Deep Blue Hot Springs Warrnambool — Attraction in Warrnambool

We stayed there 3 days this week (January 2024). Mixed bag of experiences. The hotel staff were unfailingly polite, friendly and helpful. The morning breakfast buffet was very good with a good variety of hot and cold, savory and sweet. The overall setting for the hotel was attractivw with the ocean close by.

That said, we booked an ocean view hotel room. It wasn't... well it was if you stood (no table chairs) on the balcony and craned your neck to look along side the hotel building. At $500/night we expected more. We complained. They moved us for the next night to a non-ocean view room for half the price. Plus the comped us breakfast for the next day, which was really nice because we didn't ask for it nor expect it. That said, my wife checked out the night before. It took a 1/2 hour. The hotel systems are unnecessarily complicated. Either really train your staff on your archaic system or upgrade your system.

The hotel and facilities are tired. The rooms were recently painted but the furniture was old, the bathroom was spartan (really cheap shower heads and no water pressure), the drawers & desk were scratched, stained. The bed was comfortable, although my wife said the sheets were scratchy.

This tiredness extended to the facilities. The Bath House had a painted ceiling that was peeling. The benches, shower, flooring looked worn. The pools have seen better days. I'm sure that back in the day, the fake rock surrounding the pools was cutting edge but now it's just kitsch. Also, too many pools; there's not enough difference between the different pools to warrant so many. Makes it too chopped up & rabbit warren like. Fewer & bigger pools would accommodate more people & look more chic.

The biggest failing was the lack of communication. Booking weeks/months in advance it'd sure be nice if they would send a schedule of what was booked, days, times. We got a confirmation of what we paid for, but all it said was date & time, but not what service it was for.

Also, we did a salt treatment room. My wife had to leave because it was too cold, which they didn't say anything about. She asked if others had left or commented on it being too cold & she was told, all the time.

The one other thing about the rooms, this is a wet holiday, 95% of what you're doing involved getting wet. Yet the rooms were lacking anywhere to hang your bathing suits & robes to let them dry. We even put our on the terrace but they still didn't dry.

One more thing about the staff, when leaving the local taxi companies didn't respond in spite of booking hours prior. We were getting anxious about getting to the train station. The hotel person at the desk came out to us & was prepared to get someone from the hotel to drive us to the train station! How good is that!? Just then, though, the taxi finally came.

Overall, I'm glad I went. Would I go back? No. I've been to spas in Ojo Caliente in New Mexico in the US, in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort in Oregon in the US, Blue Lagoon & public baths in Iceland, and Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, & these at Deep Blue just don't compare. Which is too bad; with some attention paid by the owners, upgrading facilities, remodeling the hotel, streamlining the systems, Deep Blue Hot Springs Warrnambool would become...

Regrettably, I am compelled to give this establishment a low rating, although it pains me to do so. My recent experience was nothing short of dreadful, and perhaps sharing my feedback will serve some purpose.

The preceding evening, I had made a reservation for a private bathhouse, scheduled for 10 am. To my surprise, at 9:45 am, I received a call from Jo at the reception, asserting that my booking was actually for 9:30 am, and inquiring whether I was en route. I promptly clarified that my reservation was, in fact, for 10 am. Jo's response was rather curt, stating, "Well, it's ready now, so I'll see you then."

Having visited Deep Blue on numerous occasions, I was aware that they typically prepared herbal tea and ice water in the room approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled booking. Considering I was ten minutes away, I promptly left and arrived just before 10 am. Upon entering the reception area, I was disconcerted to find Jo preoccupied with five individuals at the counter. Despite my presence, Jo failed to make eye contact or acknowledge me in any way. Subsequently, she left with three members of the group, disappearing for approximately five minutes. Upon her return, she engaged in conversation with the remaining two individuals before vanishing with them once again for a few more minutes. Finally, Jo returned to the reception, and although she had passed by me thrice, she acknowledged my presence for the first time. I was then escorted to my designated bathhouse.

Upon entering the bathhouse, it was immediately evident that the cold tap, an essential component of the therapeutic experience, was not running. Jo acknowledged this oversight and informed me that she would activate it from the reception area. However, it took a full 12 minutes of my 30-minute session for her to remember and turn it on. Moreover, the herbal tea, which had been steeping since 9:25 am, was undrinkable and lukewarm by the time I entered the room. Additionally, the pitcher of ice water contained a mere trace of ice, and to exacerbate matters further, no glass was provided. (It is crucial to remain hydrated during these sessions.)

Understandably, the entire ordeal left me far too agitated to relax, let alone derive any enjoyment from the experience. Consequently, I decided to shorten my session and depart. As I passed by Jo and a colleague at the reception, the colleague inquired about my stay, to which I responded with a lukewarm "it was okay." While in the changing room, contemplating whether I should voice my concerns before leaving, I decided to. Upon leaving I found that the reception area was vacant, and a family was entering from the car park. Regrettably, I refrained from leaving any feedback.

All things considered, my overall experience was incredibly disappointing, and rather than feeling rejuvenated, I left the establishment feeling more stressed than...

Staff & management retraining required. Spent $1100 booking two rooms for two nights and couldn’t even book a facial or massage. When I rang several days before our arrival I was not even offered a wait list. First time there..no one showed where any amenities were..couldn’t see the hot springs…where did the robes and slippers come from? Paid $40 for 1 hour private bathing box and left after 40 minutes…not relaxing with 30 loud people in communal pool outside yr door. Rooms not soundproof..sounded like I was at the footy. No remote to increase volume of music on tv in private box.. pointless…no private shower or shower accessories in there. Why did I fork out for this???? No priority given to hotel for treatment..just money grabbing. Went outside complex and spent $300 on treatments… hotels loss. Hotel rooms not soundproof.. 2 nights of listening to people walking on my ceiling til 1am…not relaxing. $40 for s steak in a Ibis budget breakfast room - very depressing restaurant - looks like a hospital ward- uncomfortable seats, no plants or warmth and $5 extra charge for room service delivery. You’re not a 5 star hotel peeps. Told restaurant was booked out and it was half empty for over 2 hours. Couldn’t get a drink at bar in afternoon until we complained (same as dinner). Staff couldn’t even find a menu for restaurant…. Not good. Out of town guests like me stay for the full experience and pampering…got zero..Salt room was most relaxing - booked it twice Senen and Fiona were awesome. Melinda at front reception was friendly and efficient, but Please don’t make excuses or try to justify. Learn to accept. Retraining definitely needed and huge room for improvement so the hotel guest gets the full relaxing experience, which is what we want not a total waste of my money. If I ever come back I will stay elsewhere and just walk in and use facilities like majority of people and probably get better...