As a family of 6 we did a lot of research before going to Gudauri. Carpe Diem website promises a swimming pool, a sauna and a bar. Three things important to our family holidays. Imagine our disappointment when we arrived to find no bar at all and a pool and sauna still under construction!
Communication is much to be improved as we were told every day by the reception staff that ‘the pool will be open tomorrow’! False promises and fake smiles.
The resort is isolated from the village and without a bar it is a real inconvenience to walk 20 mins every night to the Ski Village for a decent bar.
The food is poor. Cold chips and pasta on offer at breakfast! The coffee machines are painfully slow and guests queue for a half cup. Popular dishes are not replaced quickly enough and anyone late for breakfast will find odd scraps only.
The ski hire shop was also still under refurbishment and the staff lacked all knowledge of the resort ski runs and lifts open etc!
Simple basic conveniences had been overlooked. Eg. Mirrors in the rooms, hooks in the bathroom to hang towels, no curtains at the upstairs bedroom windows, no thought given to fire escapes in the upstairs bedroom (of exec suites).
The GM was hugely apologetic and empathetic but that only goes so far and sadly the owners do not appear to be listening or empowering him to improve the situation and save the poor reputation of this resort hotel.
Give this one a miss for another 6 months would be our advice