Château de Pray

We recently stayed at Château de Pray in the Loire Valley, and it was a truly wonderful experience. The château itself is steeped in history, dating back to the 13th century, which adds a lot of charm and character to the stay. The ambience is exactly what you’d hope for when staying in a historic château—elegant, peaceful, and full of charm. Our room was lovely and immaculately clean, with a cozy, old-world feel that made us feel like we were stepping back in time. The service was excellent across the board, especially the lady at the front desk, who went out of her way to offer great recommendations for restaurants and nearby châteaux to visit. Her local insights really added to our trip. The garden in the back is a beautiful space to unwind. We loved relaxing there with a drink after a day of exploring. It’s a peaceful retreat with gorgeous views. We would absolutely love to return to Château de Pray in the future and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a peaceful and authentic Loire Valley experience.

We had a fantastic stay at Château de Pray summer (2024). The Pavilion Room was perfect, the breakfast was great, and the pool was a relaxed spot to enjoy an afternoon drink in the sun. The evening food was delicious, as was the selection of wine. There’s no better place to eat and drink than on the terrace overlooking the gardens. Laura and the other members of staff were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the area. The location itself was ideal for day trips to Amboise and Tours. We’ve already booked to come back (2025)!

We stayed in this hotel , two couples. We also ate in the amazing restaurant. The hotel is very good, rooms are comfy, only problems, no elevetor and the lack of a small fridge in the room. The restaurant I have no words, an experience to die for. Highly recommend

I am writing this review on behalf of my parents, who stayed at this hotel. This was the most disappointing and shocking hotel experience of their lives, and for a so-called 4-star hotel, it is a complete disgrace. No internet — and absolutely no warning beforehand. When my parents asked about it, the staff told them it was their problem to check. Their “solution”? Come back in the middle of the day, at 2pm, to see if there was internet, and then change rooms themselves. Completely unhelpful and utterly unprofessional. Reception does not operate past 11pm, leaving guests completely unsupported in case of an emergency. My mum, concerned about her health, asked for an emergency contact number. The receptionist, Lucy, responded dismissively with “And you have some problems?” and refused to provide any help. My parents were left feeling unsafe and anxious. The staff were not welcoming at all. Every issue was treated as if it were my parents’ problem, not the hotel’s. They were unwilling to assist with basic questions or help resolve problems. The room didn’t even include basic toiletries — no shampoo, no conditioner, no shower gel — only a single bar of soap. For almost/around £300 per night, this is far below any reasonable 4-star standard. The chef wasn’t working that day, so no food was available. How a 4-star hotel can simply shut down its kitchen is beyond comprehension. Additionally, my parents had to carry their own luggage, which is laughable at a hotel claiming 4 stars. I’m from London, and my parents are regular visitors to France. This is the first time they have ever encountered such behaviour. The service, standards, and staff attitude were shocking. Even budget hotels they have stayed in provide far more professionalism, safety, and comfort. Avoid at all costs.

What a disapointment and nothing like the photos. On entering the chateau what immediately hits you is the dreadful smell and then the awful decor. There is a dingy and a very unchic reception area with artificial flowers and scattered bibs and bobs. We are directed to our room on the second floor which is awful. I booked a garden view. We are shown another room which is better and has windows that overlook the front gardens. We do not eat at the chateau due to the smell in the dining room ..I don't think anyone else does either and we find a marvellous petisserie in Amboise that we have breakfast at every day for 4 days ( L'horloge) The decor is dreadful, very unchic and mismatched. The carpets are grey and threadbare and there is nothing luxurious about this place even though the photos tell a different story. We paid a large sum of money to stay here. I do not understand why precedence is given to the diners booking at their Michelin star restaurant for the night while we have to park on the grounds outside the chateau. I do not recommend this place.