Unveiling Chateau Vary: Angers' Hidden Gem (France)
Chateau Vary: Angers' Hidden Gem… Or Just Hiding? My Honest Review (With a Side of French Fries)
Okay, so I just got back from a stay at Chateau Vary, this "hidden gem" they keep going on about in Angers, France. And let me tell you, my expectations were… high. Seriously, I'd seen the glossy brochures, the perfect Instagram shots, the whole shebang. Did Chateau Vary live up to the hype? Well, buckle up, buttercups, because this is gonna be a bumpy (but hopefully hilarious) ride.
Accessibility & Safety (Let's Get the Boring Stuff Out of the Way)
First things first: Accessibility. I'm not reliant on a wheelchair, but I always check. They claim wheelchair accessibility, which is a good start. But, and it’s a big but, I didn't see any detailed info about the facilities. A note here: Angers isn't exactly known for its flat streets. Still, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since didn’t specifically test its capabilities.
Now, safety… This is huge, especially post-pandemic, right? Chateau Vary seemed to be taking it seriously. They touted all the usual suspects: Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, staff trained in safety protocol. I noticed the hand sanitizer stations liberally placed. The room sanitization opt-out was a thoughtful touch, though not every room was perfect (more on that later!). They even offered cashless payment, which, let’s be real, is just convenient these days. They also had a doctor/nurse on call, which, thankfully, I didn’t need. And most important, rooms sanitized between stays, a clear sign they're trying to keep guests safe.
Room Rundown: My Kingdom for a Blackout Curtain!
My room? Okay, on paper, it was everything. Air conditioning? Check. Free Wi-Fi (in all rooms!)? Double-check (and bless them for it!). Mini Bar? Woo hoo! Complimentary tea and coffee/tea maker? Yes, please! They even had a bathrobe and slippers, which is important considering I'm a creature of comfort.
But, and there's always a but… the blackout curtains. They claimed to have them. The photo didn't lie - the room was stunning, with a huge bed. The problem? Light leakage! I'm a light sleeper, and the morning sun practically attacked my eyeballs. This isn't the Chateau's best attribute but, as I got up with a heavy heart, I reminded myself that I was still in France.
And, let's be honest, some minor details were missing. The mirror was poorly placed, the desk was a little small. Also, let's be real, I had about 10 pillows on my bed, not too bad.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: Where the Real Fun Begins (and Ends?)
Alright, let's talk food. This is where Chateau Vary almost shone. They have multiple restaurants: a buffet in restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant, and a restaurant that offered international cuisine. They even offered an Asian breakfast, which, as a lover of all things Asian, I was ecstatic about.
The buffet in restaurant was good. There were desserts in restaurant, which I was surprised by, because other hotels in France don't usually serve desert at the buffet. I would definitely call that the best breakfast spread I've had in a while.
They have a bar that offers a poolside bar, and, honestly, the drinks were strong, and the view was great. But here's the thing…this is where my Chateau Vary experience peaked.
Poolside Bliss & the Great Foot Bath Fiasco
Let me paint you a picture: I was lounging by the pool with a view, drink in hand after a truly delicious breakfast. The sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, and I was feeling… sublime. The steamroom, the sauna, the outdoor-ness of everything? Superb.
Then, my husband, bless his heart, decided to try out the foot bath. And this is where things veered into near-disaster. Evidently, the foot bath wasn't exactly… well-maintained. Let's just say, the water wasn't clear, and the aroma was less "relaxing lavender" and more "questionable aquatic life." He decided to try the fitness center afterwards and, well, let's just say, he thought was great.
Services & Conveniences: Beyond the Basics (or, Where Things Get a Little Complicated)
Chateau Vary had all the usual suspects: Daily housekeeping, laundry service, luggage storage, etc. They offered an airport transfer and taxi service if needed. They even offered facilities for disabled guests (I guess?), though, as mentioned earlier, details weren't plentiful.
But here's where things got a little… messy.
I needed to get some euros, so I went to the cash withdrawal. It was out of service. I needed to fax, so I tried the Xerox/fax in business center, but It was completely closed. I wanted to buy my husband a gift, so I went to the gift/souvenir shop, but there was nothing there.
It's not the end of the world, but these small glitches added up.
For the Kids (and the Kid in Me):
I'm not traveling with kids but noticed that they had babysitting service and kids facilities. Plus, they seemed pretty family/child friendly.
Cleanliness, Safety, & Security: The Constant Worry
CCTV in the lobbies and around the hotel. It felt safe.
Getting Around: Parking Like a Pro (or a Tourist)
The car park [free of charge] was a godsend, especially since Angers isn't known for its easy parking. They also had car park [on-site].
The Verdict: Should You Book Chateau Vary? (The Honest Truth)
Alright, let's cut to the chase. Chateau Vary is… a mixed bag. The location is lovely, the potential is huge, and when it's good, it's really good. The pool is a definite highlight, the food is generally enjoyable, and the staff are friendly. The room was not ideal, but also it was nice.
But, and this is a big but, the service definitely needs some work. There are some obvious kinks to iron out. Some of the amenities didn't quite deliver. The level of detail really felt like it was lacking.
So, here's my offer:
Book your stay at Chateau Vary now and get a FREE footbath experience, completely sanitized & guaranteed (Disclaimer: May not actually be guaranteed). And get a bottle of wine. You're already in France; you might as well enjoy it!
