RACV Healesville Country Club

The one thing that let our two-night stay at the RACV Club at Healesville down was the room service left out in the corridors. In a few cases, trays, bottles and plates with food were sitting there for more than 24 hours. Surely staff must have passed them and noticed. Apart from that, the rooms were spacious and clean, the service was great and breakfast was very good.

The room view wasn't great for what we paid. We looked out at a wall and a mostly bare garden, and when I mentioned it at reception, they said that was what came with the lower-priced room. Still, we caught a beautiful sunset and saw lots of kangaroos later in the afternoon. The view while walking around the property was lovely. I've stayed at three other RACV resorts, where the views were amazing regardless of what I spent. Even so, Cape Schanck RACV Resort is beautiful, and the standard across the resort is amazing. I'd recommend it.

The room was lovely, with magnificent views over the golf course, but the shower was disappointing. The bathroom looked refurbished, yet its condition didn't seem right for a hotel charging $430 a night. I raised it with manager Hayden Jones at checkout, and he said the work was in progress. If that was the case, I wondered whether the hotel should be called five star. The dinner menu felt expensive, especially the $66 steak, and it was a drawback that vegetables only came as extra sides. I understand good ingredients cost more. On arrival, the cracked tiles and weeds in the car park by reception concerned me as a possible safety risk and made a poor first impression. Inside, though, the reception's timber and tiles were beautiful and did feel five star.

I booked two nights at RACV, Healesville for some quiet time on my own after my husband and I enjoyed a stay there ten days earlier. The setting was peaceful and picturesque, exactly what I needed. My room, 1105, had lovely mountain and lake views, and I really enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the mountains. It was clean, spacious and comfortable, with a bathtub I need and always request, plenty of wardrobe space, a safe and an electric kettle. There was no espresso machine. The minibar was stocked, and snacks were available to buy. I limped into reception in pain, but Laura's check-in felt cold and unwelcoming. She didn't offer hotel information or help with my heavy bags, and there was no warm greeting or smile. The rest of the staff were good, and Grace and Charlie were exceptional, thank you. Buffet breakfast was included and good. Room service was expensive for the small portions, and the sizes varied even though I ordered the same meals both nights. Quality, consistency and presentation matter, and I think meals need more care. Please include salt and pepper shakers with them. I didn't use the pool, gym, spa or sauna, so can't comment on those. My stay was comfortable and enjoyable overall.