Homewood Mountain Resort, Homewood

We were early and were first to ski. It took 65 minutes to buy an adult ticket. The lesson didn't start until an hour later than it was supposed to. The untrained, self-speaking, "customer service" representative at the kids ski school charged my best friend's ski lesson for his 5 year old 3X...that's $108 THREE TIMES. This transaction took 45 minutes. The process of getting his money back...days. Still ongoing. As for the kids with me, I was charged 2x...that's $108 TWO TIMES. I thought this other "customer service" representative knew what she was doing...NOT! This also took 45 minutes. The process of getting our money back...days. Still ongoing. Both of us went online ofcourse to book the kids in advance at their Homewood Store website as it recommends parents/guardians to do. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T DO THIS! JUST LINE UP AND PAY WENT YOU GET THERE...IN CASH!!! This was my first experience as an Adult over 35 with a ski resort and the front-end experience was highway robbery! And when I called the first time to talk to someone about this at the guest services phone #, I got sarcasm and "Since were closing now, I'll deal with this tomorrow." What the *%#@ ! It's just your money we're stealing two days before Christmas! Absolutely no urgency, empathy or responsibility at the initial stage of this mess. Ordered our food around 12:15PM at North Lodge. Food arrived at 1:05PM; later for the rest of the other people in our ski group. By the time 2PM rolled around, we had to quit in advance so that we can be at the south lodge to pick up the kids...just in case something else was running late. As far as the ski instructors and assistants at the kids ski school goes, they were fantastic. AWESOME GROUP OF PEOPLE. THE SHINING LIGHT AT THIS RESORT! Our adult ski instructor was quite friendly and went out of his way to meet all of our individual needs for the adult beginning lessons. The equipment rental manager and the young lady at the boots rental desk that we encountered exceeded customer service expectations. Terrific customer service skills...very proficient at their jobs. I was so revved up and very much looking forward to having a memorable experience with Homewood Mountain Resort ( I convinced my family and friends to go here instead of Sierra or Heavenly or Kirkwood...you get the drift?!) If I had the foresight that WE WOULD ALL have this kind of experience ON OUR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, I would not have booked Homewood. They robbed the adults of this trip of having a fun, memorable and happy holiday. No matter how great the snow is, or some of the people that work there, if you're late all the time, don't train the people that make that first impression and steal money from your customers (because we didn't authorize you take that money!!!)...The likelihood that they will come back to your place of business is slim to none...They will not recommend you as a ski resort that anyone with a credit card should go to...They will tell people who have made plans on their Christmas holiday to make sureTHAT THEY HAVE NO OTHER PLANS when they ski with your resort so that you have complete control of their time and energy because of all the crap they now have to deal with due to your inability to manage time and your customers money...They will not give you a completely happy, positive review! If you do use your credit card, immediately check your bank online for the next few days and compare what they charged you via receipt...KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS!...and what is being charged at the bank and to HOW MANY TIMES your being charged! Not a good feeling when you get home after a long day skiing... :( Another positive comment would be that the mountain resort has a terrific view of the lake since it's right next to it...wonderful snow fall. P.S. It totally sucks that I have to write most negatively about this resort, but this was my family's and friends experience with Homewood...Be Forewarned