Fermain Valley Hotel

Very very disappointed. ROOM: We stayed in Room15 which was a nice spacious room with a lovely view but it has no air con and the sun on it all day so in August was very very hot and stuffy. On our 1st day we had a broken toilet that wouldn’t flush which was reported to reception and we were called that afternoon to be advised that a part was needed and maintenance would fit it later that day. We arrived back late that evening to the hotel to find it wasn’t fixed so asked again at reception who said they would report it again to maintenance. We then we heard nothing, no one came to fix or look and when checking out reception seemed to know nothing about it. We spent the duration of our stay flushing the toilet with a bucket from the bin. POOL/SAUNA: The pool area is filthy, the sauna has a sign on the door stating temporarily out of service but from reading other reviews it seems this has been the case for many months at least. The pool changing areas are dirty and very very tired the gents toilet doesn’t even have a door! There are ceiling tiles milling exposing electrical cables and bags and things piled up in the corner of the pool area. There are only 2 seats so if you want to sit and watch the kids play tough, you had better get used to standing instead! FOOD/RESTAURANTS: We ate at the Buho restaurant on our 1st evening and waited almost 2 hours for our food to arrive. When it did it was smoking black it was that burnt. It was sent back to be replaced with another that was also burnt and inedible. The staff were apologetic but unhelpful and didn’t really care. Drinks were served luke warm on a day that was 28° and I had to ask for ice. Breakfast was very understaffed, hit and miss whether you got what you ordered and by the time it did arrive we just accepted what was delivered on the 2nd day because it took so long. Tea was served luke warm, you had to ask to milk, coffee was like treacle and again not hot. Food was adequate at best. Overall I would rate this a 2* hotel. In fact I’ve stayed in other 2* hotels that are better than this and that I would return to over Fermain Valley.

Not a lot more to say! Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Fermain valley and , given it was a treat for a special birthday, the staff beforehand were really helpful in assisting me to get what I wanted , even when there was a last minute change of dates. Impressive service. And good old fashioned service was present throughout. We had a platinum room so very comfortable and well provisioned. Ate dinner in Oceans a couple of times. Good if not fantastic food. The small plates better probably than the main dishes. Wine list great. If you haven't tried Chateau Musar white (the red available and one of my favourites) you should. Not often at all that you see these bottles at a restaurant. The maitre'D Justin from Bulgaria has outstanding interpersonal skills and one of the best I have come across. We didn't go to the mexican place though heard a lot of people complaining about the food there. Breakfasts had an amazing choice of cooked but my one complaint, and an area for remedying, is that the bread at breakfast was never fresh. Dry loaves and even stale baguette every morning - and they could do better than boxed cereals (decent muesli?). .Needs sorting asap- if they sourced bread from the same place as Le Nautique in town that would be a start. But a great place to stay and highly recommended. PS It is out of town but plenty of busses from the road above the hotel