Stamford Grand Adelaide Hotel review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

It’s midwinter in Adelaide and the kids are having swimming races in the hotel pool. When it’s still not safe to travel overseas, an escape closer to home is a way to recharge your batteries.

It’s midwinter in Adelaide and the kids are having swimming races, urging me to wait with my mobile phone’s video camera poised ready at the end of the pool to capture the finish. When you are brothers, who wins is a serious matter, after all.

Budget as well as work and life commitments ruled out a faraway holiday destination during the July school holidays, so we opted for a last-minute, midweek mini-break at Glenelg, staying at the Stamford Grand Adelaide Hotel.

The Tuesday booking was made just before 1pm and, by 2.45pm, our bags were packed, the pet turtle fed, plants watered and we’d checked into our clean, comfortable room on the 12th floor with an ocean view and a balcony – and the added appeal of cold bubbles on arrival.

After calling dibs on the queen-size beds – the “loser” having to bunk in with Mum – the kids were in their boardshorts, ready to try out the hotel pool and spa, located on the second floor in a grand Roman-style atrium with sweeping views of both the ocean and the Adelaide Hills.

There are plenty of clean beach towels at the entrance to the pool (and a washing basket to drop used towels in, on the way out). The bonus of visiting in winter is while the water is heated, pool side is blissfully quiet with lights keeping the pool open until 10pm, adding to the beach resort feel.

The Stamford Grand Hotel at Glenelg … a perfect winter beachside holiday close to home. Picture: Rebecca Baker

The original part of Stamford Grand was built in 1856 and the hotel retains an aura of old-world charm and hospitality.

This is helped by its friendly staff, everyone from the broad-smiling, smartly-dressed concierge who greet you on arrival, to room service, house cleaning, facilities, front desk and dining staff.

As a parent it is lovely, too, to stay in a place where kids are made feel welcome. My 14-year-old was chuffed to be allowed to use the adult-only gym, as long as I was with him, and when I couldn’t resist calling in at the chesterfield-filled cocktail lounge for an after-dinner tipple – what beach holiday is complete without an espresso martini? – the congenial bar staff offered to make the boys a hot chocolate.

Our “Shop, Pop and Drop” package included a buffet breakfast, which is not something I generally take up but thoroughly enjoyed, as did the boys. There was so much good stuff – hot and cold – to choose from, including plenty of fresh fruit, smoothies, pastries, regular hearty bacon and egg breakfast fare and a chef on hand to make delicious, made-to-order omelettes.

For the kids, the pancake-making machine, complete with an array of toppings from maple syrup to strawberries and cream, was a breakfast highlight.

On holiday, I like to park the car and not hop in it again until I leave. Happily, our package also included a self-park car space – you can pay extra for valet parking.

So, as well as enjoying glorious walks along the beach at sunrise and sunset, it was also nice to just stroll up and down Jetty Road and quietly explore the treasures it has to offer – where service is akin to a friendly country town – and try out local eating spots such as the Moseley Bar and Kitchen.

The boys kicked the footy, played frisbee on the beach and spent hours doing cricket catching practise on the sand. We all piled on to a quadricycle, hired from “Kool Kev’s” bicycle hire set up outside the hotel, on our last day to pedal up and down the shoreline.

I loved simply sitting on the balcony, looking out on to the ocean and breathing in the gorgeous seaside air.

It truly was a wonderful, relaxing escape at what felt like a world away from home. I’d highly recommend it to anyone needing a winter recharge.

I’ve got to admit, when we turned the trusty old Captiva on to Anzac Hwy homeward bound, I was hit by a wave of post-holiday, back-to-reality blues.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in August 2019 and details updated in March 2021.

• 2 Jetty Road, Glenelg
• [phone]
• stamford.com.au/sga
• LOCATION 11km southwest of the Adelaide CBD.
• ACCOMMODATION Rooms and suites with city or ocean views. Some rooms and suites feature a bay window or balcony.
• FACILITIES Rooms have TVs, and tea and coffee-making facilities. An in-house restaurant, cocktail lounge and bar all have panoramic beach views and there is a well-equipped gymnasium, heated pool, spa and sauna.
• PRICE A range of accommodation packages, starting from about $159 per night.