Crieff Kids Club
by TripAdvisor Member nibushi
Just returned from a two nights stay at Crieff Hydro which can only be described as a cross between the hotel in the Shining and the one from Dirty Dancing. Looks evil but with Butlins style nightly entertainment.
We were EXTREMELY disappointed!
We requested an executive double with good view - we got a family room with a view of a roof and extractor fan. The room was large but the carpet was grubby and the furniture dated. This hotel is only suitable for families as the place was overrun with children.
The food in the Meikle restaurant was never hot and never well presented and we can only assume that there is a hospital missing its meals somewhere. Also we can only assume that the drought which is affecting London has spread to Crieff as you wont get your water glass refilled without begging!! Water in your room is also not replaced.
It is unfair to make guests pay extra for some peace and quiet but that is what you have to do by using the Victorian Spa. The piped elevator music (which you hear everywhere) drives you mad.
The one good thing about the hotel is the express check out service so you can get out as soon as possible. Although this is probably for their benefit so they don't have to listen to hours of complaints.
We will be writing a letter of complaint to the manager. We wont be surprised if we are fobbed off - this sums up the experience of Crieff Hydro.
Don't Go For The Food
by TripAdvisor Member Perception
Very disappointed after a recent stay at the Crieff Hydro. Whilst this hotel may have picked up acolades for its family oriented facilities, it won't be picking any up for the food.
We ate in the main hotel restaurant (The Meikle) for a family occasion. The menu looked good but the reality did not live up to the expectation. The quality and temperature of the food was sub standard. The staff tried their best and were friendly but were obviously lacking in experience and training. Our meal was constantly interupted by staff dropping trays, plates, cutlery ... jugs of cream.
Rather than give up, we ate lunch in the Brasserie downstairs. The food quality was equally as poor (same kitchen I suppose).
Not to be put off, and having little choice, we tried the on site Golf Club for lunch. That was even worse than the first. The tuna toastie was laughable (if you need a laugh spend the £3.95).
To sum up - the Crieff Hydro has great facilities. The food is however awful. This hotel needs to urgently look at the catering side of its business and put its plans to build soft play areas etc to one side until they have fixed the food.
If Gleneagles had an Economy class cabin this would be it
by TripAdvisor Member Coltbridge
This hotel is a weird mix of aspirational facilities - two golf courses, a thousand acres, two pools, bowling green, riding arena, big Victorian building, etc etc, and a coach trip ambience - poor food, stark rooms, coldish, gins with one ice cube, and so on.
Basically if the people who own Scotland go and have fun at Gleneagles at £600 per night all in, their chauffeurs and gardeners come to Crieff Hydro for a similar experience at £200 per night all in. It is actually good value, as you get lots of facilities and amazing natural beauty for not much money, but the food is dire (congealed sauces coat unimaginitive menu items), and the atmosphere is pretty stark. I had the narrowest single bed since my days at Uni.
But, if you take it at face value then it is value, and the owners have invested lots in facelifts and so on. Just a pity that they didnt invest in open fires, cosy comfort, and a first class chef!
Living on past reputations...
by TripAdvisor Member Gazzetta
Just stayed 2 days at this hotel and can only say that it did not live up to my expectations of a 4 star hotel. The "executive room" was not befitting of the name and was in urgent need of refurbishment. Decor was jaded and whilst the room itself was large the bathroom was very small and in need of a complete overhaul.
The leisure facilities were ok if you are happy bathing in a kids play pool and whilst the Victorian Spa looked more appealling it costs an additional £7 for a day ticket. This is of course not overly expensive but I cannot see what justifies the additional charge.
Meals were taken in the Meikle dining room which was very grand but again the food quality did not match the expected standard. Breakfasts are buffet style which gives the hotel license to serve up an extensive choice of lukewarm food.
The hotel is in a fantastic location and ought to be aspiring to offer the best of Scotland to woo customers. Alas it has perhaps become too complacent and sems happy to trade on the goodwill of a number of loyal previous customers, whom I can only assume are prepared to accept and ovelook the shortcomings.
Good for families and large parties not so good for couples
by TripAdvisor Member GLN
Recently stayed at the hotel for two nights with my mum, my aunt and my sister.
On the positive side, the hotel is pretty good value, the staff are pleasent and friendly and the food is pretty nice. However I agree with previous reviews which say that it is in need of refurbishment and living on past reputation.
Our rooms were billed as 4 star executive. They were spacious and clean but were in need of refurbishment and the shower in my mum and my aunt's room didn't work very well.
On the second day, despite leaving early for a day out, when I returned at around 3pm my room still hadn't been serviced and we had to phone a couple of times to get new towels etc. Even then, our toiletries weren't replenished and we were told that the mineral water in the room when we arrived was only provided on the first day.
We paid to use the adults only Victorian Spa but agree with previous reviews that there aren't really enough loungers etc to justify charging extra for this area. Also there are no staff manning the pool area. Therefore when a large rowdy party arrived and pretty much took over they cleared the area which I didn't feel was fair on the other guests who had paid to use this supposedtly 'quiet area'.
The food in the Meikle restaurant was quite nice. The restaurant itself is pretty massive which is good for large parties but not so appropriate for couples.
Overall we had a pleasant stay but I wont be rushing back. I do think it would be a good venue if you were taking children as they are well catered for and there seemed to be lots of activities to occupy them.
Photos
parade ring
Let the Train Take the Strain
View of Perth from Kinnoull Hill
Huntingtower Castle, Perth
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