Mapman47

Can anyone comment on the following: Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort in Plymouth, Equinox Resort and Spa,and the Woodstock Inn? My wife and I are doing some hiking this summer, but want to end it with several days of relaxation and other activities.

LRK

I cannot say enough about the Equino--it's just grand! We stayed a couple of years ago, but we go to Manchester VT frequently (we most recently stayed at the West Mountain Inn--lovely!!!)and it is so much fun. Shopping, nature, walking, more shopping, "vermontishness" galore--some folks think it has succumbed to "outlet fever", but I think that's fun. The Equinox is lovely--we stayed in one room with our 2 sons, and we didn't want to kill them at the end of our stay--always a sign that the room was comfortable and large enough!

travleis

Woodstock Inn has a very elegant air about the public areas, and the town is often voted one of the 10 most picturesque in New England.
The WI's rooms are a bit more country-ish than elegant-ish. I didn't think they quite justified the price, but I'm pretty picky. It's easily the best place to stay in the area (provided that you're not entertaining notions of Twin Farms--one of the two most expensive inns in the country).

Dreamer2

I particularly enjoy the Woodstock Inn. The lobby and common grounds are lovely, there is a complimentary tea every afternoon, and piano entertainment daily (check for times). However, some of the rooms are in need of updating. Some have already been renovated, but you would have to investigate when making your reservation. They also have a "sports" center down the road that includes swimming pool, sauna, gym, and I think, massage. Horseback riding and golf are available nearby. The Woodstock area is charming - lots of great dining and shopping in Woodstock and Quechee, along with some "tourist" attractions, such as the Billings Farm Museum, Simon Pearce Glass factory, and Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. I think you'll enjoy Vermont wherever you choose!

Mapman47

Thanks so much for the replies. LRK, any advice about the rooms? I also appreciate the info on the Woodstock inn rooms not being luxurious. If we stay there, I'll make sure to ask about the specific room we will have. If anyone out there has any info on the Hawk Inn I's appreciate it. It looks good on it's website, but I can't get any oother info.

Melissa

I agree with travleis about the Woodstock Inn being more country-ish than elegant. Woodstock itself is a beautiful little town, but the Inn is way overrated and the accomodations do not justify the price. Also, the dining options are poor- very pricey with limited menu choices.

bennie

We LOVED the Equinox and would go back in a heartbeat. It has an elegant dining room - with a pianist and dance floor while we were there. Spa, biking, golfing, sitting on the front porch watching the world go by. There's pub for more casual dining. Room was traditionally furnished, large with a small sofa. Loved the toiletries. Can't say enough about the place.

lisettemac

I have to say that I feel the same way about the Equinox as I do about the Woodstock Inn. Both were overpriced for my accommodations and I'm not sure I'd go back to either.

As previous posters stated, the Woodstock area is lovely and there is lots to do there. The Inn itself is beautiful from the outside and has a lovely lobby area and restaurants. The sports center is great and the golf is good (but pricey). Our room was as others have described -- more country than elegant. Country reproductions, pretty small, bland. Just not worth the $$$.

Ditto the Equinox. Nice area (although Manchester is, in my opinion, not as quaint as Woodstock). The Equinox has a beautiful lobby, nice restaurant and live entertainment in the bar (which is cozy). There are several nice restaurants in the area, too. The Resort appears to have over-expanded and now has several wings with bland conference/banquet rooms. The spa was under construction when we were there, so I had a massage in a regular room. Unfortunately, our room was the big disappointment. It was huge, no doubt about it. But it literally had NO windows!! I think it had 2 skylights, but not a single window that you could see the treeline through. That constitutes an illegal tenement in some cities!! We were sorely disappointed and will investigate more thoroughly if we decide to return.

OliveOyl

lisettemac--that's pretty incredible! You may win the prize for having gotten Equinox's worst room available.

We've stayed once and weren't thrilled with our room but it was surely sothing like the above experience. It was adequate, "nice", but nothing out of the ordinary. If anyone has stayed in the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, it reminded me very much of rooms there. There wasn't a thing wrong with it really, it's just that I would never refer to it as elegant, though I do think the hotel itself gives that feel--country elegance, though, not city. Big difference.

Ive enjoyed their more casual restaurant off to the right of the lobby any number of times. The food is always wonderful and such ambiance, especailly in the late fall or winter, when there is a fire in the fireplace!

