Vilnius Grand Resort

The hotel's layout is confusing, and more signs would help. We came in winter, so we could only use the indoor facilities, though the grounds looked lovely, with ponds, beaches, and watersports. There are two indoor pool areas, both open until 10pm. The basic one felt cramped and noisy, while the 'vitality' area was quieter and more luxurious, with an outdoor jacuzzi. That area cost an extra €25 per person per day, not for the whole stay, so keep that in mind if you're only there one night. It's a beautiful old hotel, but many rooms are dated and still need refurbishment.

The spa is new and feels like stepping into a different, modern world. There’s also a decent kids' playroom with toys, books, puzzles, and a ping pong table. The resort is a good place to watch the New Year fireworks. Beyond that, I can't think of a reason to recommend staying here. For what it costs, the facilities and service should be better. We were two families there for four nights over New Year. We knew it was a 25-30 minute drive from the city, so the distance was fine for us, and the shuttle bus was a nice extra. The main hall's lighting felt like the 1980s: uneven, with some areas dark and others lit in white or warm yellow. Our room also felt old and poor value for the price. It wasn't cleaned well, and there was mold and an odor around the bathroom tiles and sink. The lighting seemed decades out of date, there was no socket beside the bed, and the TV looked about ten years old. Its remote didn't work at all. No one cleaned the room unless we asked, which I couldn't understand and wasn't what I expected. Service was a real disappointment. None of the staff we spoke with seemed engaged. We arrived late for brunch, our mistake, and spoke to three or four people hoping to sort it out since we'd paid already. Nobody seemed willing to help, and we felt blamed because the food and table had been prepared. We booked dinner for January 2 at 8pm, just three hours ahead. At the table, we were told food would take at least an hour from ordering. Nobody had mentioned this when we booked. Staff said there were many reservations from different companies, which should have been anticipated. We wasted time waiting, and the kids' meals were especially delayed. Breakfast had plenty to choose from, but it was dull for our taste. We ate four breakfasts and got the same things every time.

The massages were the one part of the day where I didn't have to deal with some irritating detail. We had a "Private spa" package for six, though there were five of us, and paid for six at 85 EUR per person. There was no accommodation included. The whole visit felt like we had to manage everything ourselves. Food from after the sauna was supposed to be included in the package so we could settle up at the end, but the spa reception couldn't take payment as promised. We went up and down the stairs and spent 20 minutes trying to find out where and how to pay. Our two-hour private sauna was nice, but the little things were overlooked. The ad said drinks and food could be ordered there, which would have helped since you get hungry quickly and need something to drink besides water. There was an anteroom where tea could have been served, but we had to drink it in the spa hall before going in. Making it took ages, as if it were a special request. Tea bags seemed odd for a spa hotel, and the anteroom only had water in flimsy plastic cups. We had to go to the restaurant ourselves during sauna time to order food, then rush over after the sauna to eat a snack before our massages so we wouldn't faint. The staff were friendly, but didn't offer much guidance or advice. Nobody even said "enjoy your time" or explained we could enter the sauna using our bracelets. We figured that out ourselves. This is presented as a four-star hotel with all the conveniences, but the service felt like three stars at most. The appliances added to that impression: hair dryers barely worked, and one didn't work at all. With so many guests, especially on crowded weekend afternoons, the place needs more appliances, larger changing rooms, and renovation. The showers were old, cramped, offered no privacy, and had sensor buttons that made it frustrating to get a normal shower with steady water pressure after a spa day. Three stars, maybe. Four definitely not.

The peaceful grounds and outdoor activities made our stay really enjoyable. In summer, the spacious resort is beautiful, with plenty of paths to explore. Paddle boarding on the lake was a highlight, and we liked the relaxing, family-friendly pool and sauna overlooking the greenery. We stayed at Vilnius Grand Resort with friends and kids. Our balcony had a lovely view, which helped make up for the dated rooms and carpets. Breakfast had a limited but sufficient selection, though it and the other food options could use more variety.