Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
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Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
A Victorian country house, the hotel features beautiful studios, one and two bedroom suites with carefully-considered amenities, including Wi-Fi and 32-inch TVs. Enjoy the resort's indoor pool, various sports courts and spa.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is officially classified according to VisitScotland standards.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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Nestled in a serene, forested setting near Craigendarroch hill, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites in Scotland comes highly recommended for its attentive service, though some guests advise caution with the pool reception staff. The hotel's cleanliness, especially in the immaculate pool area and well-maintained suites, is consistently praised.
With comfortable, spacious accommodations that boast great views, guests enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. While the ample amenities, including a variety of kitchenette options, enhance the stay, opinions on value are divided, with some guests questioning the costs and early checkout times.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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We have stayed in the lodges but this was the first time in the suites and we had a lovely time. We stayed in a one bed suite and a family member slept on the sofa bed in the living room and this worked out well as they had a bathroom and we had an ensuite too. The facilities are really lovely and both rooms had a balcony - tricky to get the doors to open though! You are able to catch some sunshine on the balcony, however the height of the trees spoils that a bit. All the staff we met were really friendly, helpful and professional and a delight to deal with - the swimming pool area was immaculate and kept very clean as were all areas of the hotel. We ate in one night and because the quiz was on there weren't many tables left but we were able to take the meals to our room. Due to the size of the mini kitchen there is no dishwasher but that's the only minor inconvenience if you are used to one at home. The town of Ballater is an easy stroll down hill where there are plenty of shops and cafes. It is a lovely area and the leaves were beginning to turn to their beautiful autumnal colours. Would definatley go back.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:There are some nice cycle runs in the area.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex Ramsey, Guest Services / Front Office at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Responded 30 Sept 2024
We are thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic time during your recent stay with us, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to write your review. Our desire to make you feel at home when you are away from home is what drives us. We look forward to seeing you again in the future!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We chose this resort without really knowing what it and the area has to offer and we're very pleasantly surprised. Besides the beautiful resort itself, this area has many hidden gems to experience, including castles, Pictish stone rings and cairns, Royal residences, historic parks, hiking trails and monuments, mountains, skiing, churches, lochs, battlefields and Scottish history.
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Review collected in partnership with Hilton Grand Vacations
Date of stay: March 2023
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Location
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Stayed here for a week in a one bedroom suite, plenty room for the two of us. Small kitchenette but enough to prepare breakfast, some lunches and easy suppers. Only very small gripe is there are no coat hooks to hang wet jackets . Great to be able to cast our Netflix etc from our iPad to the TV . The pool area is lovely and it was generally quiet . Only ate in the restaurant once, it was ok but quality of food could be better. Plenty lovely places to eat in the surrounding area including The Highlander Bakehouse, Rothesay Rooms and don’t miss a treat of dinner at the Darroch Learg ( you can walk easily to it) . Room was only cleaned once during our stay. Laundry room with good size washers and dryers, these are free. The snow arrived whilst we were there but the ground staff worked hard to clear paths and carpark. The reception also supplied ice scrapers and de-icer if you’ve forgotten to take. Overall a comfortable stay and plenty to do in the area.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex Ramsey, Guest Services / Front Office at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Responded 2 Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your recent stay with us. We truly enjoyed having you as a guest and we hope our service and amenities will make us your first choice for accommodations the next time you travel to Ballater.
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Excellent accommodation … we stayed in a two room suite. Quality of fittings are outstanding. A mini kitchen area is available with coffee percolator.. kettle … microwave and selection of dishes . Continental breakfast is available for a small cost and is delivered to the room.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex Ramsey, Guest Services / Front Office at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Responded 2 Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your recent stay with us. We truly enjoyed having you as a guest and we hope our service and amenities will make us your first choice for accommodations the next time you travel to Ballater.
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Booked a studio king and were upgraded to a king suite with a fireplace – pleasant and nice surprise, thank you to reception! The suite was large with a separate bedroom with a king bed that was very comfortable with nice bedding. Because this is a Hilton, the room had Kleenex, washcloths, and nice amenities. There is no A/C and thankfully it was cool when we stayed in May. There were two bathrooms, and both had new fluffy white towels. The sitting room with a fireplace had a kitchenette with microwave, dishes and coffee maker which was great as we ordered the continental breakfast brought to the room for £7.95. There was bottled water and milk in the fridge. Our greeting upon arrival was friendly, warm and welcoming. Parking was easy and the hotel has amenities such as a swimming pool and fitness center. We only stayed one night and we were pleased with our choice.
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Date of stay: May 2022
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were fortunate to reserved a one bedroom suite. I wish I had read more reviews suggesting which suites to select. We had a good bit of luggage and elevator service did not service our mezzanine floor room, suite 8. Though easily accessed and a good size with small kitchenette, the insulation between floors was inadequate. The family staying above us had a rambunctious child who stomped around in the mornings and evenings, distractingly so. Housekeeping service began early and linen storage was next to our room as we heard them accessing it frequently in the morning. Continental breakfast selections are delivered to your room after making choices the night before. Not much to miss. Mid- morning offerings are made at the restaurant. There is a nice fitness facility, steam room, sauna, indoor pool and hot tub. Adult hour from 8-9 pm in the large pool and spa pool. Bathing suits are available for purchase as well. The restaurant requires reservations for dinner. As Elite HGV owners, Diamond HHonors, the facility was nice but we would have preferred a better suite selected for us.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Not easy walking distance to Ballater. Make dinner reservations. Don’t stay in Suite 8, too noisy.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first time and Scotland, and it was amazing. We flew into Aberdeen and took a rental car. The rental car was quite expensive, but we wanted to travel around not worrying about bus connections etc. The property lies just outside Ballater a small town which has some good restaurants a few grocery stores and some history. We stayed in a suit, there are cabins as well on the property, even with the limited kitchen we had we were able to save some money buying food at the local grocery store instead of eating out every time.
