A one-night stay here to attend a family wedding. The setting is glorious, with terrific views across Loch Ard and the mountains beyond.
Room somewhat dated, but otherwise fine - putting an iPod dock in a room does not automatically make it up-to-date - with plenty of space and (lumpy) easy chairs. The beds are comfortable, and the hotel very clean in general.
Wedding catering is not the same as restaurant service, and expectations are not as high, but the dinner provided was a creditable effort. Breakfast the next day was very good, if rather slow to arrive.
The staff were affable but not charming enough to compensate for the stratospheric bar tariff, and were strangely absent from said bar when guests were assembling and requiring service.
The nonsense of having a credit card 'pre-authorised' on check-in, however, seems utterly pointless - especially as everyone at check-out the next morning seemed to be having their original cards rejected by the system, requiring payment by a different means. I also object to having to opt out of a charitable donation to Macdonald's current cause, however small that donation is, and consider it a disgrace that a business on this scale fails to absorb credit card charges within the quoted tariff. Having to pay extra for the privilege of settling my account with a credit card, when the original 'pre-authorised' card is being rejected for no good reason rubs salt into the wound.
I won't be rushing to stay at another Macdonald hotel, no matter how glorious the view, but in this case there may not be too many alternatives to choose among.






Value
Location (e.g., convenience, views)
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk



