We stayed in a Deluxe Jacques Garcia Designed Suite for 2 nights in early August to celebrate our joint Birthdays. We were slightly apprehensive as this was part of an annual trip to Scotland to visit Family and we normally round of our trip with a stay at Gleneagles but chose St Andrews this year as my husband was playing golf on the Old Course. Some of the reviews on this site made us initially question this decision. We arrived at the Hotel at 12.30pm fully expecting to wait as check in is 3pm but were pleasantly surprised when told the room was in fact ready. The suite was breathtaking – helped by the fact the weather was the best all summer and the view out the full length windows across the golf course and out to see was stunning. There was an entrance foyer with marble flooring with a wet bar off to one side and a guest toilet off to the other. The living room part of the suite was huge with a full length sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table in front of a fireplace. There was also a large polished wood dining table that could easily sit 8 and a chaise longue by the full length windows that opened out on to a balcony. We spent many a pleasant hour on the balcony, glass of champagne in hand watching golfers come up the 17th (Road Hole) fairway. The soft furnishings were a mixture of striking deep red and black and white. The bedroom was as sumptuously decorated with a his and her wardrobe, huge king size bed, sofa and another large balcony. The bathroom was large with a fun and huge Jacuzzi/mood lighting bath which filled from the ceiling!

We had a wonderful couple of evenings in the Road Hole Grill Bar – again with fabulous views over the golf course and out to sea. Service and the cocktails were great. We ate one evening in the Road Hole Grill and the food was some of the best we have had in Scotland – we felt it was even better than Andrew Fairlies at Gleneagles. The other night we had a bar meal in the Jigger Inn attached to the Hotel which has a very relaxed ambience and suited my husband after his game of golf.

The Spa at the Hotel is wonderful – I had two wonderful back massages and we used the thermal suite, pool and rooftop Jacuzzi which were all modern and very clean. The Spa staff were all very professional and friendly. All in all the service throughout the Hotel was very attentative and everyone we were served by used our names and remembered us the following day.

There were only one or two minor things that I noticed they could have done to make it even better – not a complaint just feedback. Firstly there was no guest questionnaire provided to feedback – had there been I would have commented on the hairdryer which was a tiny old style hotel one that had no force/heat and would never have dried my hair had I tried. They had new large powerful ones in the Spa – why not the rooms? Also there was no Hotel information pack in the room so unless you knew the Hotel or asked you would have no idea of the Facilities/dining options on offer.

To summarise we very much enjoyed our stay and will definitely return at some point.

Stayed one night on a Corporate occassion (The Open Golf). First time in the hotel, it is very smart as one would expect, nice service at reception, very nice rooms and ok decor.

Evening Meal - First class food and service, no faults.
The room - had one overlooking car park, was very nice but not WOW as you would expect from 5*.
Rest of hotel - OK but not as much class as Gleneagles etc.
Breakfast - very average, nothing special, cooked buffet was almost a joke on quality.

Overall - Nice but wouldn't go back unless it was cheap. Having 5* means you have high expectations, and comparing this to Gleneagles it comes 2nd best by far.

Living in Glasgow, my wife and I intermittantly travel to 5 star hotels in Scotland for a weekend break. For my wifes birthday, I thought we'd try St Andrews Old Course Hotel.

To be honest, it's just okay. The building is frankly ugly- a horrible yellow colour and the interior decor is forgettable. The only time anyone really spoke to us was when we checked in and when we left. Our room was enormous, with a huge bed but the room was roasting! The AC was rubbish so we slept badly both nights, never good after a bottle of champagne (and the rest).

The weather was awful, and the hotel is quite dull- an uninspired gym, average spa. So, we went exploring- the only way to get to town was to walk where we got soaked through.

The first night we ate at the golf bar, we were the only folk there. We had an average meal of steak and chips before retiring to our oven...sorry, bedroom.

The second night we dined at the upscale restaurant. The food was great but service was terrible. The wine waiter spilt wine EVERY time she poured it, and was completely unaware she was doing it. I would have complained to her but she was never there for more than 3 seconds. I was going to complain to the maitre'd but couldnt see who that might have been.

Breakfast was decidedly average, and the service was appalling. Really dreadful- there was no organisation so two waiters were annoying half the room whilst ignoring the other half (not good with hangover and poor sleep due to heat)

This place is not a patch on Gleneagles, Turnberry, Isle of Eriska, the Scotsman and such like. It likes to think it is, and charges similarly. It has none of the charm nor class of the other places. It must depend on Americans coming for the golf, who dont know any better and then have no option but to stay once they've travelled all that way. My advice would be, spend your money elsewhere- there are plenty of places in Scotland that are more deserving of your business.

Stayed at the Old Course with my Girlfriend as I had been a St Andrews Student and wanted to show her all of my old haunts. Also, as a poor student, this hotel had been the holy grail of decadent luxury and I had always wanted to stay. Bolstered by the fact that it had just won Hotel of the Year in Scotland we parted with a large wad of cash to stay for a couple of nights.

The reception was very elegant and the staff were helpful and friendly. We were shown to the room which wasn't the biggest in the world but had the worlds largest and most comfy bed. Smallish window overlooking the golfers hacking their way down the 17th hole on the Old Course but all in all it was fine.

2 bars. An old fashioned drawing room on the 4th floor and a slightly more relaxed area downstairs.

The spa is fab. Very decadent with everything you could want. On reception was a very helpful lady who, not only showed us how everything worked but, next day, remembered my name and my shoe size for the slippers you were given as you walked in.

Major disappointment was the upstairs restaurant. Earlier we'd had a drink in the posh bar in our jeans and, whilst we weren't in our peacock finery, we looked OK. However, I'm covinced that the Maitre D decided we weren't classy enough to be in their restaurant as, when we changed and came back later, we were shown to the worst table in the room despite the restaurant only being 70% full (to be fair they did move us when we asked). We had to wait ages for our order to be taken and for anything to arrive and, when we looked to complain about all this, Maitre D was nowhere to be seen. Food was OK but expensive for what it was but the wine list was great (although again somewhat wallet gouging).

Main occupants of the hotel were middle aged to late middle aged couples, mostly male golfers (no real surprise) with other halves who were there in groups. Boys golfed, girls shopped.

In summary, the main selling points of this hotel are the spa and the location let down by a restaurant that thinks it's better than it is. Probably aimed at a slightly older crowd who want to go home and tell their buddies and work colleagues about the day they played "Saint Andrews".