Fairmont St Andrews

We decided to have a weekend away recently at the Fairmont as a Family treat. We had planned to stay at the Old Course Hotel but the Fairmont offered a much better deal. The room was a good size with 2 double beds, large fitted wardobe and sufficient drawer space. The bathroom was huge with a large walk in shower compartment and a separate bath. Towels were lovely and thick and pristine white, toiletries were Le Labo which is a favourite of mine - I could live without the massive mirrors (ha ha !!). There was all the usual extras you'd expect in a 5 star hotel - safe, large TV, mini bar, free bottled water, tea, Nespresso coffee etc. I can honestly say the staff were ALL friendly and attentive from the minute we stepped out of the car to the moment we left and all made a point of smiling and saying hello. I saw some reviews suggesting there were not enough trained staff but we didn't feel that at any time. We had a night in the Zephyr Sports Bar and a night in the Italian restaurant La Cucina but the breakfasts were the best meals by far - excellent choices and all fresh and we were lucky enough to arrive and be seated straight away (there does seem to be delay at the busier periods and queues form). There is a good choice of cooked items with a friendly Chef cooking eggs to order in front of you and you can also order items such as Eggs Benedict at no additional cost from the main kitchen. Whilst the meal was tasty in La Cucina, I did find it expensive. Zephyr Sports Bar has a very limited food menu more like snacks than anything else but there are other dining options available so you don't have to dine there (it would have been nice to have had more dining options in this more casual bar area). As is to be expected in any hotel, drinks and meals are never cheap. Fairmont is just outside of St Andrews centre and we were lucky enough to go when the weather was pleasant so that did help a lot but it's not within an easy walking distance. There is a shuttle service in to town provided by the hotel which we did not use but it seemed easy to organise with the concierge. The pool/spa was well maintained but quite busy when we were there - you need to book this to ensure your spot too. My only other comments or criticisms of the hotel were the sink had quite a bad crack, our room was a fair distance from the lifts, we had a view over the main entrance but I do appreciate the sea views are limited to only some rooms. My only other comment would be that I assume we were probably in a dedicated Family room but I think the "travel" cotbed should be removed from the rooms unless specifically requested. I mention the criticisms purely for a balanced view but these things did not spoil our weekend and we still had a relaxed break and it is a lovely hotel.

We had an exceptional experience from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. We were completely spoiled from the spa to the restaurants and bar. The staff were a delight, our suite was incredible and food was delicious.

On arrival we had a small mishap, as our room did not appear in the booking system. Thankfully, I had my confirmation emails, and CiCi on reception handled the situation professionally and calmly. She immediately spoke with her manager, Emma, and the issue was resolved quickly and efficiently. This level of service is exactly why I continue to return. I have stayed at the Fairmont several times, and it truly never disappoints. The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming, the staff are consistently lovely, and the whole hotel has such a relaxed yet luxurious feel. CiCi and Emma are a wonderful addition to what is already a fantastically staffed hotel. Their professionalism, friendliness and ability to resolve an issue so smoothly really stood out. We also were allocated the king suite which was a phenomenal stay. Another excellent stay — and I will absolutely be back again.

This was disappointing and not a 5 star experience. Arrived 3.45 and queued for half an hour to check in: only two out of four desks manned and at least 10 couples waiting. Had to queue to get into breakfast and while there was a very varied menu, the hot food was tepid and we had expected full table service. Circuna Italian had over priced food and extortionate wine - get shuttle and go into St Andrews instead. Our room had not been serviced by 4.15, possibly due to there being a midday checkout. Dull brown and “griege” decor Plenty of staff, but not very efficient. Overpriced what it was, we only went because of pool and spa. Look elsewhere.

Booked 2 King De lux rooms for weekend away with family....brothers room wasn't really clean, you could write your name on the dust. Service in bars and especially breakfast was very poor, please train your staff...lots and lots wandering around but didn't seem to be a plan in place for anyone to have set tables. Waited more than 20 minutes both morning for tea and coffee. Cleared plates while others were still eating. Food luke warm. Sports bar wasn't even stocked so we went to buy drinks in the other bar as sports bar showing rugby, then, we were charged a service fee to take them ourselves to the other bar...absurd! Got home to find second bill for 4 pounds...sparkling water wasn't complimentary. Unfortunately I left behind my walking aid and was asked to pay another 10 pounds to have this sent to me. Very disappointing considering we had already spent a fair amount on our trip....won't be back. Won't be recommending. If you decide to visit remember your credit card