Don't Do It - This is not a Spa
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 5/26/08
The website shows great pictures - and New Life Hiking Spa is part of the facility and it appears you'll have a fantastic and affordable time. I don't know where they got the pictures, but must have been from a few years ago grand opening or something. ALERT -there is nothing NEW and it is the furthest thing from SPA!!!! Don't waste your time.
Take the words "RUN DOWN" and apply to every single apsect of your stay - including the staff (who were sparse). I should have turned right around after not being able to inhale a deep breath in the lobby - as the entire hotel smelled like they dumped containers of carpet fresh to hide the dank smell or to make it appear it was clean. The concept of 'Service' seemed last thought of the staff...who seemed to have walked in off the street with dirty t-shirts & jeans - seemed like high school girls that could care less about learning the ropes.
I checked into a room with filth - cracked sinks, rickety furniture, stained curtains, old / faded / dingy sheets tucked over the lounge chairs. Windows, screens and window sills were hazy with dirt. Closet doors were broken, filthy beadspreads and shams - even to the touch! Old, old pillows. Bathroom towels must have been at least 10 years old - dingy gray, thin, rough. My shoes stuck to the floors of the bathroom - and the toilets ran for about an hour after flushing! The last thing I wanted to do was use the toilet or walk barefoot on the carpet. Took a shower and disgusted by the slime and mold in th shower. Moved into a new room with same issues - plus a mattress that had a big ole dip in the middle. Looking out the window of the rooms proved disappointing as well - all kinds of tools and pipes and yellow insulation spongy stuff that was disgusting looking as well) were strewn about.
Figured maybe I could deal with it - since most of my time would be spent outside. BUT, dinner proved a challenge I didn't want to experience another 6 days in a row. Great looking food, but COLD. For a table of 10 that needed hot water for tea - they'd brought one caraffe for 3 cups of tea ... and it took another 30 min. to get more and low and behold, they only brought one more 3-cup caraffe!
I'm all for casual - which this place was, but clean and professional for $140/night (even $99/night) isn't too much to ask.
Liked — The drive through VT to get there.
Disliked — Absolutely unfit for guests.