Swiss Grand Resort and Spa

"I will stay here again"

22nd May 2012, kindooroo, Armidale, Australia

I am very picky about cleanliness and we found this hotel to be clean and tidy, perhaps a little tired but still very acceptable. The location could not have been better. Parking was undercover and easy to find. The breakfast was excellent and the fish pond just outside the restaurant was a highlight for us. The only down side was the bathroom was a bit Spartan and provided the minimum number of towels, one bar of soap and no face washers which my wife just hates. When she requested a face washer the hotel staff promised to bring one up and never appeared not even to apologise for not having any which I assume was the case.

"Family Stay"

18th May 2012, 516John, Sydney, Australia

Staff were very helpful. Great location. Concierge very helpful as we had many bags with young children.Better signage for outdoor areas needed as many people were smoking near us at Breakfast time.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay.We are thrilled that you enjoyed the great location of the Swiss-Grand within unique Bondi Beach. It is wonderful to hear when staff are recognized for their efforts and service levels they provide which we pride ourselves on here at the Swiss-Grand. I will pass-on your comments to the Concierge team as they will be delighted about your kind words.Our sincerest apologies about any inconvenience or confusion caused by signage. We strictly enforce a Non-Smoking policy within the entire property, and will review our outdoor areas.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Run down but in a great location."

18th May 2012, nooshkin, Sydney, Australia

I believe this hotel is being turned into apartments in the near future. Although we got a good deal at $150 per night with breakfast, the hotel is in dire need of an upgrade. The rooms & decor are very old. The walls in both rooms and hallways are scuffed. The furniture is old and dirty. Generally the place looks un cared for. The service is average at best. Went to the bar for a cocktail with family and the bar staff did not have the ingredient,s to make the cocktails from the cocktail lists that are on every table?? They didn't even have any Gin to make a G & T? That is just pathetic.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comment on your recent stay.We are delighted that you enjoyed the fabulous location of Bondi Beach and the amenities it offers. Our sincerest apologies if our service did not meet your expectations. Staff members are trained on a regular basis and we pride ourselves on the service level they provide. We note your comments on the product. Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Big Rooms"

14th May 2012, Yonks, Ulladulla

A very good value stay.The only negative, poor telly.Room big enough to be a self contained unit for a family of four but isn't.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us. Our television program provides standard Australian services, our apologies if the provided program did not meet your expectations.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Great location decent price with older rooms"

13th May 2012, sgillies, Melbourne, Australia

Great location on Bondi Beach - get an oceanview room if possible. Good value for the area but rooms furnishings are a bit dated.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. It is wonderful to hear when guests enjoy the great location of Bondi Beach and the amenities it offers. Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Ocean View Room was great, but under construction"

11th May 2012, ivanatinkle, Sydney

Décor was a little dated.We were not aware that renovations were currently under way, limiting our access to the balconies and views of Bondi beach.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We can confirm that at this stage there is no current renovation or construction work taking place here at the hotel. Whilst some of our Non-Ocean View rooms are covered by a transparent marketing banner, all Ocean View rooms allow access to the sweeping views of world famous Bondi Beach. Please contact me to discuss your stay as I would like to ascertain if you had booked an Ocean or a Non-Ocean view suite.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"excellent stay"

9th May 2012, ihill52, Wollongong, Australia

Great location,room was clean and quiet,we had stayed before and their was some noise from the street outside,bar area could be a bit more modern and lively,i.e.entertainment,staff were helpfull and friendly.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay.It is great to hear that you enjoyed the great location of Bondi Beach. I will pass-on your comments regarding your positive room conditions to our Housekeeping Team personally. It is wonderful to notice when staff are recognized for their efforts and service levels they provide which we proud ourselves on here at the Swiss-Grand.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Bondi weekend"

9th May 2012, 5wildcat, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Stayed at this hotel with friends on a last minute weekend trip to Bondi. Location of the hotel was ideal to food and the beach.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay.We are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay with us at the Swiss-Grand in magnificent Bondi Beach.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Dissapointing"

8th May 2012, Pcs931, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

well ---pay top price to be at faulty towers--like going to a third world country with a third grade building--very disappointing ---sell it and let someone with a passion for the travelers bring it back to it's former glory!!