The restaurant and workers are great, it is usually not too busy for lunch but for dinner make reservations even at the last minute they will try to squeeze you in. Wednesdays is steak night make sure you get over there.
Leisure attractions at this hotel are great, Tennis courts, ping pong table, snooker table, a small gym, and best of all the pool that has a hot tub, sauna, a steam room, and two separate pools which have a comfortable temperature. The only downside to the pool, there are not a lot of places to place your towel but I am sure that is planned so there can't be any wars on who is getting what chair, in addition, the room outside the pool is limited.
Personnel are friendly and make you feel warm and welcome regardless of where you are on the property.
Washer and dryer are on the property in the main building don't know if they have any in the cabins.
Kids can do drawing contests on a weekly base as well as trivia races across the property.
You can walk down to Ballater in about 15 minutes to the center, there is also a riverwalk.
If you plan on using the SPA facilities i.e. massage and other services do not wait and think next-day appointments are happening. I guess depending on the season at least a week out appointments should be made.
The property is well taken care of, and they have a giant Christmas tree so if you are going around that time it should be amazing.
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Review collected in partnership with Hilton Grand Vacations
Date of stay: August 2022
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff are lovely. Really kind and helpful The location is amazing, within a short walk of charming, bucolic Ballater and just down the road from Balmoral Castle (worth a visit!). The beds are comfy and the showers are great. The Crabtree and Evelyn bath products are heavenly.
Cons: This is a beautiful old building that has sadly been given a boring uninspired corporate remodel. The interior lacks any charm. The walls and floors are a curious institutional purple color that would feel very much at home in a down market retirement home. The main dining room, which apparently just opened after a remodel, is bland, insipid, and dull. Both of our rooms had an odd smell and were strangely dark, with very limited lighting, dark bland furniture and an overall feeling of blah.
The breakfast food is overpriced and mediocre, although there are so many great local restaurants to try that The hotel food shouldn't be a turn off. A 2 min drive will take you into Ballater, which has many adorable cafes and restaurants (including a fabulous Indian restaurant, not to be missed).
Overall:
If you are just looking for a clean hotel room with a good bathroom close to Balmoral, this isn't a bad choice. However, if what you're after is some Scottish country charm and great breakfasts, I would keep looking.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HGV Resorts, Owner at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Responded 7 Aug 2023
Thank you for writing a review following your recent stay. I am pleased to learn that you enjoyed your interactions with our team and found the beds and products to your satisfaction. I was disappointed to know that you found the interior of the building unsatisfactory. We have recently completed a soft refurbishment of all our carpets, curtains, upholstery and lighting throughout the building. While this has been overall very well received, I do appreciate that everyone has their own taste as to décor and our design may not be to everyone's liking. Thank you again for your feedback as through this we strive to improve our service. I look forward to welcoming you back to the resort in the near future. Kind Regards, Craig Hay Resort Administration Manager
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Our room smelled like it had been freshly painted. Contacted the front desk and they informed us it had been painted the day before. The windows were completely closed allowing none of the smell to dissipate. The paint smell was extremely strong, bordering on unbearable. Their only solution give to us was to open the windows
The front desk was unable to even offer free drinks or dinner due to no management on site and the hotel was fully booked. Upon return home, we put in a complaint with Hilton asking for a refund. The front desk claimed there was only a "mild" smell which was COMPLETELY FALSE. Ultimately given a 20% discount which was unsatisfactory given the strength of the smell and inability of the front desk staff to provide any support
This completely ruined our experience in what is a beautiful hotel
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Don't expect any support if your room smells like paint
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Overall this was a disappointing 2 day break. The only breakfast available was a continental breakfast delivered to the room. Hotel amenities were conspicuous by their absence. The bar/restaurant was only open at lunchtime and in the evening. Other than the reception desk staff, the restaurant staff definitely need some training in customer service. Sorting menus and bar glasses took priority of seating us in an otherwise quiet restaurant. Given the cost of our stay it was very disappointing. on a positive note, the surrounding area is unbeatable for beauty.
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Review collected in partnership with Hilton Grand Vacations
Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HGV Resorts, Owner at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland
Responded 27 Feb 2023
Thank you for your feedback following your recent stay. Our Keiller Lounge currently opens at 1:00pm with last orders for dinner at 8:15pm. We appreciate your comments regarding service times and dining options as this is useful to our team when deciding on new menus and offerings. I am disappointed to learn that your service in the Keiller Lounge was slow. I have passed your feedback to our Food & Beverage Manager to allow her to discuss your service issues with her team to prevent similar issues arising in future. Thank you for your feedback as through this we strive to improve our service. I look forward to welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind Regards, Craig Hay Resort Administration Manager
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San Antonio, Texas215 contributions25 helpful votes
Echoing the previous answers, we rented a car, which is by far the best option for getting around rural Scotland. Ballater is a little off the beaten path for public transportation. A train, bus, and/or taxi combination is a possible alternative, but it might prove quite expensive and complicated (i.e. Train to Aberdeen and bus to Ballater with a taxi to the hotel). Tickets to Balmoral are available online but I'm not sure if the hotel sells them directly.
There are more places to choose from in the Ballater area.
PRICE RANGE
$378 - $559 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandAberdeenshireBallater
NUMBER OF ROOMS
32
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Is Hilton Grand Vacations Club Craigendarroch Suites Scotland accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
