Senedo Springs

If you like quiet and beautiful mountain views, you'll enjoy Senado Springs Resort. There are lots of breathtaking hiking trails in Shenandoah County, and being near Bryce Ski Resort is a plus. This is an old timeshare resort from the 1980s, and our duplex slept six. It had a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and firewood was provided. Everything worked. We all got a good laugh out of the tube TV!

The setting was the best part: quiet, secluded, and close to nature, with little trails nearby for dogs who like hiking. We were on the first floor, with a balcony opening right onto the forest, and could look for deer at night. It was a peaceful, relaxing week. Check-in was very easy, though the check-in location is separate from the house. Location 5/5, comfort 3/5, cleanliness 1/5. The beds were good, but the pillows were very flat and the blankets weren't comfortable. You get a fleece blanket and a flat bed cover, so I'd bring my own. The fireplace made the place really cozy in the evenings. The kitchen had basic cookware and dishes, mugs, a coffee maker, and utensils, but no food items like oil or seasoning. We had to buy foil, firestarter for the fireplace, and charcoal for the outdoor grill. Bring toiletries too. The water was yellow and smelled very bad, so we didn't plan on drinking it. The appliances were very old, and after one use the washing machine stopped working because of a drain issue, so we couldn't do laundry. The floors clearly hadn't been vacuumed, there were sheets from the previous guests left in the washer, and my fleece blanket had residue on it. The dishes and utensils weren't clean either. There were lots of bugs inside, though I expected some because we were on the first floor so close to nature. At checkout we were expected to strip the bed, run the dishwasher, pile up the towels, and do a few other things I can't remember. It wasn't a lot, but for what we paid, affordable though not cheap, I expected the cleaners to handle that. We stayed a whole week with no cleaners or fresh towels. I don't know if I'd stay again.

The owner went out of her way to make check-in easier when we arrived an hour and a half late after getting lost. She also marked family-friendly things to do on a map for us, and was incredibly nice. The resort is a good 30-45 minutes from any supermarket, so I'd stock up on food and essentials before heading there. Our condo had loads of space for my wife, our two kids, our small daschund, and me. There was a large living room with a fireplace, an eating area, and a kitchen island with utensils, pots, pans, plates, cups, and a dishwasher. It also had a washer and dryer, two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and a sauna. We had cable in the living room and master bedroom, and everyone loved the enclosed balcony.

The staff were friendly and helpful when we had questions, and the location was excellent. The good thing is that everything worked. But the place felt pretty threadbare and close to run-down, with a lot in need of updating. There were stains on the ceiling and carpet, dust caked on the vents, and signs the roof had leaked more than once. Maybe that was why someone in our group had allergies flare up. The 2x4s used for moulding and T-111 on the walls were a strange touch. The first-floor A/C was adequate, but upstairs was much hotter, which made it hard for everyone to stay comfortable.