Mercure Albury

no foxtel one things that drew to your motel

As an Accor gold member for over 8 years, the service comes with so many benefits, potential upgrades, free water, welcome drink, dining and breakfast deals etc. usually there’s a members line to fast track any quests, you know, we are the annoying entities frequent travellers. What usually comes with that is a big warm smile from the person greeting you and a ‘welcome’ and thanks for the loyalty kind of deal. In a world where travel can be cumbersome and also magical it’s these small things that make the difference. All the Accor hotels I’ve stayed in have been good at this from the Bora Bora villas to the $99 Ibis in Thornleigh, you are welcomed a specific way and your trip feels a little less impersonal. This did not happen at this hotel. In fact it was the polar opposite. There was no one else checking in, yet we were not greeted or welcomed it felt like an inconvenience. First world problems sure, entitles, yes absolutely, but that service is paid for and so it is expected. To not receive it felt rude. So frosty the reception was done and off to the room. Which was incredible. Spacious, clean, tidy and updated. However, what we didn’t know was the fly screen was broken, the windows has been left slightly open and now we shared our room with many (many) flying insects. Off to the bar to get our complimentary drink, similar service to our check in, quite abrupt and irritated staff, not sure why but just came across we were distracting them from something. Ok well atmosphere zero so took drinks back upstairs to have with our flying room guests, at least they seemed happy to see us. In summary, lovely hotel, but people make the hotel and on this experience I wouldn’t recommend it. Maybe it was bad timing or luck, but whatever the reason really didn’t need the attitude. A frequent self entitled traveller!

Only down fall a roll out bed was requested during my booking which I call 48hrs before my check in date, which was not set up housekeeping was wonderful (unfortunately I didn't get her name) she was on top of it got the bed out had set it up with a friendly smile was very apologetic great service from her reason why I had given a 9 warm and friendly didn't complain reception staff was good.

Very well appointed room with a very comfortable king size bed.

Overall, the Mercure Albury is a good place to stay. The restaurant has a limited menu, but each dish was well prepared. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Breakfast would be improved by the reintroduction of a breakfast buffet, like other Mercure Hotels in NSW have already done. Introduction of omelettes to the breakfast menu would also be an improvement. Confusion reigns in the administration of the hotel. I am an Accor platinum member and payment by points caused drama with an initial position that the Accor portal could not be opened. Access to the in-house WiFi was a mystery. There was no instruction on how to connect. The in-house telephone did not have instruction on which button to press to reach reception. I visited reception was told to simply lift the handset which I did. Of course, because I had not dialed any number(s) there was only a ring tone. This problem was not resolved during my stay. When I went to reception to enquire about connecting to an in-house wifi I was told that there were no written instructions because the hotel was going paperless. But that there was a QR code stuck to the wall in my room and if I scanned it all manner of information would become available. Presumably how to connect to the wifi and the password to use. Rather than do this, reception simply told me the wifi address and the password. Some simple changes to the check in procedure or some written instruction would be a great help to guests.