Symes Hot Springs Hotel

The pools were just as unpleasant as the room. There was dead skin and other stuff floating around, the largest pool felt a little cold, and the main hot pool was crowded with plenty of debris in it. The older crowd added to the bad acid trip vibe. I couldn’t wait to get home and shower. Going into the building, there’s a strong sulfur smell from the spring water they pump into the hotel. Efficient, sure, but it makes the whole place smell. Then we got to the room, which was disgusting. Rustic is one thing, but decay and filth are another. The tub was gross, which wiped out the benefit of filling it with natural hot water. There were no screens on the windows, and half of them had to stay propped open because there was no air conditioning. Two dead bugs were stuck to the wall. I don’t usually leave salty one-star reviews, but sometimes you have to. Don’t go here. Keep your aches and joint pain. Whatever relief you might get isn’t worth it.

After spending the weekend soaking in the springs and indoor tubs piped straight from them, I felt great. Those tubs get hot, so be careful. They’re also a good option if you want a quiet soak in your birthday suit. The place was friggin awesome and didn’t disappoint. We arrived just after the twice-weekly cleaning, so it was spotless and inviting. Even during the busier late mornings and evenings, it stayed pretty clean. I’d give five stars across the board, except the bed was pretty hard on my back.

We were in rm 12 at 3am, unable to sleep because something outside kept banging. There were doors opening and shutting, loud hits on the metal roof, and some kind of compressor running. It sounded like construction downstairs. I’m frugal and like supporting small businesses, which is why we chose the cheapest room, but I may try Quinns or somewhere else next time, even just for the day. I didn’t have the energy to figure out whether a loose roof, siding, or doors were causing it. We’d had a long week and just wanted to sleep, and I’d been looking forward to the stay for MONTHS. It ended up feeling like a sad trombone. The water is nasty, sure, but the room had a strong heater and the beds were clean and good, though a bit soft for me, around average firmness. There’s no TV, and the Wi-Fi was too far away to work, so we used our data. The hot tub is good and hot when it isn’t packed with people. We didn’t try the food. Rates are reasonable: ours was 100, and I think you can get two rooms with a shared bathroom closer to the main area for 120, rms 22+23. I have nothing against anyone there, but someone should have a handyman tighten things up. Maybe it was loose roofing, siding panels, or doors, I don’t know. Also, maybe it’s just me, but everything felt colder than about 4 years ago. I hope they can renovate the place back to its former glory. The surroundings are beautiful, and I do feel peaceful there.

The historic facilities sit in a beautiful setting, and the staff were unbelievably hospitable. The spring water has a strong sulfur smell that takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s expected. On a 28°F night, soaking in the hot spring water felt so relaxing.