High Peaks Hotel

There’s a nice outdoor deck, and the rooms are clean and comfortable, but this doesn’t come close to a 4-star hotel. The grounds and facilities are in disrepair. The TV didn’t work, and both the hair dryer and toilet seat were broken. In the room there’s only a kettle and a tiny fridge. A toaster and microwave are outside on the veranda of the disused restaurant. Apparently the ownership has changed. I suspect it’s foreign-owned, and the owners are absent. One woman handles reception and cleans all 20 rooms. She deserves a medal.

The restaurant was closed, as other reviewers have mentioned, and the property needs better upkeep. Our room had a broken toilet seat that felt unsafe, and the guest laundry listed on the booking page wasn’t working. When we raised the problems, staff pointed to a notice on the wall and wouldn’t move us. We only got a new room with a usable toilet after calling the manager.

We were worried after reading the ratings once we’d booked, but our stay turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Room No.19 was newly renovated and very clean, with a comfortable king-size bed, a huge bathroom, and a little counter with a sink. The mini fridge worked and had a litre of fresh milk, and there were coffee and tea supplies too. Giovanna at reception gave us lots of helpful advice about activities. I can’t understand some of the earlier ratings, especially the newer ones.

We paid $255 for one night and wouldn’t return or recommend it to friends. The grounds were untidy, with unmown lawns and unweeded gardens, and the room was average. The TV didn’t work, even though two lovely girls tried to fix it. They were pleasant, and I felt sorry for them because they seemed out of their depth. We did have a beautiful meal at the Cook and Saddle, but the hotel wasn’t worth the price.