Wish we would have planned better to go during the day to take advantage of the view. But the food…read moreand atmosphere was amazing! Finding the place was difficult. The car GPS took us behind the building and we had to walk around. We had a huge lunch so we weren't too hungry by the time our reservation came but we had amazing appetizers and some of the best drinks of our Scotland trip. The servers were great even though we didn't end up wanting main courses and just kept ordering drinks.

18 St. Andrews is located on the top floor of the Rusacks Hotel overlooking the 18th green…read more Absolutely stunning views of The Old Course, the bridge, the ocean where Chariots of Fire opening scene was shot. Service was good. We had a server who had just graduated from the University of St. Andrews. She was friendly and welcoming which was a nice change having just spent 2 nights in Edinburg. The wine list was not very impressive and my date ended up ordering a bottle of wine that resembled Capri-sun. I couldn't even drink it. We started with the oyster pair (HUGE oysters, very creamy), deer tartare - couldn't get through one bite of it and Pig's Head on Toast. Appetizers were not a good sign for the rest of the dinner. However the tomahawk steak was pretty good, lobster was overcooked. Soufflé was pretty good. Would give it a higher rating if not for the food. I think you really come here for the views, the putting green overlooking the 18th on the balcony, some gorgeous views vs. the food.

so far upon our stay here, we have been highly disappointed. We travel a lot and stay at a lot of…read morevery high-end places and considering how much money we are paying to stay here we find the staff not very friendly or helpful. The only staff member that has helped us is Ashlee the front desk, girl. When I first called about my son who got a bug bite and it was swelling up really bad and we needed help. The concierge told me that there was no one here to help us and that we could attempt to take him to the emergency room but because we were from out of the country, they probably wouldn't see us. I am so glad I called back and got Ashlee the front desk girl because she is actually a nurse. She came to our room, examined the bites, cleaned them and then wrapped them and sent us to the emergency room where we were completely taken care of without any charge! I do not know why the concierge would have not helped us and gave us more to worry about when we were already stressed out. We also received a $250 smoking charge letter because the housekeeping saw My Husband's cigars and smoking stuff out when he was leaving to go play golf he got his stuff out to take his cigars with him. I took my two year-old son for breakfast and came back to only my bed being made in my room and with a letter under my door stating that we had smoked in our room and we were being charged $250. I called the front desk, asked to speak to a manager and was told that they would call me right back. I had to call three times and wait for two hours before anyone even called me. I am now in my room, waiting for the management to contact housekeeping to see if the charge will be reversed. I find this extremely frustrating, considering how much money we have paid to stay here. I also feel that the rooms are outdated and rundown compared to all the other Fairmont I have stayed in.!

I found moldy water in my coffee maker...... The first thing I smelled was a pungent rancid hot…read moresteam emerging from the water. When I brought this issue to the staffs attention, they didn't even offer me anything. Other than that though, the staff was nice. Moldy water just isn't something you should receive at a 5 star hotel... The breakfast selection was abundant and delicious and the facilities were alright. Overall would recommend, but next time I would definitely look at the other options nearby.

This hotel is absolutely the best hotel we've stayed in. The spacious room was so comfortable. The…read moreview was beautiful. The staff were so helpful and friendly. The food was *chef kiss* so delicious and fresh. We came with a group of golf friends and had a wonderful time. Would highly recommend! A nice walk from the Golf Museum and other bars and restaurants.

From the moment we walked in the door until we left, this hotel hit the mark every step of the way…read more An elegant, modern hotel with outstanding rooms. The staff is both warm and professional. The views of the Old Course from the 4th floor bar and restaurant are terrific. The restaurant was the best place we ate in Scotland.

This pub/restaurant is a perfect place to enjoy good food and company! It's close to the Old…read moreCourse, very "golfy," which is why we were in town - so we loved it. It seems very popular with students, locals, and golf tourists alike. The vibe was energetic and fun. We had the dinner shown, and it was fantastic. Service was attentive. The beer was very smooth, food fresh, hot, and tasty - couldn't ask for anything more.

Very tasty lunch spot near the old course. Ordered a Caesar wrap and it was delicious. Service was…read morea bit slow, especially if you order a burger, so beware if you are in a rush.

Very pleasant. The staff was amazing. Food was excellent…read more Stayed here as part of a tour and was impressed. The location is great overlooking the water. Dinner and breakfast was delicious,

Great location quayside with water sports at the front door and the city center and train stations…read morejust minutes walk away. Purchase the breakfast for a huge breakfast spread with both self serve and menus items to choose from. Rooms are spacious with floor to ceiling views of the waterfront. We were surprised by a wall of storage cabinets and a huge tub to soak in plus a bonus spa on site! We will be staying here on our return visit.

