Fairmont St Andrews

Wonderful 2 day stay over Christmas Day. A bit of a queue at checkin- but after that, no issues at all. Christmas Day lunch was great. Wasn’t sure how it would work with buffet for starters and desserts but it was very efficient. Plenty of food. Unfortunately couldn’t manage much in the way of desserts but they looked amazing. We had lunch at 2.30 and were still full going to bed. No need for any tea or room service food. There were loads of staff and the main course came promptly when we asked for it. This is the first time we have gone away for Christmas rather than having it at home or with family and we thoroughly enjoyed it

Just returned from the worst Christmas experience ever. Christmas dinner would have been better at a works canteen. Obviously all about charging as much as possible, and giving the least possible. I heard lots of complaints, not sure how many people would voice them. We had to order room service pizza as everyone was hungry by 10pm … Won’t be returning 5star hotel with 2star standards…

We enjoyed our stay at the St Andrews Fairmont. We opted to upgrade to an executive suite which was very spacious & comfortable. The meals were excellent too, and our visit with Santa was memorable, we all had a fabulous time and will be back again soon.

We have just completed our annual pre-Christmas stay at the Fairmont St Andrews. In previous years I have left glowing reviews; however, this year our experience was more of a mixed bag. I shall start with the positives. As always, the rooms are well maintained, spacious, and very relaxing. Although the hotel was noticeably busier this year, the communal areas retained their calming and tranquil atmosphere. Overall, the hotel remains a genuinely pleasant place to walk, sit, and unwind. We also enjoyed the pool facilities, which were spotlessly clean and well stocked with warm, soft towels. In terms of positive staff interactions, Joshua at the front door was outstanding. He simply will not allow a guest to hold a door themselves or pass by without a warm greeting. I even observed him walking out to the car park to help an older guest retrieve a walking aid, then escorting her steadily back to the hotel through howling wind and rain (all while smiling and chatting). His care and professionalism were exceptional. Alina at breakfast was also very pleasant and accommodating, adding greatly to the positive aspects of the service experience during our stay. Unfortunately, however, there were several areas that fell below the standard that we have come to expect. The breakfast food quality was inconsistent. The tattie scones were extremely hard. Additionally, much of the meat was overcooked or kept too long under heat, resulting in a tough or greasy texture. Room service was also disappointing. I ordered a steak stroganoff sandwich and was surprised to find a full layer of peppercorns placed between the bread and the meat on both sides of the sandwich, with no sauce included at all. I had to dismantle it to remove the excessive amount of peppercorns before eating what ended up being a very dry meal. None of the sandwiches arrived with kettle chips as stated on the menu, and shortly after starting our meal we were called and asked if the trolley could be collected. Overall, both the quality of the food and the service felt below the usual standard. The spa experience also detracted from our stay. Each time we entered the spa to use the pool we were questioned abruptly about our reason for being there, our room number, and our name. While I understand the need for verification, the tone was not welcoming and other guests entering at the same time were often not asked the same questions. We were also ignored by staff on several occasions while walking around the hotel. It shouldn’t be too much to expect a smile and a hello to be returned. Additionally, we attempted on several occasions to call for fresh towels only for the phone to ring out. When we went to reception in person, there were no guests waiting and several staff members standing idle. That didn’t feel 5 star. Overall, we did still enjoy our stay. However, we did not enjoy it nearly as much as in previous years. The service and the food did not meet the high standard we know the Fairmont St Andrews is capable of delivering. Hopefully things will return to normal soon, as this has always been a place we look forward to returning to.

Everything you’d expect from a Fairmont hotel, having stayed with them in other places. The service was excellent, and the stay was warm and enjoyable. The setting is lovely, with a seaview that makes it both relaxing and picturesque. While the spa facilities feel a bit dated and wouldn’t be my main draw, the rooms are very comfortable, modern, and plush. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the room had everything you could need—and more. Le Labo stuff is always nice to have here. Breakfast was excellent. Great choice of food and we were well looked after.