Winvian

We came here due to raving reviews from a friend who had stayed here two years ago. We left feeling underwhelmed. For its price point ($1000+ a night) you would expect much higher quality service and a few more things included in the rate. For instance, breakfast is an additional $35 plus tip per person, even though you are essentially in the middle of nowhere so no other alternatives. It is also not a particularly expansive menu (a few cold cuts, cheeses, pastries, some fruit and yogurt plus three or four a la carte options). I've had more expansive breakfast menus at small bed and breakfasts where breakfast is included in the price. We had a couple's deep tissue massage that ended up costing $500 for 50 minutes + cheese plate/champagne. Neither of us felt that the treatments were that good (we get regular massages at home that we enjoy a lot more) and so it felt incredibly overpriced. Secondly, while our room was beautiful from an architectural standpoint, we arrived to find it full of huge flies. My dog also found an old cookie that had fallen under the nightstand who knows how long ago. Not great in general but also because I don't want my dog getting sick from chocolate, and as a dog friendly place they should be a lot more careful about chocolate items in the room (there were chocolate welcome truffles on a low coffee table in the room as well -- again, not well conceived). We expected the grounds to be a lot more grand or at least removed from the public road. You are essentially 30 feet from the public road and it is visible from the cottages (we stayed in Connecticut Yankee). A lot more could be done from a landscaping perspective to make the property feel more secluded and also to make walking around the grounds feel a little more interesting. It's essentially a flat lawn broken up by buildings and a few paths. There's a badminton net and an outdoor pool but in general it just doesn't look or feel like a 5 star property. Even down to little things like the generic room entry cards and do not disturb signs - those should be branded or look a little more high end, not like they were ordered from a hospitality catalog. In sum, this experience would have been great if it cost half the price, but as it stands now, it really doesn't offer great value and we wouldn't come back.

Have you ever been told by a friend to go see the most amazing movie ever, and after seeing it you think…it was good, but it certainly wasn’t the most “amazing ever�. Well that is how I feel regarding The Winvian. I read a lot about this place when it first opened (10 years ago) and it got rave reviews, but seems like since those reviews they have done hardly anything to make sure that the facility is keeping up with original reviews (I went back and read a few). It seems like they are almost just resting on their laurels and dialing it in at this point. I’m obviously saying this based on what my expectations were, but I had always read and heard good things. But, like other TripAdvisor reviews have said it just feels a bit dated. Staying in our cabin was fun and the actual cabin was pretty cute, but it was probably a lot cuter in 2007, and certainly felt like they haven’t done many upgrades since then. Everything in the cabin worked but it all seemed a bit antiquated…old technology, features that were probably cool when they built it but now they just feel stale. (the area where the stereo and cable box sat was sitting on an open shelf with wires everywhere – we couldn’t even play music through Bluetooth. They seriously need to step up the service. Knowing we were arriving they should have had the lights on outside and throughout the cabin (it was getting dark when we arrived and it is in a heavily wooded so it was dark). The place also needed a serious dusting, and the small porch in the back (that could barely fit two chairs) was covered with spider webs. For the money that this place cost we should have walked in and been blown away, but I’m guessing they are getting away without making significant improvements, so maybe they feel the cuteness and uniqueness is enough. (it’s not) Few other things to be aware of. - The food at the restaurant was off the charts good for dinner. Although it was really really quiet, and for or a Saturday night we felt like we had to whisper, like sitting in a library. - The actual massages at the spa were amazing, but the place is small with only a sitting area/reception, a small locker room and a handful of treatment rooms. Also the prices were OUTRAGEOUS. We had an 80 minute couples message that was over $900.00 after added in tip and tax etc etc etc etc. (I thought they charged us twice – they didn’t) - The housekeeping was horrible, we had a half-eaten cake that was sitting out on a table the entire time we were there, till I finally called to have it removed. (not sure who is eating two and a half day old eaten cake that is sitting on a table and why they wouldn’t think to remove it) - The Gym is a 100% after thought, it is in a room with ZERO ambiance, just a bunch of equipment. There isn’t even a single window. - And on a strange note – when we arrived back from the pool one afternoon, a staff member was looking in a hole on the side of the cabin, when asked what he was doing he said a small RAT just ran into the hole and he was trying to find it. That was very peculiar, and bit unnerving to say the least. Who knows, maybe the rat was looking for some cake?? The prices are really high (which we knew going in) but they really have to pull it together, I questioned the bill and the person helping us kept running back into an office to get answers, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t send the person answering the questions out to me. The bill still doesn’t make complete sense. There is added gratuity (no one could tell me what this was for). I guess the Connecticut taxes are like 26% when all added in. who knows – I was so confused I just paid it. The bottom line is that we went to celebrate my girlfriends birthday – and we had a great time. We felt one with nature (which I am guessing is the point) and they had some special touches… the flowers I ordered to the cabin where amazing and beautiful, the cake they sent was delicious and they filled out nice cards on my behalf, the breakfast was really good and the service was great for the restaurant both times we went, and the pool was really nice, and although it was cool outside the water was warm. Unfortunately I had had higher expectations, based on what I’d heard, I guess I just wanted to like it more than I did.

I took my wife hear as a surprise for our 10 year anniversary and this was truly one of the most amazingly luxurious experiences of our lives. The Beaver cabin was amazing with so many great details. The service was excellent and the wine and dinner was one of the most indulgent experience of our lives. The only problem... I don't think there is any way for me to top this.

Given the price positioning and association with Relais & Chateaux, we were expecting more. The property is gorgeous but the accommodations and facilities need some rejuvenation. Service is mixed depending on the staff helping you at that moment. Stefano and Catherine were delightful.

Upon check in we were stunned by the main building of the resort. We then checked into the Camping Cottage. The Bathroom has a deep tub with jets. The Shower is rainfall and also a steam room. The deck is screened in with a little fire place. The housekeepers must sit in the bushes and watch - we never saw them and when going to the pool/breakfast they were in and out. The Breakfast was absolutely amazing with fresh pastries and a hard to choose from Menu of the day. It is a very charming property. There are also plenty of games and activities right on site.