Oakhurst Inn at the University

The room was spacious with lots of windows, though it had a musty smell, which seems understandable in an old building. The hotel is beautiful and has its own charm, and everyone on staff we met was so pleasant. We had a really relaxing evening with the heated pool, sauna, and live jazz.

The patio right outside our door was being cleared with a leaf blower starting at 9am, even though checkout wasn't until 11. After the bedding problem had already kept us from sleeping much, that was a rough way to wake up. When we checked in, our comforter had a strange stain. We took it off and asked for another blanket, but got a small bed pad to use on a king bed, and that was stained too. When I complained, they offered breakfast at the cafe, but we'd already eaten. The desk said part of the bill would be credited, but there was no credit on my invoice.

We expected a lively, immersive holiday bar, but The Grinch holiday bar felt more like a hotel common area. There were decorations leading to the entrance that made it look cute and fun, but once inside it was surprisingly quiet. Someone greeted us; we briefly wondered if there might be a hidden speakeasy-style entrance, but they just directed us to the bar. We couldn't tell where we were meant to sit, since the area by the bar seemed to double as the breakfast space near guest rooms. We whispered the whole time and could hear a baby crying nearby. The cocktail tasted like straight alcohol, and the mocktail could have had more chai flavor. This doesn't seem like the best place for an event like this.

I left disappointed by what this place could have been with better management. It seemed to aim for a boutique feel but never got there, despite feeling like a little effort could have made it much nicer. Right when I arrived I was overcharged for a weak drink with no ice, literally just one sip, and that set the tone. The room was freezing, and guests aren't allowed to control the temperature, which made the stay feel cheap for the price. I wouldn't come back.