I brought my mother to the Mas Candille in late September/early October to celebrate her birthday and also because she has just recently lost a close family member. I was sure that the break there would do her good and it did.

The setting is beautiful, overlooking the hillside of Grasse and not, as one reviewer wrote, overlooking the motorway. That is some way away, and although the area beneath the hotel is busy, being the ring road of Cannes, the hotel itself is tranquil, just as I found Mougins where we ate three out of our four nights.

The night dining in the hotel was an experience. The food was excellent, although one sensed a two tier system when it was clear that some diners had been seated in the extension area with the best views. Despite a table becoming free there and we having made a request, nothing was done to move us. There is that element of French stubbornness, where one feels it is too much trouble to ask. Requests are met with brisk efficiency, but not really warmth which I have experienced in other top hotels.

Americans will not appreciate a bar which cannot make a vodka martini when asked - the botched job cost 16 or 18 euros. In fact, the meal represents superb value and was absolutely delicious, but charging 23 euros each for a buffet breakfast is scandalous. Charges for tea and coffee elsewhere in the hotel, ie by the pool, are very expensive, even for those who are on the 'rich list'!

The Sheiseido spa is sensational, the facials were wonderful and at a standard price. Service there was flawless, even accommodating us when we returned late from a trip up into the mountains (where we got hopelessly lost!).

One last thing: I had booked a twin bedded room on line and by e-mail exchange with the reservations manager but arrived with my mother to find that the hotel had 'forgotten' that detail and put uus in a double. They told me that nothing could be done until the following day, so we grinned and bore it. However, it was never mentioned again, and certainly not reflected in the bill, where the room rate prices are.... let's say, substantial. I would have expected some kind of discount for their mistake. But no.

A good tip is to consider their little sister hotel, more a lovely B&B, in the village of Mougins: Les Muscadins. The people there was charming, the location very central and opposite an excellent restaurant called Les Terrasses. Plus, you pay a third of the price on rooms (although I will miss the lovely bathrooms at Le Mas Candille) but you can avail of all the Candille's facilities. You won't notice the difference as long as you book to eat at the Candille. As I said, dinner there was even better than Le Moulin de Mougins, which was pretty damn good!

So, all in all, a nice stay at a property which could have the potential of Four Seasons service, but doesn't yet.

Pretty hotel with spectacular views. We only stayed one night but received great service and a warm welcome. The restaurant was full so we ate in Mougins which was lovely. We would go back again for longer next time as being able to walk to the village albeit up a steep hill was a real bonus.

I needed a relaxing break following a hard six months helping a friend through a cancer operation and subsequent recovery. I love France and usually hire a car and explore. On this occasion I just needed pampering so looked up spa hotel, cote d'azur on the internet and found Le Mas Candille.

I threw thoughts of expense to the wind, and booked a spa package for 4 nights. And the hotel arranged my taxi from the airport. From the minute I stepped off the plane to meet my driver I felt the tension drop. As I ate a delicious lunch at the infinity pool I realised that this place really was something special. I don't know if it was because I was a lady lone traveller, but the hotel couldn't do enough for me, even driving me into lower Mougins to visit the chemist, and bringing me back again.

The first day I had a 2-hr massage, and was so zonked I didn't even think about dinner and went to bed. I was awakened by the maids who do the service du soir - I hadn't put the do not disturb sign out - so I invited them in and I sat on my little terrace, which looked towards the mountains and watched the lights come on in the valley.

My room, as a single, was in the Mas, on the lower floor and was delightful, with a little terrace, table and chairs where I took breakfast on a couple of mornings. The room was not large, but beautifully decorated and wonderfully appointed. The toiletries were a mixture of Shiseido and Molton Brown.

The staff were all extremely helpful, and there was always someone around when you needed them, poolside, room services, or in the restaurants. There do seem to be an extraordinary number of staff for the number of guests the hotel can accommodate.

At the pool and spa areas, there were loads of towels, and a wet room beside the main pool so you could freshen up before taking your seat at the poolside restaurant. The spa was excellent - I had a treatment every day I was there. They have a quiet area with a hydrotherapy pool and jacuzzi.

The gardens are beautiful, but I did manage to tear myself away on a couple of occasions to walk up to the bastide village of Mougins - full or artists ateliers and shops, and some very good restaurants. I ate at the hotel's Michelin star restaurant only once, but it was extremely memorable. Same view as from my terrace, and quite enchanting. The food was, as expected, excellent and the waiters patient and courteous. On the evening I was there, there was a little flurry of activity (around course 5) and I noticed a table being prepared which was later occupied by a mature gentleman and two glamorous young women. It may have been the magic of the night, but I am convinced it was a film producer from Cannes and two young starlets!

On a more serious note, this hotel is not cheap. I understand fully why people tend to eat mostly in the village. But I so enjoyed my time at the hotel, lounging by the pool, and reading in the shady gardens, that I managed this only one lunch time. Mougins and the surrounding area are beautiful and worth a longer stay, so if any reader wanted to do this and explore that part of the Cote d'Azur, I would say make the most of a shorter time at the hotel, then take yourself off somewhere cheaper. It's too expensive just to use as bed and breakfast.

Having enjoyed our previous stay in November 2005, we looked forward to two nights at the Mas Candille.
How disappointing!
The owner was planning a birthday party for herself and they were building a large tent. The work started early in the morning and throughout the day. We had not been informed and were not able to get a room further away from the construction site.
The dining, which used to be excellent, has become "new cuisine" with tasteless "emulsions". You cant tell what your are eating.