Really interesting and fabulous food. Very good service, it’s a pity it connected to such a shabby hotel. I would dine here again but would not stay at the hotel ever again. See below.
Lilianfels Resort & Spa – Blue Mountains
To advertise this hotel to any visitor as 5-star luxury is at the very least misleading, and in truth it is simply deceitful. I don’t know many 5-star exclusive hotels that have a car park for coaches and a machine for hiring bikes outside the hotel.
If you want a simple review …don’t stay here.
If you want to know more…read on.
The two most memorable low lights of our stay included a motel style overcrowded breakfast on the Sunday morning … (more of that later) and a most unpleasant interaction with the surly and smug manager.
Our hotel bill was inaccurate. He argued persistently in front of a horrified group of guests who were also waiting to check out. The waiting hotel guests, were obviously very embarrassed at what was going on but were stuck in a queue. I don’t know what they taught this manager at hotel management school, but he obviously wasn’t paying attention. He terminated the conversation by saying that he had our credit card details, presumably implying that the hotel had the last word.
We stayed at Lilianfels about 10 years ago and loved it, so we were so disappointed about what has been done to this grand old lady. I am embarrassed to say that I have previously recommended it so many times to overseas visitor…my heartfelt apologies to them.
It would appear that this Hotel is now catering to a different clientele, who probably get a good deal on the internet. We checked and there were. Cheap deals available (not the $600+ we were charged) and those lucky customers who took up the offer would have no problems with the buffet breakfast. What can I say…bottled juice, tinned mushrooms, served by mainly harassed staff with ‘in training’ on their lapels?
My husband had to practically rugby tackle these trainees to get a cup of tea or coffee. Perhaps if I say there was an automatic pancake maker on a small table pretty well sums this charade of a breakfast. I have stayed at a fair few luxury resorts and never seen one of those before.
So, NO I would not recommend Lilliafels unless of course, you want to stay in a shabby room, a garden room is just one that doesn’t overlook the overflowing car park. The car park incidentally fills up on a weekend and those guests not quick of the mark must park in the street. No bottled water provided so if you don’t mind drinking water from the bathroom tap then perhaps you may like it.
The tourist board, or whoever gives out stars should hang their heads in shame and then swiftly take Lilianfel’s stars away before any more unsuspecting overseas visitors get sucked in.
