Le Domaine De Barbizon — Hotel in Fontainebleau

Horrendous DO NOT STAY greeted with fly spray|I have no idea when the photos on the booking sight we used were staged and taken, probably back in the 1980s or before, because the place looks NOTHING like them, the place is dilapidated. Paint crumbling off, scruffy unkept grounds, dirty garden chairs. The rooms are no better, hard uncomfortable beds, no atmosphere, more like a down trodden youth hostel. The bathroom we had,was the large pink one that looks nice in the photos, but more like a potential death trap. On the double sink unit only one of the two taps worked and that tap only had cold water. There was no plugs, just gaping holes, so don’t put anything near the sink you’ll loose it. The grout is thick with mold. There was a very deep bath with a shower above it, ridiculous to climb in and out of, the bath floor is slippy and with no shower curtain and a tiny bath mat water spilled onto the floor, it was so hard climbing out of the death hole of a bath then onto a sloppy floor, with only your tiny towel to mop up the excess water. The hostess Natalie is rude, we attempted some French, she was not interested in even attempting English, despite the site claiming the language was spoken. Also don’t expect internet, despite what they say, there is none! If there was we’d have found somewhere else to stay. There is none in the area, it is a horrendous place to find, as you cannot use google maps and the car satellite doesn’t recognize the place. When you do arrive you have to call at the expense of international call rates to be allowed in. We had to ring 3 times and leave phone messsges. It took 45 minutes to be let in. On a plus we’d were told we could have tea or coffee in the lounge anytime, we were shown a kettle, but no milk, so only if you like black tea or coffee. There is no one around at all to ask anything. You’re literally in an old crumbling place, with no one around, in a hard bed with cold water. The only thing we were given that was helpful was a can of fly spray, we were directed that we would need it for the flies and my goodness did we. Just do not stay here, we were trapped for two nights, as we couldn’t even use the internet to find somewhere else. I have never wanted a refund anywhere in my life, but this place really was awful, especially at the premium rate paid. There is also no hair dryer and the towels smell musty. No toiletries to speak of, unless you class a thumbnail of liquid soap that’s enough to wash your hands once. You’re told breakfast is at nine and no alternative choice. This place does not want guests, you feel a complete inconvenience. In my opinion this place has guests only to pay for its crumbling foundations and they go out of the way to make you feel as unwanted and unwelcome as possible. Breakfast was a joke, one croissant, tiny piece of bread, some juice, THATS IT! Then directed to a kettle and told to make own drinks. Totally ripping people off, at the premium rate they charge. Let alone the lack of facilities and poor rooms. Horrendous, seriously avoid, we have stayed in many much nicer places in this area, with French hosts that don’t speak English, it were made to feel welcome, despite all else it’s the very minimum you expect. I seriously think booking.com need to look into this place, it is false advertising, the facilities described do not exist. I really feel we should be refunded. Booking sight we used you should be ashamed to have this place on your sight. I have used you many times, as has my husband and wider family, you are usually a trusted platform, if this was my only experience of booking with you, I’d never use the platform again. We did t even get the room we booked and paid for a d there is no air conditioning, but...

If you are a foreigner to France, head's up. THIS PLACE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY. Proceed carefully if you try to book here: Although this place is beautiful, contrary to the inaccurate representation on Booking.com, it does NOT have air conditioning. I saw another review that stated there was no heat, either. We showed up on a Friday in late June and even though it was late afternoon, the temperature was around 93 to 95 degrees F/34 to 35 degrees C. it was insufferably hot and there was one fan that was inadequate. Incredibly, all of the windows were wide open, which not only did not help at all with the heat, but because there were horses on the property, there were horse flies throughout the house. If they had A/C, this would have been a very nice place to stay, but not with the heat and the horse flies. One of us has asthma, so we couldn't stay and it took us over an hour to find another location with availability. Unless you visit during spring or fall, this will be a very uncomfortable stay. We had paid already through Booking.com. I asked for an email address before we left so that I could have them send me a reply confirming no A/C to get a refund from Booking.com. Nadia on the property refused to give me an email without checking first with the proprietor (who was also on the property; we spoke with him earlier), and she told us she couldn't reach him right then. I gave her my email and asked her to send me a No-A/C statement when she confirmed with the proprietor that it would "be ok". We've been back home almost two weeks now, and crickets from Nadia. At this point, I don't expect to hear from her, and I believe this is intended to rip off foreigners. My service rating is 0. Additionally, we just got our credit card bill, and we now have a double bill from this location AFTER we already paid through Booking.com, and even though we didn't stay there at all. I spoke in French with Nadia, and even Google-translated my request, to be sure we were communicating well. Nadia read the translation and agreed to send an email and instead we have been double billed. This all feels very...

I've really enjoyed the stay here. There are many things that can be fixed or made better in the building, like a better match of some paintings to the style of the house, but the overall ambiance is exceptional. You are like in another world, far from the crowded city and transposed in another time. So quiet, only birds and every now and then you hear a horse snickering. Wonderful ambiance in the house and outside, charming people and beautiful nature....