Le Cise

Le Cise in Ault, France, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a tranquil seaside escape perched on the dramatic Picardy cliffs, overlooking the North Sea and the Bay of Somme. This charming hotel, part of The Originals Relais, is celebrated for its breathtaking views, peaceful environment, and unique character.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Le Cise generally garners a very positive sentiment, often described as a "haven of peace". It holds a "Very Good" rating of 8.2 out of 10 based on 141 reviews on Expedia and a "Good" rating of 7.7 based on 678 reviews on another platform. Michelin Guide guests frequently praise its excellent location, friendly and helpful staff, and fantastic breakfast. While widely appreciated for its setting and many amenities, some guests have expressed mixed feelings regarding value for money and occasional service inconsistencies.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about the hotel's stunning clifftop location and the extraordinary, panoramic sea views from various points across the property, including rooms and the restaurant. The peaceful and quiet surroundings are a major draw, providing a serene retreat far from urban noise.

Amenities are another strong highlight, with the hotel offering an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a Finnish sauna, and spa services like body wraps and massages. The Lodge, a separate accommodation option, even includes a private swimming spa and outdoor Jacuzzi.

3. Room Quality

Le Cise features 30 unique rooms, suites, and lodges spread across various villas, each designed to offer a distinct experience. The rooms are described as spacious, comfortable, and clean, featuring good mattresses. Their design is contemporary, blending period architecture with modern aesthetics and a subtle color palette. Many rooms boast "extraordinary views" of the sea, garden, or surrounding forest. Notably, some suites offer luxurious touches like a sauna and therapeutic bath, or an overflowing "Japanese bath" with captivating sea and cliff views in the Villa Lumen.

However, some guests have noted that "standard rooms" might be located in an annexe with views of the car park rather than the sea. Minor issues like bathroom humidity and lack of ventilation have also been mentioned.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's restaurant, "Le Poisson à Hélices," is set in an exceptional location with impressive sea views, featuring a glass facade that keeps the sea ever-present. The cuisine focuses on regional, locally sourced, fresh, and seasonal produce, with dishes like banana and coriander cod or sole meunière. An unpretentious catering service also offers seaside classics, oysters, and other local delights.

Breakfast receives widespread acclaim, frequently described as "fantastic," "excellent," "wonderful and delicious," and "copious," often enjoyed with a breathtaking sea view. It's available as a buffet for EUR 25 per person or via continental room service.

Dinner reviews are more varied; while some find the food "great and well priced" and "particularly delicious", others have felt it was "overpriced" or that the "quality of products served... was insufficient for the price". Some also found the menu a "bit restrictive" or the service "a bit slow".

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Le Cise generally receives high praise for their hospitality, often described as "superb," "kind," "amazing," "warm," "smiling," "helpful," and "attentive". Individual mentions, such as "Momo" for his welcoming demeanor, highlight personalized service. While the overall feedback is positive, one guest noted the presence of trainees, suggesting that a degree of tolerance might be needed as they learn. A less positive experience cited customer service issues with the hotel and "The Originals" company, and a lack of clear communication regarding a €500 pet deposit was also mentioned.

6. Location & Accessibility

Nestled on a wooded clifftop in the Bois de Cise, Ault, the hotel offers a sense of being "at the end of the world". It provides direct access to the beach via a staircase. Ault itself is a picturesque village known as the "balcony overlooking the sea," featuring chalk cliffs, a lighthouse, and Belle-Époque villas.

Le Cise is conveniently located approximately two hours from Paris. It's a short 5-minute drive from Le Tréport and about 27 minutes from Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. Nearby attractions within a 10-minute drive include the Traditions Verrieres Museum, Bowl in cafe, Mers les Bains Equitation, and Mers-les-Bains Beach. The hotel offers parking, with some guests noting it's available directly in front of the door. While offering accessibility features such as wheelchair access and assistive listening devices, it's important to note the property does not have any lifts.

7. Value & Pricing

Guest opinions on value are somewhat mixed, particularly concerning dining. While rooms are often considered "very good for the price", the "value for money" for the overall stay is rated 7.2 out of 10. Indicative room prices start around EUR 180 per night for a double room, with a 1-night stay for two adults observed around EUR 215. Pet stays incur a fee of EUR 10 per night plus a EUR 500 deposit.

8. Common Complaints

Recurring issues include inconsistent Wi-Fi signal in rooms and, in some cases, heating system malfunctions. Some guests experienced problems with automatic lights not turning off and non-functional in-room phones. Bathroom concerns involved humidity smells, lack of ventilation, or difficulties with shower temperature and controls. Dinner quality and pricing have also been points of criticism, with some finding it overpriced or the menu too restrictive. Minor inconveniences such as overly loud or inappropriate ambient music at breakfast and occasional issues with breakfast items like fresh juice or bread have been mentioned. Communication around the pet deposit and initial guidance to accommodation have also led to minor frustrations.

Sources

1. gaultmillau.com
2. theoriginalshotels.com
3. pagesjaunes.fr
4. theoriginalshotels.com
5. booking.com
6. hotels.com
7. michelin.com
8. booking.com
9. lecise.fr
10. booking.com
11. tablethotels.com
12. lecise.fr
13. reserving.com
14. hotelscombined.com
15. expedia.co.in
16. booking.com