The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea, Autograph Collection

The Algonquin Resort has much to recommend it, but ultimately our stay fell well short of the standard its reputation and pricing led us to expect. The positives are substantial. The property itself is beautiful, situated in one of Canada's most scenic regions. It is reminiscent of one of the Fairmont Canadian hotels (like the Laurier, the Empress or the Banff Springs). The staff were consistently courteous, helpful, and cheerful throughout our stay. In many ways, the staff were excellent and outstanding. Our room was spacious, the bed was exceptionally comfortable, and the resort offers several thoughtful amenities, including high-quality bath products, complimentary bicycles and e-bikes, shuttle service to and from the town centre, and guest laundry facilities. Unfortunately, the shortcomings were significant enough to overshadow many of these strengths. Housekeeping was inconsistent from day to day. Sometimes our room was serviced before noon; more often, we would return after a full day out around dinnertime only to find it had not yet been cleaned. Complimentary bottled water appeared sporadically, coffee mugs were sometimes left unwashed, and overall the attention to detail simply did not match the premium rates the resort charges. Maintenance was equally disappointing. Early in our stay I reported a loose closet door handle to the front desk. Despite remaining at the resort for a full week, no one ever came to repair it. The biggest disappointment, however, was the breakfast buffet. Aside from the excellent omelette station, the food was surprisingly mediocre. The pancakes were merely warm rather than freshly hot, the scrambled eggs were uninspiring, and the overall selection lacked the quality and variety one would expect from a resort of this calibre. It felt ordinary rather than exceptional. Noise was generally not an issue except around the pool. The resort appears to cater heavily to families, and the pool area was often filled with loud, boisterous activity (a lot of screaming) from early morning until late evening. An adults-only pool or quiet area would greatly enhance the experience for guests seeking relaxation. Two additional issues detracted from our stay. First, while we appreciate that the hotel is pet-friendly, dogs were permitted in nearly every common area, including the verandah and the indoor lounge with the fireplace. Trying to enjoy a drink or light meal beside barking dogs diminished what should have been peaceful spaces. Designating certain areas specifically for guests travelling with pets would provide a better balance for everyone. Second, despite trying throughout our entire stay, I was unable to secure a single appointment at the spa because it was fully booked. For a resort where the spa is promoted as a signature amenity, this was frustrating and disappointing. Overall, our stay was not unpleasant, but it was undeniably underwhelming. The Algonquin Resort has many admirable qualities, yet too many aspects of the guest experience lacked the consistency and attention to detail that its reputation and price point promise. Until meaningful improvements are made, we would be unlikely to return.

The staff was fantastic. This is an old historic hotels with a special ambiance. The terrace and veranda are great features.

There is not much of a sea view and you are not on the ocean. The food is costly and not exceptional.

This is a lovely 100 year old resort. It has been kept up

Every door in my room stuck. Housekeeping showed up at 4:00 everyday

Très beau, bien situé, services intéressants.

Chambre vraiment pas assez insonorisée.

Called in for a coffee to check the hotel out before booking a room. Coffee was delivered to our table, no water, no napkin! The coffee was stone cold. Had to search for a staff member to tell her. Instead of removing the cups & saucers she just brought new coffees, again no napkins, no water, no apologies, no service! Found somewhere else to stay!

St. Andrew’s is very cute. Lovely isolated location. Old Heritage hotel that has been nicely renovated. Nice amenities and they seem to be able to handle larger numbers of guests regardless of the weather.

The hotel is dog friendly, but not of their included activities are. Dogs must not be left alone in the room, and there is no shaded parking, so leaving in the car is also out. So no included activities if you have a dog. Standard 10% pet fee, but nothing else added with that. They have dog sitters, which must be arranged in advance, but did not tell me this until registration. Staff seems quite inexperienced generally