Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel

We stayed here for 2 nights recently and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The 1st room we were allocated (room 5) was small and tired but we asked nicely for a change and were given a double deluxe - if you dont ask you dont get! This room (room 47) was excellent with lovely views. Over our 2 nights we found ALL the staff to be friendly and accomodating, providing an excellent service at all times. The food was also very good. How can you criticise a breakfast which has everything? even whisky for your porridge! The evening meal has a 3 course plus coffee option for £15 with quality beyond the price. Or you can choose from some more expensive flamboyant options. The lounge area is comfy, the leisure facilities small but adequate, the entertainment varied. We feel some folk will complain about any triviality so had to write a positive review about our new favourite hotel!

Fawlty Towers lives on........ recently returned from a 2 night break in the Craigendarroch. I booked an apex family break which was excellent value for DB&B. Children under 10 years eat free! I read the mixed reviews prior to my departure, so I went with an open mind. Upon arrival the room lock was broken, no remote control and the shower head was constantly leaking. I reported the faults and the staff were swift to try and remedy the situation. Indeed the housekeeping and reception staff were professional and helpful. The fun and games begin in the restaurant. It is strongly recommended that you book dinner upon arrival at the hotel, what they don't warn you of is the painful wait you will experience in order to receive food. On both nights we witnessed a number of guests complaining and/or walking out the restaurant both hungry and angry at the poor customer servce. Guests waited on average 1-1 1/2 hours for their starters (they were the lucky ones!) and had to go to the bar themselves to retrieve their dinner drinks. Their was no visible Front of House Manager, so guests were left complaining among themselves. It really was like a scene from Fawlty Towers. If you are prepared to wait, the food itself is fab. Word of Warning, everytime I was asked to sign a food bill, I was overcharged and had to ask for it to be corrected at least 2 or 3 times. The dry ski slope is a joke! On a positive note, the hotel is clean although a little outdated and the majority of staff are polite and professional. The pool area is good and the gym small and sufficient. With the exception of the restaurant, we had a relaxing weekend in a beautiful and picturesque part of Scotland.

Stayed in June 2007, and allocated a room with a senstaional view of the kitchen garbage - complete with associated smells..! Rooms ok and very small but a litle tired. Breakfast - also just ok in the 'club' area which is also tired. Value for money - just ordinary - nothing exceptional, which is unfortunate as the hotel has the potential with the lovely old building to be above average. If you decide to stay - make sure you miss out on the rooms with the garbage view.....

We stayed at the Craigendarroch for two nights in June. We booked via the Hilton internet site and secured a dinner, breakfast and room package for an amazing £90 per night. Based on the price we weren't expecting much, but overall I think it was good value (although some clear downsides). When we checked in we were not offered help with our bags and as others have said it was very hard to find our second floor room (two lifts a flight of stairs and several corridors). When we finally did find our room the first thing we noticed was the musty smell (not a promising start). I assume that this came from the bathroom which was in need of an urgent upgrade (loo didn't flush properly, shower curtain looked diseased, terrible floor, leaking bath etc). The room was of a good size and it looked like it had painted relatively recently. Most of the furniture was good (the bed was comfy), although the armchair was so dirty, worn and faded that I couldn't bring myself to sit on it for our entire stay. Our view was glorious and helped to detract from the downsides. The dinner in the Clubhouse was nice and they were flexible in that if you didn't want the set menu you could pick from the al a carte menu and be credited the £15 per person charge for the set dinner. We went with the set menu on both days and really enjoyed the food. Breakfasts were fantastic and very filling. The Clubhouse could do with an update as it was a bit dark and gloomy but overall it was ok. Other positives were the area - fishing is world class and the beautiful woodland surrounds and graceful village of Ballater were wonderful to explore.

My wife and I stayed here for 2 nights and were completely underwhelmed with this very poor Hotel. The room was very tired, bathroom was even worse, needs a major refurbishment. We ate dinner in the Clubhouse restaurant on the first night, the food was unappetising and bland, very tasteless. Breakfast was ok, but nothing special, the hardworking lone waiter was running all over the room with coffee, tea and cleaning tables The general cleanliness of the public areas was very bad, especially the bar and restaurant area. It looked like it hadnt been dusted for weeks! The health club again was disapointing and in need of a clean, but generally ok. This is one of the worst 4 star hotels we have stayed in and will not bee back. If you find yourself here and want some great food, search out the Auld Kirk restaurant on the way in to Ballater.

