Irene Country Hotel

We had booked a luxury suite but it was difficult to get into because the door fitted badly and we almost had to kick it to open it. The dividing door between the lounge area and the bedroom also fitted badly and was difficult to open and close. The wardrobes were also of poor quality and didn’t fit very well. It was all very clean and the bathroom was spacious with a bath and a very good shower. We ate in the restaurant which has a buffet and a la carte. When we arrived the buffet was already laid out but no one was using it. We had the a la carte menu and it was at least another hour before anyone went to the buffet by which time everything must have been dried up. When we came to sign the bill to our room we were told that because our credit card hadn’t been pre approved on check in we must go to reception first. I said I would pay on check out and went to my room. I was in bed and almost asleep when reception rang saying my credit card hadn’t been pre approved and I needed to go and sort it out. I ignored them and paid on check out.

I was surprised that breakfast was not included in the room rate.

The room was lovely, but just a bit dark. Very comfortable though.

It was all good!

Nothing

Bed was comfortable, breakfast buffet was nice with excellent cook at the eggs to order station!

Staff need a LOT of training. A smile does not replace competence. Front desk staff were good, but otherwise not so much. Here’s a transcript of one painful conversation with a porter at the front desk: Us: Which building on the farm is where we check in for the Blue Train? Him: It’s at the farm. Us: Yes, but which building? Is it the barn? Him: It’s at the farm. Us: Yes, but which building?—there are 10 - 15 buildings on the farm. Him: This is the farm (motioning to a large diagram of the farm). Us: Yes, but which building?—there are 10 - 15 buildings there. Him: You can take the tunnel under the road (pointing to the words “underpass pedestrian walkway” on the diagram). Us: Yes, we know that, but which building on the farm? Him: The barn 1. Us: Okay. Him: Leave your luggage over here (motioning to a place in the hotel lobby) and we’ll take it to the barn for you. Us: Thanks. We don’t need that, we’ll carry what little luggage we have by ourselves. Him: Leave your luggage over here and we’ll take it to the barn for you. Us: We don’t want that, we’ll carry our luggage ourselves. Him: Leave your luggage over here and we’ll take it…. End of conversation. We also learned at the bar to only order one coffee drink at a time because ordering two coffees (one for each of us) resulted in the wrong coffee delivered, and then there was no sugar, and then there were no spoons. All smiles but scant competence. We paid for a late checkout, but then we were interrupted in our room at least six times with knocks at the door: do you have laundry?, do you want water?, do you need towels?, do you need clean glasses?, we need to program the tv, I’m here to clean the room—I thought you had checked out…. No shampoo in the room: two tubes of body lotion, one tube of conditioner, one tube of shower gel and foam bath. But no shampoo. We asked for a taxi to take us to the airport thr next morning anf received a confirmation call in our room. The next morning NO TAXI!

Excellent stay. The staff were very caring and helpful, especially the restaurant staffs. I will recommend it to everyone

Wonderful site with lake, many birds and possibilities for walking even to the milk farm close by. Very good restaurant. Enough parking possibilities and comfortable rooms in separate houses.

Sometimes a bit busy due to functions at site.

Location and walk trail

The bush trail was closed