Cooden Beach Hotel

We were quite disappointed with our recent stay at the Cooden Beach Hotel while visiting family. Our booking was for a classic double room, and we specifically requested a large bed if possible. Upon arrival, we were allocated a twin room with two very small beds. After contacting reception to explain this wasn’t what we had booked, we were reassigned to another room — which unfortunately felt more like a staff room than a guest room. The room itself was large but underwhelming. The window was covered with an opaque film, meaning there was no view at all of the outside. The bedroom had only one bedside table, there was no chair for the dressing table for my wife and no safe deposit box for valuables — so we had to carry our belongings with us as the keys for the door didn’t fill us with confidence to be broken in Breakfast on the first morning was disappointing. We arrived 45 minutes before service ended and requested a table with a sea view when asked to be seated, understandable given the hotel’s location and our lack of view of the outside from our room. We were seated at a hastily wiped table rather than one already set and ready next to ours which was then given to a couple who arrived later than us. Once seated the chair I was given was awful, with a horrible stain, my wife’s plate looked dirty, We were offered tea and coffee but no refills, my wife’s poached eggs were also well overcooked. The bit of bacon ( that’s best to describe it) I was served was the smallest I have ever seen served. Thankfully, breakfast on the following morning was a complete contrast — well-cooked, promptly served, and with attentive service and drink refills, just as it should be, although the dirty stained chair was still there for guests to be seated. On a positive note, the bed itself was very comfortable, and we both slept well on both nights. However, the inability to cast from our phones to the television limited entertainment options to only the standard TV channels. Given that the hotel didn’t appear to be full, we were surprised and disappointed with the quality of the room we were allocated, particularly for the price paid. While the hotel does have a certain charm and character, it does look tired in places and could benefit from some refreshing. Our bedroom wall corners had lots of damage. Overall, it was a very underwhelming stay, saved only by a comfortable bed. We are due another visit to the south coast later this year, we hope to make a better choice of accommodation