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay.I urge you to please contact me directly at generalmanager@swissgrand.com.au to investigate your issues further.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"The worst hotel EVER"

6th May 2012, humblemum, Sydney, Australia

This is such a shame, an icon like Bondi having a place like this, it is just embarrassing. I do not have one good thing to say about our stay. We regret that we did not check straight back out and go home.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. I urge you to please contact me directly at generalmanager@swissgrand.com.au to discuss your issues further.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Great location, tired hotel"

4th May 2012, Scottmxma, Sydney, Australia

In desperate need or a refurb, very tired decor and furnishings. Clean and comfortable though and great location. Doesn't make you want to stay on the hotel and hang out, so lucky its a great going out spot.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the great location of the Swiss-Grand within unique Bondi Beach.We note your comments on the product.Kind Regards,Richard Holt General Manager
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"Pleasant stay at Bondi Beach"

27th April 2012, avart, Melbourne

Whenever I stay at Bondi Beach, I always choose to stay at Swiss Grand Resort & Spa. The location is excellent, right opposite the amazing Bondi Beach, and right amongst the cafe/shopping strip. I always select an Ocean View Room. It's worth the fifty or so extra $ per night, as you can sit on the Balcony & absorb the electric atmosphere & amazing views. If you don't feel like walking across the road to the beach, there is a roof top swimming pool. Public transport is excellent, with bus stops directly out the front, which will take you to the City and Bondi Westfield shopping centre. Buses are extremely frequent. Enjoy the weekend markets just a few steps down the road at the local primary school.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your most recent stay.Welcome back to the Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa! I am glad that you enjoyed your time in one of our ocean view suites and took advantage of the beautiful views overlooking Bondi Beach from your balcony. You have made some good recommendations for other visitors and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Swiss-Grand for your next visit.Thank you again for your comments.Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Great location"

25th April 2012, Brownfamily26, Canberra, Australia

Great location, walking distance to beach and shops, with a modern and spacious foyer area and an efficient lift service that took us to the 5th floor without hassle. The large car parking facility was very useful for us, with plenty of spaces available. Service right from time of booking was pleasing with emailed updates of weather, attractions etc sent prior to our visit plus housekeeping was particularly friendly during our three night stay. Room was adequate and clean, though a little tired. Beds were comfortable and also clean, though no option to change pillows if the ones provided didn't suit you - this was our case, but housekeeping was particularly apologetic for being unable to assist. Our room consisted of a single sofa bed in the entrance area and a single bed and queen bed in the main room; these rooms were divided by a bathroom. Both sleeping areas had a television; though old, they did the job. We had issues with our shower head during our stay (which maintenance fixed) and some obvious rot occurring in the door frame, but the bathroom was otherwise pleasingly spacious.The highlight of our stay was the breakfast which was expansive, with something for everyone. The pool area has recently been touched up, so if the weather permitted, this could be a nice area to hang out.I would recommended this hotel mainly for location. I'd be reluctant to pay full price for a room if ours was any indication, as they are not huge for a family and are in need of an upgrade.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your recent stay.We are thrilled that you enjoyed the Swiss-Grand’s prominent location overlooking Bondi Beach and enjoyed your stay in one of our Junior Twin suites. Apologies for any inconvenience caused and I am glad that any issues were addressed in a timely manner. In regards to family suites the Swiss-Grand does feature larger rooms than the one you stayed-in during your above visit. On your next visit please consult one of our friendly Reservations agents who will be happy to recommend a larger room type for you and your family. I have passed on your comments to the Executive Chef and kitchen team who are thrilled to have received your wonderful feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Swiss-Grand in the near future.Thank you for your comments.Kind regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Bondi Beach stay"

