Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa, Curio Collection By Hilton

Morning hot yoga with Shannon was the highlight for us. It was a new thing for my husband and me, and we had so much fun doing it together. Mallory greeted us right away and was welcoming and professional throughout our stay. We also enjoyed breakfast at the Fields restaurant. My plate looked like art, with local produce, fresh herbs, and colorful flowers. The fitness center had everything we needed for a solid workout. We loved our visit to Skaneateles Fields Resort so much that we booked another one before leaving.

We stayed two nights and left disappointed. The pool bar was closed, with no advance notice or mention. At checkout, the bill was wrong, and credits, including the daily $10 food and beverage credit, hadn’t been applied. Those had to be corrected after we checked out. The service also fell short. On our second day we had to call twice before housekeeping came. When we ordered food by the pool, staff didn’t know how to reach the area, so we had to carry the food over a gate ourselves. That’s especially poor service with a 22% surcharge. Before arriving, we’d mentioned a milestone celebration and asked about an upgrade. We’re Hilton Honors Gold members, and the hotel looked visibly underoccupied, but the request got no acknowledgment, upgrade, or small gesture. The property is clean and new, but it feels nearly empty and isolated, with no atmosphere, energy, or programming. It presents itself as a resort, though the experience didn’t live up to that. If you want attentive service and things to do, look elsewhere.

The food was the biggest disappointment. Eating at the restaurant was a grave letdown. A roughly chopped bowl of fresh cabbage for $25 might suit a rabbit, but not a person. Maybe the chef is fine, but whoever puts together such inedible menu items needs to go. The selection and flavors bring the whole place down. There was also so much ice in the glasses that I wondered if the owners were being cheap with the iced tea. The hotel itself is brand new and top notch, with careful attention to detail and no obvious corners cut. You can see how much money went into it. The public and private spaces have their own designs, and even the room throw pillows are exceptionally high quality. The indoor pool was clean and a nice kidney shape, though it could have been a little warmer. I wish there were a hot tub beside it instead of having to go outside in the middle of winter. I’m not sure why they made that unfriendly choice.

The spa was clean, beautiful, and had nice amenities. The treatment room music was too loud and grating, though. We both had facials of the same type, but the experiences were very different. My friend got skincare and product recommendations, while mine was disappointing, with more neck and head massage than facial care. There was no steam, extraction, or eye mask. They should be more consistent.