carn1

My wife and I traveled up to the Greenbrier Resort in West Va. last weekend for Fri-Sun. I thought that I would give my impressions since this site has been helpful in planning some of my trips.

The resort is, of course, very nice. Very old style decorations, crystal chadeliers, marble floors, huge formal lobby, spa, bowling alley, etc. The hotel is decorated in all green, purple, black, shite and pink. Nice, but outdated. We checked it out on Friday after we arrived and went to our room to get ready for dinner. The room is nice, large with an ok bathroom. Dinner that night was in the main dining room. Dinner was very good. The food was top notch, better than I expected. There was a violinist and piano player supplying music for the dinner. Made for a nice, romantic setting.

Saturday we started with breakfast, which again was excellent. Everything you could possibly want for breakfast. Went on a bunker tour which was interesting. In the afternoon, we went to the spa. Again, very nice, but very expensive. Alomost twice as much as locally in Atlanta. Not worth it in my opinion. Had another nice dinner in the dining room that evening. Left on Sunday after breakfast.

Overall, we enjoyed the stay. The service was excellent and not snobby or stuck up in my opinion at all. Very helpful staff, some of the best service I have had in a hotel. We did feel pampered. However, I probably would not return right away. We knew this before hand, but it is VERY expensive. Just not all worth it in my opinion. The hotel is old and a little outdated in some areas, like the bathrooms. Also, I think that it would be much more enjoyable in the summer when the outdoor activities were in gear.

OliveOyl

Thanks for the trip report. I was interested in reading your opinion on its being somewhat dated as the Greenbrier was one of the (many) hotels to lose a star in Mobil's rating system this year, going from a 5 to a 4*. It sure is a venerable institution! We have never been there, but it has always been one of "the names", so it was somewhat of a shock to see the lowered rating. The Phoenician was another to drop out of the elite 5* category in Mobil's quest to be the best and most difficult of the only 2 industry recognized raters ~~AAA and Mobil.

Patrick

I'm curious. Was there a convention going on? The one complaint I've had from friends was that when they've been there it was all so convention oriented, that they didn't feel like it was really a "luxury resort" and they felt a little "left out". And I also had heard that those wonderful old Carlton Varney interiors haven't been updated in quite a while.

carn1

There was no convention at the time that I was aware of. We did not get the feeling that we were left out, the service was outstanding. I had forgotten my cuff links (it is black tie optional for dinner) and the conseierge (sp) let me borrow a pair, no problems. All the waiters were very friendly, etc.

OliveOyl

But...but...but...I still *like* Carlton Varney~ Patrick, do I need help? LOL

Patrick

OHHH, was that misleading! I love Carlton Varney interiors too, and the ones he did to "redo" the famous Dorothy Draper interiors (his former boss) at the Greenbrier were spectacular. I didn't mean his style needed updating -- they are great. I just meant that 10 to 15 year old fabrics just need to be replaced and I understand most haven't been! Had friends who said their carpet in their room was nothing short of disgusting.

One of my favorite things in my condo is the tiny (and I do mean tiny) powder room right off the living room. I did Carlton Varney scenic panels that look like giant shutters with tropical foliage behind them, all the way around the room. People think I painted it all on, but alas it was all Carlton Varney. (Although I did paint the ceiling in the sky blue background color to match and added a few clouds.) I think Mr. Varney would like my addtion.

hugglynn

I just have to comment a little on the Greenbrier discussion. I took my husband there for his 50th in August 2001. If I'm not mistaken, the resort had already gone down to Mobil 4*, and in our opinion, was about all it was deserving of.

Even though it was his birthday, I booked us on an anniversary package which included two dinners, breakfast, a photograph, plus candy, flowers and champagne or wine in our room.

Upon arrival, we were shown our room, which kind of took us a moment to catch our breath because the carpeting was "putting green" green and the coloring of the flowers of the wallpaper was enough to keep you up at night. Very bold pattern and colors (pink, green and yellow--very overstated).

To make a long story short, they messed up our package somehow. I expected our items would be placed in our room either prior to our arrival or shortly thereafter. They never came that day, and I had to inquire about them the next day. When the items were finally sent, the flowers were a joke, we literally laughed about it--a few stems of the cheap kind of flowers you can buy in any grocery story. We never did get the photo because we were to have arranged it in advance, and because we were not told, it did not happen. Lastly, our second night in the dining room, we had ordered filet mignon and had to send it back as it was overcooked (we ordered medium and got well done).

I guess I expected, for the price, a little more from the Greenbrier. I expected the chef to know how to prepare filet mignon and I expected, from a service standpoint, not to be totally ripped off on a package purchase.

We wouldn't return and I have to say we felt the place wasn't really worth the extra money. We've enjoyed better service and accomodations elsewhere for less.

tommy

Please forgive my ignorance. Perhaps all of you designers can fill me in. What exactly is the color "shite?" I read this post and couldn't stop laughing, because where I come from, you wouldn't want to stay in a place the color of shite.

Patrick

It is a very famous color made popular by Dorothy Draper. It is white only quieter -- you know, like "ssshhhh-white".

Or it is the color of a typo.

buckeyemom

Patrick-You sound like that designer guy on HGTV's "Designing for the sexes." ;-)

Suzie

OK the shite not being a real color is hilarious!!! I thought I was out of the loop but that it turns out to be a typo just shows how new colors can be invented!!!

sallymed

I couldn't agree more with some of the posting on this page. My husband and I just returned from a two-night stay at the Greenbrier and I couldn't wait to get on this post to voice my opinion (I actually had the day off from work today and came in, in the freezing rain just to get on a high-speed internet connection). I am over-the-top disappointed in the Greenbrier. We had always wanted to check it out since we've been to the Homestead a couple of times already. GO TO THE HOMESTEAD instead!! It's so much more - all around. More elegant, more inviting, more calming. Don't bother with the Greenbrier. What a rip!