21st April 2012, jefjen, Melbourne, Australia

The hotel is well located in Bondi. The rooms are clean and well-appointed. The sitting room did not need the bed made up, as it was meant to be a couch. The TV reception was unreliable. The biggest disappointment was the bar. The offerings of fortified wines were not on the menu and this was odd. We were irritated to have to go out again to find a decent selection of wines, spirits etc. Also, it would have been good to have seen the lobby coffee shop open more often. A good service would have been a local cafe/restaurant/wine bar guide.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your recent stay.We are glad that you enjoyed the Swiss-Grand’s wonderful location and suites. Our sincerest apologies in regards to your bar experience. The Operations Manager is investigating your comments regarding the selection on offer. Beach Beans (Lobby area coffee provider) the Bondi local favourite, is open daily from 6am to 2pm.The Swiss-Grand’s Concierge staff are more than happy to assist with any local Bondi recommendations or booking enquiries that you may have.Again, thank you for your comments.Kind regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"great stay"

20th April 2012, vicknow, Gosford, Australia

We stayed at Bondi Beach to show my two teenagers some of the sights in and around Sydney, This hotel was truly awesome. It was near the beach, restaurants, shops and whatever you wanted..Transport, well buses at your door. We where very impressed and having travelled the world can not recommend it highly enough and the kids loved it too. Good one mum

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your recent stay.We are thrilled that you and your children enjoyed your stay with us at the Swiss-Grand and enjoyed the various facilities Bondi Beach and the Eastern suburbs area has to offer.Again, thank you for your comments and we look forward to welcoming you back in the near future.Kind regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"more like 3 star, complete with a giant cockroach"

19th April 2012, kris2108, Geelong, Australia

Whilst overall the place was clean enough, I discovered a giant cockroach in our roomThe hotel is pretty outdated, clearly would have been a 5 star when built but seems as if nothing has been done to the property since the 70sAlso would expect better service from the staff of a 5 star hotelNevertheless, great location and great view from the (tiny) balcony overlooking the beach

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your recent stay.We are glad that you enjoyed the views from one of our ocean view suites’ spacious balconies. We note your comments on the hotel product and the hotel completes regular pest treatments throughout the year. It is an unfortunate isolated case that due to Australian weather conditions, there was a cockroach in your suite. Our sincerest apologies for any inconveniences caused.Thank you for your comments.Kind regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Perfect location. Needs an update"

18th April 2012, tysontrip, Sydney

The room had a large lounge area; bar which we didn't use as it didn't look to the great view over Bondi Beach. The room generally was a little dated with old cupboards and while the bathroom had a bath, the shower was quite small. Could do with an upgrade to the furnishings and decor, the outside of the building.But the view and location is great. The staff were lovely as was breakfast.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for the comments on your recent stay.We are glad that you enjoyed the wonderful view, location and spacious suite during your stay at the Swiss-Grand. We note your comments on the hotel product. During your next stay I recommend that you try the Seaspray Restaurant’s menu and cocktails at the Lobby Bar whilst sitting taking in the views from the outdoor deck area. Again, thank you for your comments and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Swiss-Grand in the near future.Kind regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"A night to remember for the wrong reasons"

17th April 2012, jonlikely, Sydney, Australia

My wife and i decided to stay at the Swiss Grand Resort and Spa for our 6th wedding anniversary. Having 2 kids under 4 staying with their grand parents and a night to ourselves is a very rare event for us and we were really looking forward to it.We checked into our room and settled in to enjoy the uninterrupted views with a few glasses of champagne before we went out to dinner. We noted that room, although generally neat and tidy looked run down, so we tried to leave the room to look at the pool and spa on the roof, which is were it all went wrong.Our door lock was broken and we were locked in the room. Hoping it was a small problem we rang the front desk and someone came up to have a look. After trying a few things and making a few calls he left without providing us an update. We were forced to ring the front desk again to be informed that they were going to send up the maintenance person to fix it.After another wait he arrived and loud banging followed. Then we were informed that they needed to cut out the lock and we should stand back form the door.After another wait the door was cut through and then kicked in. So after about an hour and a half locked in our room we were free.The duty manager offered us a new room and $100 off our accommodation. We accepted that at the time not realizing that our new room (348) was not a spa room (which we had paid for) and had its ocean view obscured by a marque.After a quick discussion my wife and i decided that we should get ready for our dinner booking at Icebergs and follow up with the hotel in the morning (we had lost the afternoon to enjoy the spa anyway).At checkout the next morning we attempted to discuss our displeasure, but not only were the staff not interested in the quality of our stay but when we mentioned our concerns to the manager on duty (different to the night before) we were made to feel like we were making a big deal out of a "little problem".Having stayed at many other Accor hotels i was very dissapointed in the standard of service and quality of the swiss grand resort and spa in Bondi and would caution anyone form staying there.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for bringing your above comments to our attention. We will be in contact with you in the near future to discuss this further.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Lackluster"

