Alderbrook Resort & Spa

Review of Alderbrook Resort & Spa We’ve been coming to Alderbrook for years—before we had kids, and now with them—and it’s always been one of our favorite places in the Pacific Northwest. We typically visit once or twice a year, by both car and boat. Unfortunately, after a recent 3-night stay, this is the first time we’ve left genuinely disappointed. For context, I’m not someone who posts negative reviews. I’ve left maybe two reviews in my life, both positive. I also spent years working in restaurants and tend to be very understanding (and generous) with service staff. That’s part of why this experience stood out. The tone was off from the start. I arrived early with our kids for a planned 2pm check-in (my wife, who made the reservation, was arriving later). I was told—firmly—that I could not check in without her present. No attempt to problem-solve, just a hard “no.” After asking for a supervisor and making a quick phone call to my wife, the issue was resolved in about a minute. That’s exactly the point: the solution was easy. The approach should have been “let’s figure this out,” not “you’re not getting a key.” That might be irritating at a budget motel—at this price point, it’s unacceptable. That same tone came up repeatedly. At the bar, when I went to order food for my wife near closing, I was greeted with “You’ve got five minutes.” When I asked whether he meant the kitchen or the bar, all I got back was a second dose of “You’ve got five minutes.” It set a pattern. There were also noticeable changes that feel like cost-cutting at the expense of the guest experience. One example: Alderbrook used to have complimentary coffee available in the lobby early in the morning. As an early riser, this was one of my favorite parts of staying there—quiet time in the great room with a cup of coffee before the day started. That’s gone now. The coffee shop doesn’t open until 7am, so I ended up driving several miles to a gas station at 5am just to get coffee, then drinking it in my truck instead of enjoying the resort we were paying a premium to stay at. The property also felt more crowded than in past visits, particularly the pool and hot tub. It appeared that an increased number of day/resort passes are being sold. What used to feel like a relaxed, somewhat exclusive environment now felt more like a busy public facility. For a stay in the $2,000–$3,000 range, that shift is noticeable. Dining was another disappointment. Dinner for our family of four—two adults and two young kids ordering off the kids menu—was just over $500. The food was fine—nothing wrong with it—but very average for that price point, and service was inconsistent (including long stretches without seeing our server). As one example, instead of a traditional lobster tail, the menu now offers a small portion of shelled lobster meat. What was served appeared to be uniformly cut pieces, largely from the thinner tail end, at a price point ($45 for about 4 ounces) that didn’t align with the quality or presentation. We’ve dined at plenty of high-end restaurants over the years and have a pretty good sense of what that level of pricing should deliver. This didn’t come close. We also ran into smaller policy changes that add up, like no longer allowing to-go orders from the bar (you have to order room service with an added service charge). Again, individually these things may seem minor, but together they create a clear impression. Even some of the physical upkeep raised eyebrows—there was at least one highly visible exterior structural repair that looked crude and out of place on what is otherwise a beautiful, classic property. It didn’t match the standard you’d expect here. To sum it up, the biggest change wasn’t any single issue—it was the overall feel. The service across multiple interactions came off as rigid and transactional rather than welcoming and guest-focused. The resort feels like it’s leaning more toward maximizing revenue and less toward maintaining the experience that made it special. We’ve loved Alderbrook for a long time, which makes this especially disappointing. I hope this was an off stretch or a course correction moment, because right now it’s not the same place we’ve returned to year after year.

We love Alderbrook! This was our sixth visit and we keep coming back. We always stay in the cottages and it’s great to be able to bring the dog. Best parts: -Campfires and s’mores are so fun -the summer camp vibe of the place is really nostalgic and great -the indoor pool is big and warm and the hot tub is also generously sized. We have never felt like it’s too crowded -the price is reasonable for what you get -nice layout and fireplace in the cottages -nice paths available across the street -lawn games and playground for kids Room for improvement: -I miss the Molton Brown bath products. They have downgraded to something cheaper - I don’t even know what it is -The food in the restaurant is good but limited and it gets old if you stay for any length of time. They need more options. The only other place for food (unless it’s summer) is a coffee shop/bar with a few selections. This is the main reason why we limit our stays to a few days. -more comfortable hangout furniture would be nice -very small shower in the cottages. I have no idea how they would do it, but I wish there could be a tub. - I really wish the larger house on the water allowed dogs! All in all, Alderbrook is wonderful and we always leave happy and refreshed.

It is not often that lodging far exceeded your expectations, but Alderbrook Resort did just that!!!! Our room was luxurious, with beautiful comfortable furniture. everything was SO clean!!! The bathroom had a deep soaking tub that felt so good after traveling from Georgia! There was plenty of room for both of us!! The bed was so comfortable, and you could see the beautiful mountains from it! The food at the restaurant was wonderful, the people working there were so nice to us. The very best thing about the resort, thought, was the view! from our room we could see the snow-capped Olympic mountains and the Hood Canal!! The grounds were so amazing, ancient trees, beautiful plants, and flowers! You could sit by waterfalls or an outside fireplace!!! The people working there so so sweet. How I wish we could have stayed longer!!!! Thank you Alderbrook for our wonderful memories!!

Mother's Day Brunch at Alderbrook . . . well not for me and my husband. My husband had scheduled Mother's Day reservations 2 weeks in advance, and yes, I was looking forward to it. The drive and back from Alderbrook took almost two hours. We arrived early and there were not many customers yet. We were hastily led to a table where my husband and I were to sit and wait for another 30 minutes. While waiting, I noticed other patrons were being seated, given water, a complementary Mother's Day rose and escorted to the buffet. Meanwhile, my husband and I sat in silence looking at our empty water glasses. After 30 minutes without water or a server coming to our table I told my husband I wanted to leave. My advice, if you are tolerant of indifference and subpar service, by all means, Alderbrook is the place for you. As for me, I will never visit this location and will share my Mother's Day tale of caution with all of my friends and co-workers. Happy Mother's Day.

We are frequent guests at Alderbrook Resort and we always have the most wonderful time! It is our happy place, from the beautiful views to the excellent food and service. We usually stay in the guest cottages which have stunning water views and the kitchens are well stocked with everything we need. The hotel rooms are also very nicely decorated and the main lobby is charming and peaceful, from the seating areas around the large stone fireplace to the tables for games, coffee bar and gift shop stocked with lovely trinkets. Our grandkids love looking for the sweet kitties, Alder and Brook that curl up in the lobby, and swimming in the pool is their favorite past time. Even in winter we enjoy the beautiful scenery, hiking trails and the peace and serenity of this beautiful place. We can’t wait to go again soon.