I usually stay at the grand old dame of Healesville, the Healesville Hotel, when I stay in Healesville, but saw the Grand had reopened and was very well priced so thought we'd give it a try. Don't get me wrong - it's well priced and there is nothing 'wrong' with it....but the reno just feels cheap and whilst it's trying to be The Healesville, it isn't quite there. It wouldn't take much to raise it's game - put proper locks on the communal bathroom doors, paint behind - not just around - the fixtures and fittings in-room, and clean inside the drawers and on top of the wardrobes (that's where we put our clothes and bags, and they were covered in dust when I took them out/off).
The service was perfectly friendly and pleasant, it seemed a popular place for food and drinks downstairs, it just needs a bit of 'polish' to take it from feeling like a cheap renovation, to make it a real contender to the old dame down the road.
