Macdonald Aviemore Woodland Lodges

I really want this place to be better it’s so well positioned but mainly it’s unloved and poorly managed. The good we ate in the restraunt in the highlands hotel which was excellent, the welcome at check in was great, the lodges are spacious. The bad lights in the street up to the lodges were mainly out replaced midway through our stay, pitch dark walk back from the main hotels and pool, lights at the lodge were out replaced next day, there was a hole in the wall of our lodge and in one of the chairs. The games room wasn’t open at the pool on requesting it to be opened the response was we only open It during the Scottish school holidays or weekends despite us being their during English school holiday time with English friends accompanying us with their kids at our recommendation an absolute embarrassment for Scotland. it was open later following a discussion with management, pool opening hours were limited which was fine but when it was open 80% of the space as taken up for lessons which they certainly didn’t need appreciate there needs to be a balance but it needs better managed the young pool attendants just seemed to do whatever the swimming lessons team asked for, the slide was also switched off during lessons as the swimming lessons complained it was too noisy absolute nonsense, breakfast was good but for the first two days they created unnecessary congestion by sitting out empty warming trays every morning taking up space for no reason frustrations guests how all opened up empty trays, instead of spreading out the food they did have which they eventually clicked to do after raising it to management it’s basic stuff. Hopefully they get a management team who put in more effort but the reality is likely with there location they’ll continue the mediocre maintenance and I’ll probably stay again because if you want to stay somewhere in Aviemore for kids with a pool it’s your only option. Such a shame such potential.