I do love this hotel, love the porch sitting. It was quintessential New England one early evening sitting out there with a glass of wine, watching the passing pedestrian and horse drawn carriages traffic, leaves were about peak, air had just the right amount of nip to it...then from the white Congregational Church across the street, the bells began to play some very familiar old hymn. Talk about ambiance!

There are a couple of B&B's right along main street yards from the Equinox that are supposedly wonderful if anyone is looking for something on a more intimate scale than the Equinox. I do love the feel of the hotel though, just felt the room was not in keeping with the remainder of the experience.

Dreamer2

Perhaps all these old, "grand" hotels have the same issue. I certainly wouldn't expect to find a marble bathroom with jacuzzi tub at one! I think the "elegance" is in the attitude, and the rather "shabby chic" decor! Plush luxury seems to be a product of the Las Vegas high rise. Although, I will say we had an ablsolutely huge and very nicely appointed family suite at the Mount Washington Inn a couple summers ago, and you don't find a more elegant lobby anywhere - imho. But still, "plush" wouldn't quite describe it. I wonder how the Wentworth has been renovated...

lisettemac

Yep OliveOyl -- we were pretty upset, complained, asked to be moved, etc. But it was the very end of peak leaf season and there was nothing left. I resolved to write a letter, but never got around to it.

Now that I think about it, we had asked for a non-smoking room at the Woodstock Inn and were given a smoking room. Again, we asked to be moved, but could not be accommodated. They did give us some kind of ionic device, though. We were there right after 9/11 when we just needed to get away from the city and weren't in the mood to make a big stink (no pun intended).

I think the problem with these grand old hotels is that they are over-extended. They get to be very popular and then they expand with new wings that are as blah as any Radisson. You get the "name" of the hotel and the ambiance of the lobby, but the room doesn't evoke any kind of charm -- even shabby chic!

gplimpton

In answer to Dreamer2, I agree that a marble Bellagio bathroom would be inappropriate in a traditional New England hotel. I don't think I've ever seen one.
The best hotels, ones that qualify as being elegant, are the ones which stay true to tradition offer a higher level of quality in furnishings, service, grounds and such than a typical country inn type place. Shabby should not be part of the equation if it's elegant IMO.
Places like the Charlotte Inn on Martha's Vineyard are among the best examples of an elegant and authentic New England inn. I wouldn't use the word plush, since the rooms are filled with antiques and period furniture. Places like the Mayflower Inn in Connecticut aren't quite as authentic, and may be a bit stuffy to some, but it's definitely elegant and borders on plush in some rooms.

kriegz

We have stayed at Hawk many times. They have very nice rooms in the Inn. But if you want to splurge take a house in the mts. They are unbelievable(pricey).They range from townhouses one mile up a mountain to the most luxurios homes, whirpools, jacuzzi's on the deck etc. I know I sound like I must be affiliated with the hotel but I am not just love the place.
Go to their website and you can see the houses for yourself. Whats so nice is also if you take a room high up they have some great trails right on the property.
Equinox is also a great hotel and they have a great rest. Sometimes they have some deals that inc. meals.
Equinox is a big hotel in the heart of everything and the Hawk is quite removed and you will have to drive about 5-15 min to get to rest.
Either place is great but they are very diff.
Joan

LRK

We had a perfectly lovely room at The Equinox. Desk, rocking chair, 2 big queen beds, LOTS of windows-- Very large and comfortable--the bathroom was also big and well-appointed--cushy robes for myself and my husband. Staying at The Equinox is like staying with your very well-off New England relatives--not flashy, but cozy , tasteful and comfortable and everything when you need it, where you need it . My favorite bookstore in the world is in Manchester--The Northshire. Don't miss it...Also had a wonderful meal at the only Mexican restaurant in town (don't remember the name--fabulous guacamole! A Manchester memory: my husband went out for a walk after the 3 of us got into bed to read for the evening--it must have been around 11 or so--anyway he comes back to the room about an hour later, and throws a wad of cash on the bed. Someone had dropped about $200 on the street and my husband, after going to the Police Station to turn it in , was told to fill out a report and leave his phone number but to keep the money...feeling funny about this, but fortunate at the same time, we did just that. We never got a call from the police. Manchester , so our stay in Manchester was less pricey than usual!

Mapman47

kriegz Thanks. You are the first to comment on the Hawk. It will be just my wife and I, so ithink a house would be too much. We would like to be close to the facilities. How is the restaurant, bar, pool, health club facilities, massage, staff? Will they be crowed in 2nd week of July? Thanks. Mapman.