16th April 2012, mmci77, Atlantic Beach, Florida, USA

Location is decent enough being across the street from the beach. But the hotel itself is dated to say the least! The lobby was OK, but the floors/corridors were nasty. There were mattresses stacked up in the already narrow hallways, room service trays left out from at least a day before (smelly, and rotten food... come on!?). Our room and bathroom were cleaned, but dated and uncomfortable overall. Thin walls too - could hear people from above and both sides. We had found a decent enough rate, but even at half the monty, I would NOT stay here ever again.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are glad that you enjoyed the wonderful Bondi Beach location. Our sincerest apologies regarding your stay with us. The Operations Manager has addressed the room service tray issue with the Food & Beverage department. We note your comments on the hotel product. Thank you again for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Worth it for the location alone"

16th April 2012, LesleLondon, London

Nice hotel with good sized rooms and good service. As others have commented the decor is a little tired and it is a little bit dated. However, the facilities are good and it is worth it for the location alone which is a less than 5 minute walk to the beach and near lots of shops and great restaurants. The outdoor pool was not heated and was too cold for us to use in April, though I can imagine that in summer it is well used and a good feature of the hotel. The indoor pool is a lap pool and more suitable for adult swimming than for children to play in. Fortunately, we were lucky to have good enough weather to swim in the sea.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay with us and took advantage of the Swiss-Grand’s various facilities including the 2 pools and wonderful location. I will pass on your comments to the whole Swiss-Grand team.Thank you again for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Very unhappy"

15th April 2012, bernie010582, Sydney, Australia

I must say that this was one of the worst hotels that I have stayed at. The bathroom was full of mould and the ceiling panels were barely holding in place. The mouldings on the ceiling in the hall ways was taped on so as to not fall off. We were not told about the price of the parking until we left and the staff were quiet unhelpful. I must say that I was very disappointed with the quality of this hotel and I hope that other Accor branded hotels are in better condition.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. Our sincerest apologies that your stay with us did not meet your expectations.I have forwarded your comments regarding the issues you have raised about your room conditions to our Executive Housekeeper. Please note that all of our 203 suites are cleaned conscientiously and checked by one of our Housekeeping Supervisors before guest access is given.Once upon arrival guests are normally informed about the prices for the on-site parking if requested. Parking charges are also on an information panel at the parking entrance with appropriate charges clearly written. I have passed-on your comments regarding your encounter with our staff to our Operations Manager who is addressing these issues.Again, thank you for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"A dirty hotel."