Great place to grab a bite and look out over the greens. Loved our visit in Scotland & St Andrewsread more

Just returned from a fantastic Scottish holiday with another couple as well as 2 other golfers…read more The Rufflets hotel was charming in every way. Our room was comfortable and spacious with fantastic views. The gardens are beautiful with a lovely bridge in the back. Farm to table type food - a lovely vegie garden on the side property. Meals were delicious with impeccable service. Our server could remember what we all ordered every morning asking is we would like the same as the previous day. Pippa however stood out. In planning this trip, she was attentive to every details. She arranged play at 4 different golf courses and was quite easy and prompt to communicate with. We had a nice walk into town from the hotel - would recommend.

Incredible variety, great quality food, and super service! Lobster, steak, duck, chicken, salmon,…read moreand pork options for main dishes. A wonderful wine list and bar menu specials. The desserts were wonderful too!

http://impromptufridaynights.com/father-and-son-reunion/Father and Son Reunion…read more Many of you might have noticed that I have gone dark over the last few weeks. No, I haven't gone to that great big supper club in the sky. Rather, I have been on a golfing trip to Scotland with my son. Every father's dream is to share a passion with his son. To spend 7 days together with just Brian and myself was a rare treat. To get to play 10 rounds of golf together with him at the home of golf was...PRICELESS. We had a blast We played 10 rounds of golf on 9 courses in 7 days walking 92 miles in the process of playing (Please note that in golf, the shortest distance between two points isn't always a straight line.) Prestwick North Berwick Muirfield Kingsbarn Old Course Carnoustie Lundin Links Crail New Course Old Course If you tell someone that you went to play golf in Scotland, the first thing they ask is: Did you get to play the Old Course? The Old is truly the home of golf. It is where Old Tom Morris shaped the game and the real champions of the game from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods have proven their merit by winning the Open Championship. But, it isn't easy to get a tee time to play it. I am lucky enough to have played it years ago. When I was planning the trip I went to great lengths to make sure that my son had the same experience. Back in the 1990's I was in London on business. My boss and I planned a weekend trip to St. Andrews for a round of golf at the Old Course. A friend said he knew the Captain at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club that could get us on. We kept asking and asking but our friend was unable to come up with a coveted tee time. Three days before we were leaving London we told a Sri Lankan friend about our quandary. He knew somebody that knew somebody and we placed our hopes in him. When we arrived at the hotel at St Andrews we got the news that we had a 9 am tee time in the morning at the Old Course. I was like a kid at Christmas. So as we planned the trip with my son, I tried everything I could to replicate the experience. We entered the "Ballot" a lottery for tee times where they offer random tee times to the thousands of golf pilgrims that show up on St Andrews shores to play The Old. I even tried to stay in the same hotel as I did in 1995 to bring us good luck. Unfortunately when we got to the hotel we found out that we were not one of the lucky ones. Michael at the Russel Hotel was great. He told us about the "Dark Times" and how to improve your chances. To be honest we went to bed that first night thinking our chances of playing the Old Course were very slim. The following morning I reconfigured all our plans and at 6 am headed to the Old Course. I found 15 guys that had been sleeping there all night to get their names on a list to fill in for cancelations. A sorry group to say the least. The list also makes you eligible to be given a "Dark Time" which is a tee time between 1:30 and 2:30 pm. Starting times so late that you most likely will finish that last few holes in the "Dark". Brian and I went off and played Kingsbarn another great course outside of town. Late in the round I said to Brian lets go back to the Old Course and see if we can get a "Dark Time". Sure enough we did. It was the beautiful weather of the trip. The sun was shining and the golf gods were gracious as father and son got to play those fabulous links together. As fate would have it, on our last day we got lucky again and played the Old Course second time. This time, Brian who had been playing well all week had the round of his life. He birdied two holes on the back 9 with the most impressive on the iconic par 5 14th. He crushed his second shot over the dreaded "He'll Bunker" and got it up and down for a sweet birdie 4. An amazing close to a glorious week. More than golf it was a special time for father and son. In planning the trip I recalled to Brian how I had played golf with my dad at Pebble Beach in California and on the day he died that is what we talked about. To which Brian replied: Dad you aren't dying on me our you? I certainly plan to be around for awhile, but my guess is that when my time comes I will remember the magical week with my son in Scotland.