TUI BLUE Schladming

Stayed at the TUI Blue over new year for a week of skiing. The hotel is perfectly located for the main Planai gondola, it’s right opposite and the breakfast room plus spa area has a brilliant view of the end of the black run, which makes for an entertaining view at the end of the day. Breakfast buffet was excellent, something different every day and the egg chefs were brilliant. Machine coffee was decent. The bar, reception and restaurant staff were all so friendly. There’s usually one odd member of staff but here they were all genuinely lovely. Dinner was very good although there are some slightly weird combinations for main course. Presentation and quality of the meat was excellent though. It’s buffet style which might not suite everyone but it didn’t feel like mass catering and there was never a queue. Beds were also super comfy. Spa fantastic (the sauna is outside on the roof terrace) . Heated boot room. Reasonable bar prices. Only minor negative points were: - the bar area is small, it would good if there were some proper seats to relax into at the end of the day or after food rather than just high bar stools. - dinner is two sittings, either 6.15-7.30 or 7.30-9 so if you want to eat at 7, you can’t really. But I guess that’s how the restaurant doesn’t feel crowded. - not enough hooks in the room to hang ski gear up to dry.

Kitchen smell on room corridors, dining area is connected to open kitchen and smelly. Food selection is below 4* hotel level, and food quality is not that high. Coffee is awful, from a generic machine, no real espresso machine in the hotel. There were no coffee makers in rooms. Rooms were supplied with glasses but cleaning ladies did not bother to replace or clean them unless asked which is annoying. This hotel needs a serious upgrade regarding ventilation and service. Sauna was nice and new, but also no drinks or fruit there, just water and basic towels, while they charge for robes to hotel guests. Rooms are spacious with good beds and bedding. Bathroom items are also missing, with a basic soap, shampoo/conditioner. This is not a 4* hotel standard at all. Lower level than basic Ibis for everything except the room size.