The River Inn Thredbo

Amy and Vicki were true heroes when our car trouble left us stranded and miserable. After we spent hours trying to fix it, even the local mechanic couldn't get it started, and we went into The River Inn at the last minute, frozen and looking for somewhere to shower, eat, and sleep. Amy and Vicki were incredibly kind and looked after us, even letting us use their phone several times to sort out the car. Amy found us basically the last room available. It was perfectly adequate, with a comfortable bed, the heater already on, and fantastic shower pressure that helped me defrost. Dinner was a plentiful buffet. We stayed the first night because our daughter had fallen asleep while I tried to resolve the car issue, and we were reluctant to use the tap water, so we went without bathing, brushing our teeth, or washing our hands. The River Inn is very central, with the lifts within walking distance and other restaurants and places nearby. Guests can feel confident in the care Amy and Vicki provide.

We came back to the river inn three times during our three-week holiday. Joey, Emma, and the whole team greeted us warmly. They're caring, kind people who go above and beyond for guests. We're looking forward to another visit soon and would recommend staying here.

The location is a big plus. Gunbarrel chair and Friday Flats are very close, so it's easy to get out boarding or skiing quickly, and handy if you're travelling with kids. The bus stop makes getting to the town centre easy, walking to the local pub is fine, and the leisure centre is nearby too. The ski in ski out description is mostly accurate, though you do pass through the après area. The room was decent, and the regular single bed was really comfortable. The bunks weren't great, and the sheets and blankets felt low quality, though that seemed expected for a short-stay inn. I didn't see any bed bugs, for what that's worth. The bathroom was fine, but storage could be better, though that may just have been my room. Food is a buffet, more like a school cafeteria than a restaurant. It was comforting, hearty, and well portioned after a day in the snow, but not really my preferred dinner style. Our lunches and dinners were included with the Ozsnow plan, which was pretty good for saving money and gave us no real bad notes. The après area seemed fine, though I didn't spend much time there, and it was very loud. I don't drink, so I can't comment on the drinks. I was nervous after reading reviews before coming, but the stay turned out fine. I probably wouldn't choose it in the off season. My experience was pleasant and agreeable, though that doesn't guarantee everyone will have a good stay. If you're on a ski trip and trying to save money while having a comfortable place to stay, it's decent. Don't read too much into the bad reviews, but it's not perfect either.

Breakfast was the worst part for me. There were almost no options, everything was lukewarm and tasteless, and I couldn't see any staff around. It felt like getting a tray of slop in an American movie. The hotel is full of tacky decor and fake plants, and I wouldn't recommend it for more than two nights. The room itself was very average, caked in dust, with a sketchy paint job, though the bed was comfortable. There was no electric blanket, just two blankets and a small portable heater for the whole room. The shower pressure was awful, and without bathroom ventilation the mirror fogged up. There was a TV, but no subscription services to log into. It's easy to find, but there's no private parking, and the national park lot has limited spaces. The booking website had the wrong check-in time. We arrived later than expected and found our key left out in the open on the reception desk.