La Baronnie Hotel et Spa

Stayed here for a week in early September 07. Hotel was just what we were looking for. Very quiet and peaceful with a lovely quiet garden yet just 30 yards from the lovely bustling harbour front. Our room was in the garden and was very tastefully furnished. Didn't have breakfast in the hotel as there was such a choice of places to eat arouind the harbour. Weather was fabolus, didn't see a cloud all week. Hired bikes in the village and were able to store them in thee hotel garden when not in use. Will return without a doubt.

This is a beautiful building right in the heart of St Martin. Lovely large rooms immaculately cleaned and serviced daily to a high standard. Comfy beds and good sound insulation. The hotel has two spacious gardens and two pleasant courtyards. A small slender pool probably large enough for the number of guests, closed off by mid September though. There's an indoor gravity pool as part of the spa - extra charges for this. A good breakfast that still has room for small improvements. Hot food represented by scrambled eggs, flabby bacon and anaemic looking sausages. Mini croissants somewhat cakey in texture and pains au chocolat - I much prefer a larger flaky buttery croissant. Breads cheeses, cold cuts etc. the usual buffet lineup. So why the review title? Despite being four star, the bar is only open from 4:30 pm, run by a barman who would make Eeyore look positively jovial. To get to the bar from the main hotel involves going out through the courtyard, past the pool, through another residential building that includes staff quarters, across another courtyard then finally in to the somewhat pricy bar. Not that we were desperate for booze, but post breakfast not so much as a cup of coffee could be had during the day, let alone a cool beer to sit in the guest lounge or gardens with. No all day kitchen so snacks or light lunches are out of the question too. 4* should do better than this. Friendly helpful staff, the best I have encountered in my travels for a long time.