First time to visit this property, a Hilton Hhonors member but on leisure. Treated the other half to a weekend and what a fantastic hotel, great rooms, great views, great staff and great service. Everything you would expect from Hilton but with the warm Scottish hospitaltity thrown in !!! Definately one to go back to!

i booked a weekend away for my girlfriend and i to celebrate her birthday and decided on the craigendarroch having been there before some years before, which was great back then. but would have to agree with the other reviews that this hotel has lost its former glory. we stayed in a double deluxe room which cost £125 a night which was quite a walk from reception, the room was very tired and could be doing with a refit, faulty lights, damaged furniture, very firm bed, dodgy flusher on toilet, just basically old and tired. it was a good size room and the balcony was nice but only one chair there??. the country club is still ok the pool area is very nice, the restaurant was ok a bit cramped tho our table was tiny hardly enough room for your food and drink. but i'v got to agree the food and drink is far too expensive. we had a drink in the study and got charged £7.25 for a large glass of wine which is absurd. all the staff we came across were very friendly and helpfull. on the whole its still a lovely place fantastic scenery and lots of walks and climbs very near by, But the problem is its not a five star hotel anymore but still charges like one, i would rate it as a very good three star hotel and it should perhaps lower its prices to reflect this.

We arrived at the Hilton Craigendarroch Resort on Tuesday afternoon, 3rd April. Having stayed here before, albeit 10 years ago, we knew the location to be ideal. We checked in at the hotel reception for a 3 bed lodge, and were efficiently helped by the receptionist. We were very pleasantly surprised on driving up to the lodge (number 96) as it was right at the top of the hillside with just 5 other lodges. The lodge was spacious, well furnished, and had the most spectacular panoramic view from its huge windows on the first floor lounge, of the beautiful countryside complete with snow topped mountains. The back of the lodge was wooded and we spotted red squirrels there, perfect location - would highly recommend this lodge! We were family party of myself, husband, son (20), daughter (17) and mum (oap) - my kids decided not to share their twin bedded room and so we pulled down the double bed in the lounge (very cleverly concealed as a cupboard) complete with bedding! We stayed 4 nights, and ate out twice at an Italian restaurant in Ballater village (La M something, cant remember name) which was lovely for a tasty informal meal, and at the Hotel's own The Oaks restaurant where we had two excellent meals (this restaurant more formal) - highly recommend it. We had perfect mild sunny weather, which of course always helps, but this place is ideally placed for sight seeing (just down the road is Balmoral) and we really enjoyed our stay.

Lovely hotel set in woodland, The luxury room was large and had a lovely balcony where we could see red squirrels running up and down the trees. The room was freshly decorated and had the usual toiletries and dressing gowns, tea and coffee facilities. We ate in the club house, the food was very god and served attractively, the breakfasts catered for every taste. The restaurant itself was very clean but uncomfortable. The seats were hard and the tables low. The wine was very expensive, the cheapest started at £14 a bottle. The leisure facilities are very good and there are some nice walks around the hotel, The hotel itself is situated only 1 mile from Balleter and 7 miles from Balmoral. There are a few pubs and restaurants in the village. The village is very nice and a must is a cycle ride over the 7 bridges also the walk around Loch Muick. We stayed in the hotel for 2 nights and then moved into one of the lodges, this was excellent. The lodge was spacious and had a lovely balcony, It even had a jacuzi and sauna off the 2 bathrooms. We would highly recommend this hotel and lodges, we had a wonderful relaxing time and the weather was good.

My partner & I have just returned from a 3 night weekend break to the Hilton Craigendarroch.Having read some previous reviews,we were a bit wary of what we were going to find.Need not have worried,had a fantastic time.Room was more than adequate,bathroom large with shower/bath,all usual extras,toiletries,robes etc.Some updating required & is on the cards to be done,but hopefully this hotel will not lose its character.Food was excellent with more than enough to choose from & prices very reasonable.Leisure facilities were excellent also & last but not least,the staff were wonderful,each & everyone of them,Hilton Craigendarroch management team should be proud of the achievements of all of their staff,well done,looking forward to returning in the near future. PS.Outstanding scenery & surrounding countryside.