15th April 2012, danieltrethowan, Brisbane, Australia

Disclaimer: I understand that the hotel is either being completely knocked down and rebuilt, or just refurbished and sold as private apartments. With that in mind I can understand why the staff aren't putting in a whole lot of effort, but I wish that fact had been communicated to me in some way before I booked it. When I checked into the first room, it absolutely stank. It was the smell of something rotten. On the carpet at the entry way was a huge wet patch. My guess is someone spilt something, or threw up on the carpet and this was an unconvincing attempt to clean the floor. Someone obviously signed off on the room without thoroughly inspecting it. The last guest's key cards were still in the room, along with other bits and pieces. To top it off, my room was a 'Junior Suite', meaning it had a King Single bed. This bed was not going to be big enough for my girlfriend and I. I checked back over my own booking online, and on the hotel's website, and this 'king single' room feature was not listed on any room description I saw. The next man at the front desk I dealt with was very helpful and upgraded us to a room with a bigger bed. The downside of this being that the television reception in the room was poor at best. Our television had only 5 or so channels in which the signal was clear. Unfortunately these channels were not the good ones. Obviously we wouldn't spend a whole lot of time in the room anyway, but it was somewhat annoying to come home after a long day sightseeing and not have anything in the room to do. The hotel on the whole was just not very clean. It is obviously an older hotel. There were bits of rubbish in the hallway, and even a human hairball. After I checked out, I realised that the staff had charged my credit card twice for staying there. I made a call and the person I spoke to told me it was the damage deposit, and that I should have the money back shortly. My only issue is that so called 'damage deposit' was actually a larger amount than how much I paid for the room. If someone had made a mistake, I wouldn't have been irate, I just was not comfortable with being flat out lied to. In any case, as mentioned before, I don't believe the hotel will be around much longer. The outside has scaffolding all around it, and I can definitely understand the staff 'clocking off', if they are to be made redundant. I just wish all of this had been communicated to us before we booked the hotel.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay.Our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused during your stay with us at the Swiss-Grand.I have forwarded your comments regarding your room experience to our Executive Housekeeper. Please note that all of our rooms are cleaned conscientiously and checked by one of our Housekeeping Supervisors before access is given to guests.In regards to the hotel’s entertainment, the Swiss-Grand offers a complimentary selection of Australian and cable tv channels and Pay-TV films are also available. The ‘damage deposit’ which is incorrectly worded and is actually a pre-authorisation is an accommodation standard procedure in most hotels in Australia. Upon arrival guests are requested to provide Credit Card details and the pre-authorisation will be put as an ‘on hold’ charge on the provided Credit Card. Please contact me directly at generalmanager@swissgrand.com.au to discuss your issues further.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"swiss grand"

14th April 2012, geoffrp88, Rockhampton, Australia

Great location/ friendly & helpful staffBuffet breakfast was a bit ordinary but main meal at night was good.Enjoyed good walk along beach /cliff edge down to Bronte...about 1/2 hr each way where we had breakfast a couple of mornings.Stayed in a unit type room.main bedroom had great view of beach/ surf and had balcony to have coffee on.Had double windows to keep out the noise from the street.Bus stop out the front to Bondi Junction and then train to town.Taxi from airport approx $40.Didnt go up to swim on rooftop area.Spa not heated.up there..Also didnt use the indoor gym but it looked well equipped.Area had a heated pool for aerobics.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are glad that you enjoyed the hotel’s prime location and the various facilities available for guests within the hotel premise and the ocean view suite during your stay with us. It is wonderful when staff are recognised for their efforts. I have passed on your comments to the whole team.Thank you for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Old, smelly, falling apart - dont stay here!"

13th April 2012, Sydney

I thought that being in Bondi this would be a decent place to stay. Obviously not. Walking around the hotel there is wall paper falling off the walls, old stained smelly carpet, and a general feel of a hotel in need of renovation. I was hoping to go for a swim in the "heated" pool...unfortunately the heating wasnt working. In my room, the taps were broken and our tv appears to have been borrowed from a museum for antiques. This hotel needs some serious work. Not what i've come to expect of Accor.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. Our sincerest apologies that your most recent stay was not to your or our service standards. Please contact me directly on generalmanager@swissgrand.com.au to discuss your concerns further.Thank you for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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"Got what we were after"

13th April 2012, Rooster_Fan, Gosford, Australia

We had the 3 for 2 nights deal so for $220 a night I was happy with what we had. If paying full price would have not been as pleased. As its on hold for redevelopment its a bit rough around the edges such as toilet needed a jiggle of the button to seat plunger or it would keep running, but look out the window and its right on BONDI BEACH.

Management responseDear Reviewer,Thank you for your comments on your recent stay. We are glad that you were able to take advantage of the hotel’s promotional deal. I have passed-on your comments regarding the plumbing issues in your room to the Chief Engineer.Thank you for your comments.Kind Regards,Richard HoltGeneral Manager
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