Hotel Hermitage

The peaceful, lush garden gives this place a lot of promise, and the outside areas are well maintained. The pool needs upkeep, though. Inside, my room smelled odd and the bathroom was old and worn. Ants came out of the tub, the toilet hadn’t been cleaned, and neither had the sheets. The towels and bedding need to be clean, and the curtains were hanging without proper hooks and looked like they needed washing. Plain curtains and some warmer lights could help, too. The bathroom really needs attention, including reliable hot water, especially in cold weather. It doesn’t need to be luxurious, but the rooms should be neat and clean. Service also needs a lot of work. Staff need training in professional communication and providing prompt service. I ordered something and was told it could be done one way, then got excuses at delivery about why that wasn’t possible. Breakfast arrived cold, followed by more explanations. The previous night, I couldn’t find anyone to take an order, and the phone number on the website didn’t work. With no phone and no Wi-Fi in the room, ordering was very difficult. Guests need clear Wi-Fi details at check-in and a reachable phone number. I’m writing this constructively because I want businesses to improve, and I’d want the same kind of feedback. These issues affected my stay, but the place has potential, with its peaceful feel and opportunities. I hope the team takes this in the spirit intended, and I wish them well. I’d like to come back in the future if these things improve.

The pillows were moldy. There were cockroaches, frogs and dead bugs in the rooms, and the taps didn’t run any water.

The view of the Rapati river and the national park from the back of the hotel is great, and the friendly staff provided satisfactory service. But that alone isn’t enough. I have to echo part of a review from seven years ago because it seems nothing has changed. The hotel needs a complete renovation. Maybe the damage from the flood a few months back hadn’t been properly repaired. The rooms smelled moldy, the bathrooms smelled bad, and there was no hot water. The electrical system was faulty, which made charging a phone difficult. Please don’t take bookings if the hotel isn’t ready to provide proper service after the damage. Guests’ holidays and the hotel’s reputation suffer.

The garden was lovely, and the riverside setting was peaceful. We even saw a crocodile, and the children enjoyed the playground. The Hermitage nature guides were excellent. Inside, though, the room was musty and unclean, and the sheets were damp. We had two rooms: one had warm water, while the other only had cold. Breakfast was precooked and cold when served. The air-conditioning didn’t work at first, but after we asked the staff to fix it, it worked on the second night.