The Louise

Don’t do it! Unless you’re 100% sure on your booking dates, I recommend a NO to The Louise, or Bailey Lodges in general. Their reservations staff lack any concept of life’s curve balls or extenuating circumstances. A request for a simple date change fell on deaf ears & as a result left me cutting my stay short & attending one sad & lonely evening all by myself! I’ll spend my next $3,200.00 + more weekend elsewhere. Thanks for your understanding Bailey Lodges .. NOT .. shame on you!

Review the louise Nice enough facilities but run by back packers mainly Awkward , difficult moments occur often, where staff are overwhelmed Our room was north facing so 6am sun streaming into bedroom around blinds (see pic taken at 6).facilities otherwise good. Clean. Tiny tv not in main room where bed is, but in side room. Gym laughable. Treadmills(2) so old and weak, when you stood on the moving mat, the Mat would stop because either the friction was too great or the motor was too weak. Both were the same. There was a stationary bike that was literally a low use domestic type of bike. I’m 6 foot three and looked like a monkey peddling it because it was so small. The fact that no Manager had ever checked them out or tried them themselves means the standard is just not Up2scratch I asked for a toothbrush because I forgot mine. I knew the answer before they told me. No The deal at the Louise is that it’s all inclusive. But if you have a cocktail like a Negroni, it’s $25. You can have a cheap house wine or a beer. I am unaware about something like a gin and tonic. Probably extra. At the prices you’re paying at this place. They should be giving you everything because the type of customer comes here doesn’t even drink much. No nuts or chips to snack on in room. Think these have to be ordered from the main desk At the degustation dinner, you have to continually ask for some more wine because the glasses were small and they were not eager to refill them. They also served a white one that was un drinkable by everyone, but we were told it was a Style and we didn’t appreciate it because it was six years old. In my 40 years of drinking wine, I never tasted anything like that. . It looks like a urine sample from a dehydrated person. I asked for some extra bread and I was told there was still one slice in the basket and before she asked the kitchen to make some more bread(apparently they baked it) would I take the last piece instead? My point for asking was that I didn’t want to take the last piece so there was still bread on the table All inclusive should be generously offered I always felt like I was asking for a little more Sadly Won’t be back

We had a fabulous stay at The Louise. On arrival we received warm towels and drinks, whilst reception gave us information about our stay. We had a lovely unit with all amenities, coffee, wine, port, soft drinks, tea, snacks, cheese and home made biscuits showing off local produce. The unit was amazing the view was relaxing and I was just disappointed it was too cool for the pool, but the sauna was warm. We had pre dinner drinks and starters and then a degustation menu with wine pairing. Loved everything, except the dessert, just not to my taste but hubby enjoyed seconds. Got back to our room with a calming oil burning in the diffuser and chamomile tea laid out ready for hot water and pouring. Not a Chamomile tea girl a left a note for staff the next evening as I hate waste and did mention a French Earl Grey was more to my liking before bed, and night two it was there. The staff were fabulous the stay was wonderful, just wish I could have afforded another night or two. Thanks to all the staff who made this an experience we will never forget.

My husband and I had three nights at The Louise. We arrived on a Saturday in torrential rain but we were greeted warmly by Darcy who gave us a welcome drink, a tour of the hotel and our room and gave us suggestions of local things to do Room 7 was lovely. We didn’t use the outdoor shower or sitting areas outside but they would be great in warmer weather. Everything is included at The Louise. The minibar was stocked with handmade treats, drinks and two bottles of wine which were all replenished daily Dinner was a highlight. We enjoyed the different menus and the matching wines were a great way to explore different varieties of wine from some of the many Barossa wineries. Wait staff were friendly and knowledgeable Breakfast was also delicious. It started with a breakfast basket with yogurt and pastries then we chose a hot item. Linda was very friendly and pleasant We found lots to do close by to the hotel but we also enjoyed staying in our room. The bed was super comfortable and spoils you for other hotels. Toiletries made locally were a great touch After dinner at turndown service a teapot with sleep tea was delivered We would love to return to The Louise and also stay at some of the other hotels. Thanks for a fabulous stay

Spent three days at this great Lodge. Accommodation, food and service were top notch. Room was well presented, cosy and well equipped. Restaurant was superb and wine pairing was great. Staff friendly and attentive. A special special call out for Graham who arranged all aspects of our visit. So attentive and thoughtful and nothing was too much trouble. He is a star and a great asset to The Louise. It is a great base to visit all the super vineyards of the Barossa. Highly recommend it and we will definitely return.

Do not waste your money on The Louise in the Barossa! I have just spent three nights and a lot of money, to take myself, my wife, and her best friend from the USA, to The Louise. Based on our excellent experiences in Kangaroo Island before it burned down, and The Louise only 12 months ago with other O/S guests, this was a total nightmare, and embarrassing! The COO of Baillie Lodges, has responded by blaming the staff, despite my praise of almost every one of them, did not address any of the issues I raised, and offered me a free night, at a hotel I had just bitterly complained about! The formulaic attitude seemed to be “say sorry – blame the staff – give him a free night and p**s him off!” I believe that since last year there has been severe cost-cutting in many areas. There is also now a very high turnover of inexperienced staff. The staff, although mostly very new and inexperienced, were very pleasant, polite, cheerful, and tried to be helpful. The only experienced staff member we recognised from last year had his last day on the day we left. The food was very good. High fives to the chef and his staff. There were some things that we did not anticipate in a hotel supposedly as prestigious and exensive as The Louise. • One of the bedroom windows was extremely hard to open and shut as the winding mechanism did not appear to be working properly. We expected the handle to come off at any moment! • Having told our overseas visitor the pleasures of sitting in front of the cosy gas fire in the living area on a cold evening, the gas fire did not work. The gas technician obviously could not come at a moment’s notice, so we had no gas fire for the best part of our three-night stay. • One of the toilet doors was stuck in the open position. One feared it would come off its rollers if pulled too hard in an attempt to shut it! Doesn’t anybody check these things, on a regular basis? • Only one of the two very similar bedrooms and bathrooms has a heated towel rail. How hard is it to install a heated towel rack in the second bathroom? Why does one bathroom have one and the other doesn’t? • The “all inclusive” pre-dinner drinks menu has virtually disappeared from last year. Now it seems you are limited to wine, an Aperol Spritzer, or a Gin and Tonic. Where has the diverse range of free cocktails gone? • The same has happened with the “all inclusive” dinner wine list (non-pairing) which is now limited to about five wines only, and those cannot be said to have been particularly good. What happened to the previously extensive list? • On one busy dinner night at the Appellation restaurant, there were not enough seats for some of us (high-paying) guests to sit for their limited range of pre-dinner drinks. We had to sit out in the reception area and have someone try to find us an extra chair! • On TWO OCCASIONS, the white wine I had chosen for dinner came out to the table, warm! And was served warm without a hint of embarrassment!