Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection® — Hotel in Gauteng

Very bad experience and certainly not worth R7400. I chose the Ultimate Romantic Package. The Spa - not the greatest of therapists. Seems as though they were not fully trained. Poured hot oil without indication on our backs. Generally client is advised or the therapists first applies on hands and them client. Collection of used dishes (in dining) not done. A courtesy call to check in whether to collect. The food was terrible. Not once dis we enjoy a mean. My wife was given a burnt fish, not sure how it left the kitchen or how the head chef allowed for that. We complained and got call from in room dining and overhead how they trashed us for complaining because the lady did not hangup the call. Client preference not recorded or noted. Kingplin fish was prepared with pork after I had made a note to the kitchen that i do not eat pork. Food preparation is extremely poor. Always dry and overcooked. Breakfast on day 1 was terrible. My wife and I could not eat it. On check in, the amount for dinner is not stipulated and when you order they send in a card machine. I mean R500 odd is certainly no enough for a couple for 3 course dinner. When booking I was informed it was dinner is fully included. The sugar sachets in the room was hard, meaning it is not checked nor changed. Romantic turndown not prepared as requested on day 1. For a romantic evening, but was prepares the next morning, not as per my request and plan i had for day 1. Requested assistance with Air conditioner on the first day, nor one pitched up to have it sorted out. No apology was rendered as well as to why no one came to fix it. Consider doing away with milkshake tasting, its a waste of time and money for clients. They do not taste great as well. Does not fit the purpose of a romantic gateaway. Service staff were very rude. One entered a room, without us noting they can come in and he could hear they were people inside. He could have seen us naked just to replenish water, which should have been conducted by the time we went into the room. Others knock non stop, even after noting I was coming to open the door. Consider an overview and descripter of the facility as poor service from reception and clients end up not knowing where to go for their rooms.

All in all I would not recommend Irene lodge to any of my friends or professional companies I am involved with. The experience was not worth it and not value for money. It was...

This is one of the most beautiful venues in Gauteng. They are busy with some upgrades/improvements and it is looking splendid. The food is one of the highlights. This is a buffet in its own class. The service in general is good, however it has always been a beautiful venue with some service issues. On my last visit there two weeks ago, I stayed there for 4 days. Two things happened which was a bit annoying. I was there with a conference group from the Thursday until the Sunday. We wanted to ordered coffee the Saturday afternoon, only to hear they ran out of coffee pods. The excuse was they were very busy with lots of large groups and therefore ran out. In hospitality especially when it comes to the standard this venue sets, something like this should never happen. We wanted to have lunch on Saturday afternoon and was shown away because there was no open tables at the terrace where lunch was served. (We were only 5 people) One of the receptionist even suggested we go across the road to another restaurant outside the premises. We then explained to her that we are staying there and feel that guests who stays there should be able to eat there and if they don't have enough tables they should accommodate us somewhere on the premises even in the restaurant just for seating seeing the restaurant is closed on a Saturday and lunch is only served on the terrace.

We then said we will sit at the outside bar and order something and eat at the bar counter. An hour later a table went free and we were seated there.

These two incidents are typical incidents that should not affect a guest. Plans should be made when things like this happen so that the guest don't even know about it. This is a very high priced venue, nothing comes cheap so it would be expected that a guest does not have to hear that there is no coffee and that there is no table for 5 people to have lunch when you are a guest there for 4 days.

Other than that we had a good time aand will be back next year like we've been for the past few years at...

We would stay here again in a heartbeat. The staff was absolutely wonderful. We have been around the world, and this was the most friendly we have encountered, especially Lebo, the concierge, and Elias, the porter.

The forest view rooms are beautiful, and the showers are great for those with mobility issues, which I had when we arrived.

However, 3 days after arriving, my pain was almost completely gone. I don’t know what it was, but I think it was the spring water I drank from their spring every day. I could not walk from the airplane and had been in pain for a month. And 3 days later I was so much better. There was no other explanation.

We absolutely loved the monkeys that played on the walk from the lobby to our room every afternoon. There were also beautiful birds drawn to the lovely lake.

Our favorite place to relax was the couch area facing the lake at the bar, just inside the large glass sliding doors.

Breakfast was delicious, with great cappuccino (milk from their cows) and eggs and pancakes. And the most memorable, hospitality ever, especially Sharon.

The concierge, Lebo, had such a terrific attitude and was so helpful. She was great to work with and really knew the area.

It’s hard to mention all the front desk staff that helped us during our stay, but Durol and Elizabeth were names that stood out. There were many others, but we were bad at taking down names…

And Elias…such a wonderful representative of the property. He was so happy to help in any way possible.

On the downside.

The dinner food was terrible. And, since the hotel is not in walking distance to anything, you are captive. They do not allow food deliveries. All 5 restaurants serve the same bad food. Yes, you could Uber somewhere, but that is not only an extra expense, but effort at the end of a long day.

They could do so much better.

Lastly, they are cashless. So, especially as visitors from overseas, it was hard to have the right denominations for tipping.

This was a huge disservice to their staff. Again, they...