Crieff Hydro Hotel

There were many positives from my recent stay at Crieff Hydro, but a few shortcomings leave you disappointed. The hotel itself is stunning, very grand, with beautiful architecture that gives it a luxurious feel. The facilities were excellent, particularly for families, including an arcade, cinema room, gym, and Victorian baths. The local area is gorgeous, with plenty of scenic walks and gorgeous views to enjoy. The food and lack of attention to detail are where the hotel loses marks. The food was extremely salty, and allergen labels were unclear. When asked about allergens or if there was additional bread, staff seemed unsure and inconvenienced, which was disappointing. The lunch food in the brasserie was buffet style - granted it is the best approach for ease but again brings up allergen concerns as people tend to put the utensils in the wrong dishes. Cleanliness and upkeep could use some attention. There were large cobwebs in our bathroom, some of the drapes in the conference space were not properly hung, and the tablecloths in the conference area were noticeably wrinkled. These details may seem minor, but they detract from what could otherwise be a truly top-tier experience. The hotel has a lot of potential and so much to offer but the lack of attention to detail, in service and maintenance, prevents it from being an exceptional stay.

For a hotel that is marketed as a premium facility, it is far from it in every sense. Started with a poor check in experience where the staff member didn’t even tell us how to get to our room, where to go for breakfast or any of the usual bits. They were more interested in speaking with the bellhop ranting about how the cleaning staff had went AWOL. We went to the restaurant for dinner. It looked worse than a Brewers Fayre and the chicken gyros I ordered were not safe for consumption. Also note they add a tip on which wasn’t on the restaurant receipt however did appear on the bill back to the room. The “Victorian baths” are the biggest scam at £25 per person, only for it to be a basement pool, which looks like the tiles surrounding it hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time. The walls are painted by what looks like a children’s decorator to look like a Victorian setting however looks like a cheap pan to set, with the ceiling peeling. The room was a kind to what I would expect an old fashioned hospital to look like and don’t get me started on the unsanitary shower curtain……..if I knew the room had a shower curtain I would never have booked. Overall: avoid, save your time, money and effort, stay at one of the many better hotels in Scotland at better value & experience