The Omni Homestead Resort

I’m sad to say this, but I’m all done with the Homestead. We have been coming here for years, but this will likely be our last visit. Our daughter goes to camp nearby, so it’s always been a convenient spot to visit her. But at nearly $600/night, this place is a total disappointment. On this particular trip, we had to call housekeeping 3 times for body wash and fresh towels, the pool restaurant stopped taking food orders (30 minutes after opening) because they were “too backed up” on a Monday morning, and the food reservations are simply ridiculous. Our room this time (booked on short notice) is smaller and less pleasant than a standard Hampton Inn. Again, it they weren’t charging $600/night, I could overlook it. But every single thing you do at this resort is an additional charge, and it’s just not that nice. My dinner for 3 tonight at Jefferson’s was over $300 (with two glasses of wine), breakfast was $60, and the pool food and drinks that took over an hour to get were almost $100. It’s just not that nice.

Service issues disrupted our entire stay and led to a genuinely frustrating experience for our multi-generational family trip. Concierge confirmed activity changes via email, but never actually made them — we discovered too late two activities were double-booked for the same time. Our purchased activity credit didn’t cover falconry (never disclosed anywhere), and we had to chase down staff to get the credits refunded. Restaurant service was consistently bad across the property: wobbly tables led to spilled drinks at the Audobon, an order at the Tap Room never arrived despite two requests, and we were double-charged for dessert at Marthas. Our accessible room for my elderly parents had real safety gaps — poorly placed grab bars and a slippery bathroom floor. To top it off, on our last day, valet ($40/day) took over 40 minutes! None of these issues alone would ruin a trip, but together they meant constant follow-up instead of relaxation. For what we paid, we expected far more polish.

The Homestead is a beautiful resort. It was very relaxing to wonder through the building and all the grounds. The warm springs bathhouse was a delight. All the food was excellent but Woodys for lunch was a favorite. Overall we had a great time and would definitely stay here again. Please note-if you add on the $75 for $100 activity credit that states it is for ANY of the 40+ activities that is not true. It only counts for a few activities and those activities may not be offered on the days you are there or they may be booked. It was a little frustrating working with the less than enthusiastic concierge to learn we could not use our credit. Thankfully the nice lady at the front desk refunded the credit since we couldn't use it.

There's a lot of winded, country roads to get to but not unexpected. The room was comfortable. We received event pricing but the hotel base amenities don't justify the standard rates. The service was stellar from start to finish. All staff were friendly and attentive. There was always someone to help or guide. Some spa experiences, like the onsite spa pool, should be included but aren't.

With most hotels, if you've seen one, you've seem 'em all. But not this one. It's the most unique, gorgeous property I've ever stayed at. The colonial architecture is stunning. It's such a stately property in a beautiful setting. And the service was wonderful. This is a place I won't forget.