Crieff Hydro Hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

stayed for 2 nights at the Crieff Hydro with my partner and his elderly parents. We were all looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend and making use of the spa facilities but unfortunately we were unable to as the place was mobbed with children - and young children at that.
We were completely unaware when we booked that the hotel only caters for young families and feel this should be mentioned on their website or should have been pointed out to us when we booked.
You can not have a meal without hoards of young children screaming and running around you. You can not use the swimming pool as they have childrens inflatables floating amongst a tidal wave of kids. And you can not get a decent nights sleep for babies crying and toddlers throwing tantrums.
Such a shame the hotel refuses to acknowledge their adult guests as the rooms were comfortbale and the service in the restaurants was good so I would have liked to have written a more positive review.

2 readers found this review helpful

Had a two night break mid week. Staff throughout were great. Initial room did not suit us so they changed us to a family room upgrade at no extra cost. Food was fantastic. Did not do any of the extra activities simply cooled out. Hotel one of the best although there was some temporary buiding works we were warned in advance and were not disturbed by them. Staff, food and facilties were the great quality. My only complaint was that the drink in the bar was slightly pricey - only to be expected in a hotel of that class. Mid week break not expensive at £55 per night each including a fab dinner at night. I look forward to going back.
Dave Cowan
davecowan1@yahoo.co.uk

1 reader found this review helpful

took a booking from me for the wrong date and charged the full amount. Didn't care and charged me the full amount. Managers were unhelpful and were only concerned with their own "revenue"
terrible conveyance of terms and conditions of hotel - try to find them on web site. No not there. Only take bookings for 2 days at weekends? Never had this at any hotel ever before - trying to get more money out of you was told "you can stay one night if you like, but we will charge you for 2" ?? do they want custom? What is that all about....never try to compromise with this hotel - don't want to know.

3 readers found this review helpful

My boyfriend and I spent 2 nights in the Crieff Hdro on 12th and 13th February. The room was lovely, nice decor, MASSIVE bed and the whole hotel was immaculate.
We ate in both the Brasserie one night andthe Meikle restaurant on the second. The food in both was very good, even for me being a picky vegertarian! Breakfast on both mornings was great loads of choice.
We did the quad biking, archery and air rifle shooting. Quad biking was the best soooo much fun and very challenging. The instructors were really friendly and made all the activites loads of fun. We also used the Victorian Spa wich was also really nice... when we fist went down to the pool and saw all the kids in the main pool we looked onm in horror but then realised the Victorian Spa was a child free zone! What a bonus! Value for money wise...we got a good deal due to an offer they had on at that time of year so we got great value for money. We really had the most perfect short break and the fact that it was a scholl half term didn't matter as there was plenty space to get away from the families. I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone, especially as a romantic getaway.

My wife and i have just celebrated our Ruby wedding anniversary at this hotel plus it is our first visit to Scotland.We found everything and everybody at this hotel superb.We will CERTAINLY be returning in the future.Pamela & Peter Taylor.

We had a weekend at Crieff in the self catering chalets and had a brilliant time. The chalets are a bit dated but very spacious and would have slept about four folk comfortably. Travel cots are also provided and there was a DVD and microwave. We took our baby who was four months and it was perfect not having to worry about her crying. The chalet was located on a steep hill but it is accessible by car and there is a parking space outside. We were allowed to use the hotels facilities which are excellent. We were allowed to bring the pram into the restaurant and brasserie which was great. The food in the main restaurant was far better than the brasserie. The pool was warm and there are huge changing rooms suitable for families. The childrens pool is great and there were plenty of floats and helpful staff around. There was good entertainment for the children and I am sure our daughter will love that when she is a bit older. Having been to Crieff when I was younger it is incredible what had been done and we will be booking up again next year.

Culcrieff cottages are excellent. Took dogs and family, lots to do and only short distance from Edinburgh. Some of the add-ons are a bit pricey, such as £15 childcare cost for <2yr old for 1.5hrs and 'Winter Garden' prices bit high too, but otherwise good value in great location.

1 reader found this review helpful

We arranged an extended family gathering over the Easter break. There were over 40 of us staying at the hotel on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
The hotel is very comfortable. The rooms are as you would expect ( we stayed in a family standard room) and had all the usual facilities you woud expect from a large hotel ( tea making facilties, en suite bathrom, iron and tv etc). The beds were especially comfortable. The only problem with the room was that it was very hot! Even with the heating turned off it became quite stuffy at night but it was snowing outside!
The leisure facilities in the hotel are second to none. The pool is warm and very clean and the health suite was outstanding. The HUB is an informal cafe where you can watch sports on tv. It is next to the Big Country which is a kids club/creche facility which was included in our package. The staff here are wonderful. My child decided she wanted to attend and had a great 3 hour sessiion there. The hotel really tried to look after the children with special pool times where they have inflatable slides and special menus in all the restaurants and a kids only high tea.
The one thing that the hotel really let itself down on, and which was a huge disappointment was the food. Breakfast buffet was great and very fresh and hot but the other restruants on site are terrible!! We ate in the Miekle restaurant on the first night. Having travelled we were quite hungry and we were served up the tiniest portions of food. The beef dish was the equivalent of two 50pence size peices of meat. The staff were very overstretched and we waited over 50 minutes for our food which then arrived tepid. The vegetables were hard and cold.
The next day we tried the Brasserrie restaurant and this was even worse. The nacos were served up cold with the cheese completely unmelted and my daughters pasta was congealed! The restaurant staff are mostly eastern european and we encountered communication problems when trying to explain our problems. They did not know what Brie was and took 30 minutes to decide they had none left!
We then discovered that we could also eat at the nearby sister hotel, the murrayspark. The food here is wonderful. The service great and the atmosphere very relaxed and informal. The beer is £1 a pint cheaper too! Id really recommend taking the 5 minute walk down the road for a wonderful meal.

1 reader found this review helpful

It was a last minute 2 day break for my husband and I. We stayed in the executive suite which was lovely, clean well decorated and furnished.
The fridge didn't work properly, we asked for some ice to chill our bubbly in whilst we went on a walk. I asked reception if someone would put the bottle into the ice for us and the drink would then be chilled when we arrived back from our walk. When we arrived back there was a bucket of melted ice sitting outside our room door! Not wanting to make a fuss we just go on with it. When we were checking out and on closer inspection of our final bill.. we were charged £3.50 for the melted ice... so beware!
The health spa was lovely and the food was out of this world. In the evening after dinner there wasn't much entertainment to suit us (both 40 and no children), it was aimed more at young families.

1 reader found this review helpful

When booking ran into a few problems; deal advertised on internet was not in fact deal on offer, we queried this with booking manager who was rude and aggressive. Hotel facilities are great but rooms were dirty (previous occupants possessions found around bed!).
No information provided prior to booking and no explanation of meals for children on arrival, which meant that we paid full child meal prices (£9.50 per meal) for our 1 year old daughter. No satisfaction from hotel manager when we raised our complaints.
The hotel is really family orientated, which is great. Lots of activities for kids but pretty expensive for a short autumn break and staff are not interested in individuals.