Mercure Barossa Valley

The room was clean and lovely, and staff were generally friendly. Check-in and checkout went smoothly, though I never got a reply on Booking.com to my request for an earlier check-in. We didn't eat or drink at the hotel, so can't comment on that. The free bottled water waiting for us when we got back from the wedding was much appreciated. A few things could have made the stay easier. There wasn't a full-length mirror, only a small round one in the bathroom. On a rainy day, more umbrellas to borrow or rent would help, since there's little cover between the rooms and reception. I was going to a wedding and had to run in the rain in heels with my hair and makeup done to reach the bus on the road. There were no umbrellas, and no covered way to get there. Reception also didn't know which event the bus was for, so I had to go out in the rain to check, luckily it was the right one. It would help to coordinate with local transport, especially buses too large to enter the property, and perhaps offer a lift to the roadside transport in wet weather. The hybrid wood and laminate flooring looks nice, but rugs would add warmth, comfort and sound insulation. We were on the ground floor and woke early to the people upstairs walking around. The floors were cold when we came back late at night. Still, it was a great stay and we'd come again.

We stayed from the 14th - 17th Feb for our honeymoon, and everything was perfect. The room was lovely, the king-sized bed incredibly comfortable, the staff friendly and the food great. Thanks to everyone who made it such an amazing stay. We highly recommend it, they deserve 5 stars.

The breakfast was delicious, the restaurant staff were warm and friendly, and the location is good. But when I checked in on Christmas afternoon last year, the receptionist seemed unfriendly and had a poor attitude for some reason. The room had an unbearable smell, which we traced to the sofa and throw pillows. We had to put the pillows in the closet so we could stand it. The room also felt dusty. I hope they deep-clean upholstered things like sofas and pillows instead of only doing surface cleaning. Front desk service and room hygiene should meet the same high standard as the dining. (2nights—AUD 545.3)

The staff were so caring, every one of them a delight to deal with. We also loved that the rooms welcome pets. Our 16 year old poodle, deaf and almost blind, was greeted warmly, and they had treats, a dog cushion and blankets for her. That made the stay special. As we live nearby, we'd be happy to come for dinner regularly if the food standard improved a lot. The bar and restaurant have a nice atmosphere, and the wine selection is decent, though the wines by the glass could be better quality. It would also be helpful to have someone on staff who knows wine. The food was well below standard, even compared with ordinary pubs. The pizza was especially disappointing: at $30, you'd expect something decent, but the cheese and base were cooked while the top was piled with tinned champignons, ham and raw spring onion. We pointed it out and thankfully weren't charged. The night before, the calamari was rather chewy, so we didn't ask for another pizza and went to a decent restaurant down the road instead. The breakfast buffet was covered in flies. The Accor Group apparently insists on a buffet rather than a la carte, and they need to address the hygiene issue. A la carte would be easier for a smaller hotel to manage and more hygienic. The star rating system is misleading since it doesn't account for food or cleanliness. The place is lovely in many ways, but those let it down. Thanks to the lovely staff for making us feel welcome.