Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel Golf and Spa

I was part of a large group of ladies (16) that arrived at the Hill Valley golf and spa hotel on Sunday 20th to play golf. During my stay, Amy and Evie were working in the bar area and worked tirelessly to meet our needs during a very busy Sunday, which was hampered by thunderstorms in the afternoon. As EVERYONE came off the course at the same time, due to the dangerous weather, we all headed for the bar, to watch the remaining hours of the OPEN at Portrush. Amy and Evie excelled the services on offer, in providing our bar drinks and food in a timely and very professional manner. Nothing was too much trouble for them, so much so, they deserved a medal. Also, Helen on reception was extremely efficient, pleasant and professional when she checked us all in and out the following day. From what I experienced, Mcdonald Hotels have excellent staff members, which are a credit to you. Very enjoyable stay 👍

This hotel golf & spa is a beautiful setting, but unfortunately, the place itself looks tired and run down and, in my opinion, in desperate need of a refurb. Our room was very spacious with a great view over the golf course but it was also in close proximity to the bar area and because of the nice weather people were outside until 2am at least and quite loud! The room was supposed to be an upgrade, but I found it to be quite shabby and hadn't been cleaned properly. The table in the room was full of dust so much so that I was able to write in the dust "clean me" the shower area was clean but looked grubby and worn, due to old grouting etc and the shower wouldn't switch off properly after use with a constant dripping. It's probably due to a build-up of limescale! On a positive note, we received a warm welcome at reception when we arrived, and to be fair, when I pointed out the issues in the room with the shower and dust, these were quickly rectified. We were also given a voucher for a free drink and offered a refund on the upgrade fee, which was £6 (not yet received as of writing this review ) Overall, it is a great location, and I'm sure many golfers love it, but for me, personally, a bit too dated and felt very dark and drab in the room. Breakfast wasn't included in the price, but you could request this on arrival, but at £18 for a continental breakfast and £24 for a cooked, we decided to give it a miss and go to a local cafe. Didn't use the spa, so I can't comment on this. One night was enough, and unless it gets refurbished, I won't be going back.

My recent stay at the Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve had — especially at £175 a night, which is completely unjustifiable for what was provided. The so-called “super deluxe” king room was quite literally two single beds pushed together. There was no air conditioning, and on a 29°C day, the room was stifling. When we asked for a fan, we were told none were available — completely unacceptable for a hotel in this price range. The room lacked even the most basic amenities: no handheld shower head, no hairdryer, no iron, and not even a bottle of water. There was absolutely nothing “deluxe” about it. To make matters worse, our ground-floor room opened onto a shared outdoor space, where guests dragged the heavy metal furniture and talking loudly well into the night. There was zero consideration for guest comfort or peace. This stay felt like a rip-off — £175 for a substandard room with no air, no essentials, and no rest. I would strongly advise others to avoid this hotel. I certainly won’t be returning.