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars for effort. With a little more attention to detail, Chateau Vary could truly be a gem. The foot bath experience could be a whole other story.
Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Makayiram Retreat in Munnar, India
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary for Château Vary Angers is less "perfectly planned Parisian adventure" and more "me-trying-not-to-lose-my-passport-while-simultaneously-having-a-crisis-about-the-meaning-of-life-in-a-French-château."
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Apples
- 10:00 AM (ish) - Angers Train Station: The Grand Misunderstanding. So, I thought I was being clever, booked a direct train. Turns out "direct" in French means "stops at every single tiny village that worships Brie." Got off in Angers a full hour later than I’d planned, clutching my overstuffed backpack like a drowning man to a life raft. Already regretting not packing more snacks. (Lesson learned: always pack more snacks.)
- 11:30 AM - Château Vary Check-in: The Receptionist's Smile. Found Château Vary. It is as gorgeous as the pictures, I'll give it that. The receptionist, Madame Dubois, has a smile that could melt glaciers, even when dealing with my panicked, jet-lagged babbling about train delays and missing luggage. (Spoiler: the luggage is still MIA.)
- 12:30 PM - The Room: A Tiny Slice of Heaven (and a Mild Panic Attack). Okay, the room? Divine. Think four-poster bed, velvet curtains, a view of the Loire Valley that makes you want to weep…and a tiny fridge that seems to contain only expensive French water and…an apple. One sad, lonely apple. Where’s the cheese platter?! My stomach rumbles its disapproval.
- 1:00 PM - Exploring the Grounds: Lost in a Maze (and My Thoughts). The château's grounds are huge. Like, ridiculously huge. Got lost almost immediately. Wandering, eventually, into a rose garden where the scent almost made me faint from joy. Then, immediately realized I'd brought zero water, and the anxiety started creeping back. I had to sit down under a shady tree and take a few deep breaths, listening to the birds sing – a cacophony of beauty. Started thinking about my life choices. You know, the usual existential stuff. Still no cheese platter.
- 4:00 PM - The Castle: Armor and Angst. The castle itself is breathtaking. I spent hours in there. Each room made me want to be a princess… or a noble…or a queen… until I realized I’d probably be miserable in any of those positions. They had armor. I tried to imagine fighting in that stuff. I'd faint. I spent even longer than I thought staring at tapestries and paintings… all the while I would be thinking if I'd be able to pay the bill…
Day 2: The Tapestry Tango (and a Serious Cheese Intervention)
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast: The Croissant Catastrophe. Attempted a continental breakfast. Failed spectacularly. Somehow, managed to drop my croissant…in the butter dish. Mortifying. The lady next to me, an impeccable woman in a pearls, just raised an eyebrow. I died a little inside.
- 10:00 AM - The Tapestry of the Apocalypse: The Sheer Grandeur/The Emotional Breakdown Okay, the Tapestry of the Apocalypse… this is the thing. Angers is famous for it. It is HUGE. It is… wow. Seriously. I mean, to stand and look at this thing… The sheer scale of the thing dwarfs you. It's like the entire apocalypse is being laid out before you. I spent hours just staring, trying to piece it all together. The details, the colors, the historical weight of it all… It's overwhelming. Started to go to a quiet corner and have a little cry. It's that emotionally affecting.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch: Cheese, Glorious Cheese! I swear, I almost wept when the waiter presented my plate of cheese. A glorious, multi-layered assortment of French goodness. It tasted like victory. Finally. Feeling much better about things.
- 2:30 PM - Back to the Tapestry: Refresher, More Revelations. I had to go back. Had to. This time, with a notebook and a pen. I took notes. I tried to understand the stories behind the pictures. I tried to analyze the artist's intentions. I realized I am clueless. I loved every second of it.
- 5:00 PM - The River: Reflection and Regret. The river. The Loire. Lovely. Beautiful. Peaceful. I sat there on a quiet bench, staring at the water and thinking I'd probably overpacked. And didn't pack enough cute dresses. And that I should have brought a book.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: The Wine Incident. Ordered a glass of wine. Said the wrong thing (something about the bartender's accent, apparently). He gave me a look. A very French look. The wine was good, though. Luckily.
Day 3: Farewell (and a Final, Desperate Plea for Cheese)
- 9:00 AM - Packing: The Great Unraveling. Did I mention my luggage is still lost? Well, it is. Packing up everything, mostly wearing the same outfit for three days, I felt somewhat dejected.
- 10:00 AM - Final Walk: Last Look. I wandered around the grounds one last time. The sun was beautiful. The morning was quiet. It all felt like a dream.
- 11:00 AM - Check-out: Thank You, Goodbye, and Please, More Cheese! Madame Dubois was, once more, perfection. I thanked her, I said goodbye. I may have made a desperate plea for them to ship me cheese to my home. (Don't judge.)
- 12:00 PM - Train Departure: The Return to Reality (and the Search for Snacks). Angers - you were wonderful. I'll be back. Eventually. With more luggage. And more cheese. And, hopefully, with answers to life's biggest questions. (Spoiler alert: probably not.)
Postscript: I'm currently sitting on the train, slightly disheveled, slightly over-emotional, and absolutely, desperately hoping my luggage magically appears. I'd rate Chateau Vary an absolute must-see- with the proviso to pack as many snacks as possible. And maybe a therapist.
Unbelievable Hanting Hotel Cangzhou: People's Park Views You WON'T Believe!
