Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains - Mgallery Collecti

The kids had a good time, especially at the ice rink, and the resort has plenty of facilities and activities for families. But nearly everything costs extra, and some prices felt steep. A complimentary ride on the slide or train, or even a $10 arcade voucher, would help, since kids naturally want to go more than once. Our three-night stay also came with some frustrating service limits. After about 9:30 PM, room service and even simple requests weren’t available, and we had to pick things up from reception ourselves, including room service orders. The kids’ train and merry-go-round didn’t run at all during our stay. At Azzuro, staff wouldn’t seat our party of eight at one table, despite an empty table with more than ten seats and several four-person tables. They also wouldn’t push two tables together, so we ended up split across separate tables. That lack of flexibility made it feel like guest convenience wasn’t a priority. The pool also wasn’t really heated as advertised, and was too cold in wet or chilly weather. The kids enjoyed themselves, but between the extra charges, limited service hours, and unaccommodating hospitality, the value and experience fell short. We’re glad we tried it once, but wouldn’t stay again.

The breakfast buffet was great, and the staff there were lovely. The views were amazing too. The gift shop woman with red hair was cheerful and gave excellent service, as did the reception man on the afternoon shift on March 7th. Still, our honeymoon stay at the Fairmont in early March was disappointing. My mother-in-law had gone out of her way to arrange a Lollie box and cheese platter in our room. The platter was poorly presented and less fancy than one from Woolworths or Aldi. The box had four Minties and some "camels balls" lollies. We ordered a steak sandwich through room service, but it arrived without steak. Our room phone didn’t work, so we had to go to the front desk. Fifty minutes later, the replacement came, still missing the bacon. We also found huntsman spiders in the room and one on the balcony. We don’t mind spiders, but anyone wary of them might not enjoy staying in such a bushy area.

Our kids were completely occupied, with heaps to do around the Fairmont: a gaming room, billiards, boats on a small lake, indoor and outdoor pools, and even movie nights, though those may have been a school holiday activity. The machines and boats cost extra, which was a downside. There was a good choice of restaurants on site, including places that cater for kids. It was our first stay, for a Blue Mountains weekend, and we loved the family setup. The room was clean and nicely presented, and the staff were very friendly. We left a treasured toy behind, but the staff found it in our room and posted it back without any fuss. Crisis averted, and a big thank you. I’d highly recommend it.

The staff were the one bright spot. Everyone went above and beyond, and it was clear they really enjoy their jobs. The views of the mountains and the big open space look impressive when you first arrive, but that’s where the good impression ended for us. The place felt dirty and run down, with many things either unavailable or broken. In the toddlers’ play area, the ball pits were empty and the paid rides were in bad shape, with large holes and missing lights and parts. The play equipment looked worn and unclean. Even the vending machine failed: I paid $6 for a hot Coke that hadn’t just been restocked. Our check-in was very late. When we finally got to the room, there were cobwebs in several corners, food and rubbish on the floors, and we had to ask maintenance to fix the TV. The outside view was just a tree. The shower had poor water pressure, and the toilet had even less. Soundproofing was terrible, so we could hear the hallways and several rooms all night. The indoor pool was the only place we enjoyed, apart from leaving, but it was filthy too, with food, bread, and drinks left around. We’d planned to stay several nights, but couldn’t stand paying for another minute. We left after one night and got a refund for the rest. There wasn’t anything for our family to enjoy in the toddler area, and the resort wasn’t worth the money. For families with young children, I’d look elsewhere. I’d taken more photos of the dirt and broken equipment, but deleted them because I don’t want to remember this place.