These days there is a great choice of accommodation in the Blue Mountains. There is ultra luxurious Wolgan Valley, historic Lilianfels and for those who like smaller, more intimate hotels, beautiful Echoes Boutique Hotel with only 14 gorgeous rooms.
When you put together a skillful General Manager, the charismatic Ralf Bruegger used to manage the Observatory Hotel in Sydney prior to taking on the management of the Lilianfels, Echoes and Hydro Majestic, an elegant hotel building and Jamison Valley views you get rooms with the best views in town, personalised service and exceptional food.
About the location – Echoes is located right next door to Lilianfels Resort. This little gem is perched right on the edge of the valley and boasts uninterrupted views of the spectacular Jamison Valley.
Echoes is only a five minute walk from The Three Sisters, the starting point for a lot of valley walks. If you are really fit and enjoy exercise try the 1000 steps walk – it will get your blood flowing!
Accommodation at Echoes consists of just 14 rooms, some with better views than others but, to be honest, all the rooms are very similar.
We stayed in a Corner Suite – it offered the best views over the valley and a little more space than the standard rooms. It is a great choice for families as the suite has a fold-out sofa, which is perfect if younger children are sharing the room with you.
The corner suite however had a tiny bathroom with a shower only.
So if a long soak is a must for you then we’d advise booking ‘The Young’ room. It is my second favourite room as it has a fireplace and a double spa bath. The view from this room isn’t as good but having a fireplace on a cold night is a very romantic choice.
The service at Echoes Hotel is very personal. With only a handful of guests in the hotel at any time the staff know you by name and greet you every time you come in and out.
Dining at the resort
Echoes Restaurant has recently won a ‘Regional Restaurant Of The Year’ award and I have to say, it truly deserves it.
Echoes is the nicest restaurant we visited at the Blue Mountains and has a very romantic atmosphere, polished service and superb modern Australian cuisine. Even if you are not staying at Echoes, we’d recommend that you book a dinner here. Try to arrive at the restaurant before sunset, the view is absolutely breathtaking!
Breakfast on the other hand was very simple, not quite up to The Lux Traveller’s high standard. I would suggest going for breakfast at nearby Lilianfels – it offers a much more homey feel and a much larger five-star selection of gourmet country foods. At Echoes there is only a small and very basic selection.
Facilities
Being a tiny boutique resort there are no facilities in the actual building, but its sister property Lilianfels has the best facilities in the Blue Mountains. So you are in luck, You can enjoy a treatment in the day spa, a swim in the warm indoor pool, sun bathe by the stunning outdoor pool in the warmer months or enjoy a game of billiards. If you feel like having a lazy day, there is no better place to read your book with a cup of hot chocolate than in Lilianfels’ cozy living room by crackling fire place.
The Lux Traveller Loves
The breathtaking views
Renovated marble bathrooms with beautiful amenities
Dinner at Echoes Restaurant
The superb personalised service
Lux Traveller Doesn’t Like
That the balconies in all rooms are shared, separated from neighbouring rooms only by a railing. I guess there is not a lot the hotel can do about it but we’d recommend staying on a quieter week day for ultimate relaxation and privacy.
Breakfast requires vast improvement. But I am sure Ralf will attend to that soon enough.
All In All
Our stay was a great success. It was active (there are excellent walks starting just five minutes from the hotel), romantic (dinner at Echoes is a real treat) and comfortable (our corner suite was perfect for two).
To Book a stay or dinner at Echoes call +61 2 4782 1966 or email enquiries@echoeshotel.com.au
Rooms start from $319 AUD
