Park Hotel Eagle Stone

The pool was the bright spot for me: it had warm water and real greenery, and without it I’d have given the hotel two stars. The place feels old and hasn’t moved forward much since the early 2000s. There’s a spa, but bathrobes cost extra and the sauna was only 65 degrees. The towels were the roughest and hardest I’ve ever used. For the price, I expected better conditions, since this isn’t a cheap hotel. Service ranged from pleasant to grumpy; I imagine it’s hard with only two people looking after guests. My room’s balcony didn’t feel safe for kids, and the dogs outside howled all night. The path from the parking area to the hotel was icy and difficult, especially with luggage. Winter made the stay a poor experience overall. Eating there would also be difficult with dietary restrictions, and the town is 10 kms away.

The setting is wonderful, and both the service and spa were lovely. But seeing how the hotel’s dogs were treated really upset us. They were kept on short chains, even though two of the three were very young and clearly wanted attention from people. They were isolated from each other and tied up day and night. When we asked the receptionist why, she said guests were afraid, though the dogs were very friendly. If guest safety is the concern, an enclosure would let the dogs exercise and run around. Their treatment made our stay sad, and we wanted to unchain them and let them play. Please treat the dogs more humanely, as you do your horses.

The outdoor view is nice, and the indoor pool, sauna, and steam room are good. The room locks are awful to open and close. I was told breakfast started at 8.00, but the next morning it didn’t open until 8.30. It seems to depend on when they decide to open, which isn’t okay.

I really liked the place. It’s secluded and surrounded by nature, and the pool and other spa activities were very good and included in the price.