Madison And Shenandoah Valley

We really enjoyed the 6th Annual Winter Wine Weekend at the Madison. It was our first stay there, and the event was very nicely put together. The staff were friendly and the rooms were nice. Congratulations to Tassie, Cody, and their staff for doing such an excellent job. We're looking forward to coming back soon!

The best part was being right by campus and downtown for JMU's admitted students weekend. We had a one-bedroom suite with a pullout couch and kitchenette, which we didn't use but appreciated having. The lobby is nice, and there's a bar. The little lobby coffee shop's premade breakfast food didn't look fresh, so we went to the buffet instead. It cost $18 and was pretty good. But the beds were the worst I've slept on, with very thin mattresses that made noise whenever we rolled over. The pillows gave no support and left me with terrible neck pain. The bathroom has a sliding door, which is never a good idea. On Thursday the bartender called last call at 9 PM, even though at least 10 people were still there, because he wanted to go home. I wouldn't stay again or recommend it to friends because of the room.

The manager on duty, Andrew, was courteous and understanding when we spoke at checkout, and he removed the meal charges from our bill, which we appreciated. We chose the Madison for its reputation and facilities, and because we need a high-quality hotel when traveling north and south. We'd stayed before and had a very pleasant visit, so this time's problems were a real disappointment. The takeout from Monty’s included two soups and a salad. The soup tasted good but came in plastic containers and was only tepid when we picked it up. The $11 salad was sloppy and unappealing, with watery lettuce, a few tomato pieces, and a couple bits of crumbled bacon. We had asked for Caesar, but got one tiny cup of dressing that barely covered it. Antonia, the hostess and receptionist, was the one bright spot that evening, and was very gracious. We'd forgotten shower caps and asked reception for some. They searched everywhere but couldn't find any. It's hard to believe a hotel of the Madison's standing doesn't keep these available. We then tried the breakfast buffet, which was no better, and perhaps worse, than the free breakfasts at hotels costing half as much. We arrived near the end of breakfast hours, and both regular and decaf coffee were tepid until we asked a server for hot coffee. It's a shame this establishment isn't operating to the high standards we expected.

The staff were very nice, and we've stayed here before and loved it, which is why we came back. This time, though, the room was dusty and the bed hadn't been made properly. The mattress pad was loose, bunching up the sheets. There was someone else's hair on the sheets, and when I fixed the bed so we could sleep, I found more hair on the disgusting mattress pad. I hope someone looks into this.