Descubra sua estadia em Pont-Saint-Martin

We only spent one night in this hotel, and it is surely an experience we will not forget in a hurry. As a military history buff I was intrigued to visit this hotel, located as it is within the walls of an Italian C19 fortress. Unfortunately, due to health and car problems we did not arrive in the best of spirits having endured a journey from hell, (due also to our Satnav deciding to throw ‘a wobbly’ that day), resulting in our not arriving at the hotel until 8pm. Nevertheless, having phoned the ever courteous and helpful Deborah warning her of our late arrival, things did not turn out too badly. However, be aware that access to this property is not exactly simple or for the faint hearted. Having driven up a multi-storey car park with very narrow roadways, you are then confronted with the prospect of ascending not one but five lifts in order to eventually reach our room at the top of the fort. A task not to be taken on lightly with cumbersome luggage. The conversion from fortress to hotel has been achieved to an extraordinary degree, with reception rooms, lounges and bedrooms all tastefully, if a little clinically, decorated. We occupied a junior suite which was very comfortable, with spacious bedroom, good sized bathroom (with bathtub), together with a small lobby and smaller room with an additional single bed. The view from the window and small balcony of the mountains and valley below was truly breath-taking. However, the site’s functions are a little quirky as it is trying to balance both being a tourist attraction and a hotel at the same time. Breakfast was a little disappointing as effectively what you are offered is the site cafeteria with a few concessions to what you might expect at that time of day. Also, for somewhere so remote, it is unfortunate that there is no restaurant. The reception is only open for limited hours. So, if you want something different, in a fantastic mountain retreat – if a little quirky – give it a go. The memory will stay with you, whatever your experience.

We were looking forward to a stay at this hotel as it could have been the perfect location for us during frequent drives from France to Italy, unfortunately things started to go wrong from the minute we arrived. The receptionist told us we were not allowed to park in one of the hotel spaces at the front of the hotel, moreover we needed to pay for their spaces at the back of the hotel or alternatively park for free in the Lidl supermarket opposite. She said the front spaces were kept free for any local people who “may” want to eat at the hotel, even though we had actually reserved a table in their restaurant for dinner anyway. We felt absolutely unwelcome! Then we checked into our room. The door entrance to the room is difficult, the bed is hard and the lighting makes it impossible to use the dressing table for make up and hair, as does the minimal lighting in the bathroom. Dinner in the restaurant was not up to the standard we thought we would get for the price paid. I had to return my very rare steak twice although the waiter had previously assured me that the chef was happy to cook my steak to medium. The potatoes on my dish and my husband’s meal were completely burned and inedible.By the time my steak came back the second time, my husband had finished what he could eat of his meal. As I have absolutely never had to write such a poor review of any hotel, I asked to talk to Evis, the hotel Manager first, to explain my disappointment. We were not looking for a discount on our bill, just for Evis to acknowledge the problems we had faced. Sadly doing that seemed too difficult for her and she simply took the small price of the burnt potatoes off the bill. Her parting comment was that maybe we were not used to staying in a 4 star hotel! We left with the impression that this hotel does not welcome tourists and is only interested in “selling” the hotel to local people. We would not want to risk another meal or an overnight stay here again.