Ardlui Retreat

Apr 26th, 2023

Apr 1st, 2023

Mar 29th, 2023

Unpleasant start, but a good stay overall. At check in, we had an extremely unpleasant interaction with the site manager. Some language was posted on a tv monitor in the check in hut. This concerned an unusual alcohol policy that this retreat seems to enforce very strictly. They dont allow people to bring in alcohol to a self catering villa. The policy requires that any alcohol beverages be purchased from the retreat. One member of our group asked about this and we were immediately threatened with not being able to check in and, in fact the manager told us that she intended to refuse our stay (which was booked through Airbnb). After over two hours of back and forth and calls to Airbnb representatives, we were finally able to come to a compromise. All of this was in the evening after long travel to this rather remote location. We were able to stay and we ended up having a lovely New Years weekend. But, the experience was, without question, tainted by this confrontational initial interaction. Otherwise, the location was beautiful, the lodge was very cozy, an assistant staff member was very helpful and accommodating. There was a fireworks display scheduled just for the guests on site, which we watched from our outdoor hot tub.
Jan 9th, 2023

Not a good experience. Lodges are decent. Definitely too expensive for the level of luxury provided, but decent. Staff behaviour odd and intimidating. Edit to respond to Ardlui: we had to park outside the lodge for three hours because you told us youd cancelled the booking for asking a question about the alcohol licence. For the first ten minutes we parked outside one of the lodges but as soon as we realised that would be annoying we moved out car. It seems unlikely the couple you mentioned complained since they came out and told us you had searched their Waitrose shopping. However, this is not the behaviour I was pinpointing. It was the telling us the owner of the place was watching us live on cctv in your office, and leaving us in a car for 3 hours thinking youd cancelled our booking I was referring to. And constantly showing up at our door. We were genuinely concerned that our lodge might be bugged. Second edit as Ive given this more thought: There were six people in our party. Only 4 of them left a review and you presumably deleted one of them. The sixth person (for our six person lodge) was refused entry after travelling for 4 hours because he was joining us later and we hadnt given you his personal details on the first day. Im not even sure you were entitled to those details. I also wanted to add that one of the employees, the young guy, was great! Really collaborative.
Jan 8th, 2023