Cumberland Inn and Spa

Less than a day before check-in, they cancelled my booking and said they’d notify Booking, but apparently never did. Booking tried repeatedly to reach the property to confirm the cancellation, and got no answer to calls or messages. It’s been a month and I still haven’t had my money refunded. This feels like a complete scam. If you have money to throw away, I guess you could try it.

The room looked nice, and we could store our bikes in the garage. But we couldn’t hang up our clothes, and there wasn’t a single glass for a drink or the bathroom. The bath towels were barely bigger than hand towels. There was a freezer but no ice trays, so no ice for our water bottles. We were biking and needed to charge phones, watches, and GPS devices. The only working outlets were already used by lamps, and there were no USB ports, so we had to charge everything in the lounge. A Keurig was there, but the only cups were styrofoam. Surely guests could be trusted with ceramic cups. It would take little effort to make the stay more comfortable.

We’ve stayed at the Cumberland Inn twice now and would gladly come back. The owner sends a text with the details, then you can make yourself at home. Communication was easy, and they also have bike storage for people riding the GAP/C&O trails. I needed to work during this visit, and the quiet, comfortable living room was just right. I could sit on the comfy couch with tea and get things done on my laptop without interruptions. It’s clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced, with a charming old-fashioned feel. If you want polished walnut banisters and antique furniture, this is the place; there are nearby motels if you prefer glass and chrome.

We used the rear garage to store our bikes, which was handy before setting out on our trip. My son and I stayed here the night before a bike ride. The room was clean and nice, and the beds were comfortable, but the bathroom was down the hall and the toilet didn’t flush well. There’s no attendant on site. Traffic out front kept going until around midnight, so I’d choose a room away from the main street. The location also isn’t as convenient for the C&O as some other places.