the rooms have a view over the bay and because of the building's age ours was quiet and restful. It was a decent size for an entry-level room and was decently equipped. Enough storage space for a reasonable stay, 'fridge with water replenished daily or as needed, a safe, radio/alarm and a TV. The bed was comfortable and pillows (which we usually find not to our liking in Continental hotels) actually very good. The décor, in keeping with the rest of the hotel, was stylish and elegant. The bathroom (separate WC) also had a sea view as well as an excellent shower. The usual fripperies were provided together with robe and slippers. There is a car park on site for about 15 cars and parking is done for you. You need to look for the entrance but once you know it's there all is fine. There are multiple EV charging points and although the hotel charges your car it won't charge the owner for the privilege, but there is a charge of 30 Euros a night for use of the car park. There are few public rooms, the consequence of the hotel's geography I think. A nice restaurant which serves as a breakfast room, a bar and a salon. There's also outdoor seating on a terrace. A wellness/beauty suite exists which we didn't try. A pool with loungers on two levels completes the hotel; there are no gardens but there is a small pool. Breakfast was fine but a little eclectic with a distinct read-across from the restaurant. All the usual suspects present but if you're not on a B&B basis (we were) you should expect to pay either 30 or 40 Euros for breakfast with the more expensive option getting you eggs and fish and meats/cheese The staff were uniformally first-class: helpful, warm, friendly, courteous, professional and exceptionally well-mannered. Oh that more hotels didn't have the same. We used the restaurant once and this is subject of a separate review. Suffice to say it was all you would expect from a Michelin-status establishment. So far so good so why the 'very good'? Well if you can't park in the hotel street parking is almost impossible. When walking about we found some but it was a fair distance away so you are pretty much compelled to use the hotel's car park unless you want to traipse through Dinard's (very pleasant) streets. It seems somewhat miserly to charge what they do for breakfast as although it is indeed good we've had just as good elsewhere and more cheaply. It seems, also, mean-spirited to levy another 10 Euros for the full Continental but I suspect that those guests not travelling on a B&B basis (our was with Brittany Ferries – excellent value for money) won't really notice

We had what was probably the best room in the hotel (#16), on the very top of the original aquarium tower. We had a large balcony overseeing the bay/boats. At first, we loved the room and were already making plans for a nice breakfast on the balcony and to returning next weekend for a calm weekend away, but then… Positives: - Nice small property, ~23 rooms. Historic building. The original rock walls everywhere are just beautiful. - The lap pool is small but nice to swim a bit. Negatives: - Service lacks the 5-star touch. As Hyatt members, we were very disappointed. - Check out time is 11am, even though the app and our reservation said 12pm. The front desk was even annoyed when we mentioned that our reservation stated noon as the checkout time. Having paid for the most expensive room in the hotel, a surprise 11am-check out time was disappointing. - There was a very loud party that was open to the public that started at 6pm and went until 11:30pm in the large veranda next to our balcony. The cleaning of the space continued until 12:30am (clanking of glasses, equipment and chairs being moved). When I told the front desk that we got very little sleep because of the party, they simply didn’t care. They did as if they didn’t hear me. More importantly, we weren’t warned that there would be a hotel party open to the public next to our balcony. The lack of courtesy! We were in our robes or changing, and the people were there in front of our windows. Paying for a sea view and having to shut the curtains and close the windows was not what we had in mind for a calm weekend away on the beach. - Beware: That veranda is open to the public all day, every day. People who are not hotel guests come and go to take pictures of the bay, while peaking at your room windows (which look directly into toilet, bed). - There is no fitness room. - Other than the small lap pool, there are no other amenities.

This is an amazing charming place. Withe a service like you can hardly find in Europe. The rooms all have a nice view. The breakfast is outstanding. The 1* restaurant is losing itself in too complexe disches. But the view and service make it a memorable experience.

Me and my husband spent two nights in Castelbrac for our honeymoon this summer. It was just the perfect spot! The staff was very kind, extremely attentive to our needs, and the place was of outstanding beauty. We also had dinner in the restaurant, one to remember. The food was exquisite, and the dinner an fine experience for the eyes and tastebuds. Can only recommend.

There are not enough superlatives to describe our stay at Castelbrac. We enjoyed absolutely everything. We stayed in the Prestige Suite and appreciated the space and the ever changing view of the tides coming in and out as well as the activity in the harbor. It seems that every child in town learns to sail and this was most fun to watch. The room was comfortable and quiet. The meals we had at the hotel, a light dinner and breakfasts, were enjoyable. We also had delicious cocktails on the balcony of the salon. The best part of our entire trip to France was our boat trip on their private yacht. The captain was knowledgeable and we were able to see the beauty of the nearby cliffs and the area from the water. We had a great time and would visit again in a heartbeat. We enjoyed walking along the cliff walk that winds around the Dinard waterfront, finding sea glass and shells on the beach, walking through the town to get ice cream and had a delicious dinner at a nearby restaurant. We wanted a low key place to stay and both Dinard and Castelbrac were perfection. In fact, unpretentious and relaxing would be a great way to describe them both. The only regret was that we did not stay there longer. Ah, next time. Thank you for making my significant birthday celebration so special. I appreciated all of the delightful treats and we look forward to returning sometime in the future!