The Orchards Hotel

It’s quiet, the beds are comfortable, and the staff are lovely, so it’s a nice place to relax or have a romantic getaway. The room with the fireplace is large and luxurious. The website makes the setting look more scenic than it is, but it’s still pretty. The fireplace lobby feels elegant and cozy at the same time, and there’s free coffee all day. The workout room is lacking. It has just two cardio machines and some hand weights.

We got an incredible deal on our room. The person who checked us in was terribly pleasant and even said the rate was unusually low. On the drive up, we’d started to worry this was just a motor inn with a fancy name, but the charming hotel proved us wrong. The rooms were wonderful, though a few spots could use more paint. Honestly, my own home could use some touch-ups too. The lounge’s wood fireplace burns constantly, which is a real treat. We still haven’t sat down there to enjoy a cocktail. One odd thing: housekeeping took my wife’s bottle of wine during the daily cleanup, even though our “Privacy, Please” sign was on the doorknob. When we asked the attendant where it went and why it was taken, the answer was, “Because that's what we do.” It had happened just moments before we returned, so who knows if they were keeping it safe or disposing of it for our benefit. It was a minor thing and didn’t spoil an otherwise stellar visit, just curious.

The location is A+, and the staff were great. We had serious AC problems during an unusually warm April, but the staff tried their best to help. They gave us a fan and we managed. The beds weren’t very comfortable, unfortunately. I’m pretty understanding, unlike some of the other guests, and I’d give it another chance for sure.

The bed linens were soft and clean, and there was good tea and coffee available all the time. Ashley the manager was kind and tried to make up for the problems with a coupon for free breakfast. The rest of the stay was rough, though. The toilet overflowed, and they handed me a plunger. I refused to fix their toilet and asked for maintenance and housekeeping to clean the floor, but neither was available. Angela at the front desk just shrugged. She reluctantly gave me another room when I demanded one. She was not hospitable. At $160 a night, including a $10 facility fee for an outdoor pool that was covered in leaves and dirty water, I expected more. The building smelled of fake floral air freshener, which made my asthma flare. The bathroom’s sliding door was broken, the baseboards were grimy, and the old tub looked like it dated from 1979. It was hard to tell if it was dirty or just old. Dried Christmas decorations were still at the front door, which should’ve been my first warning. This place might be okay at $70-80 a night. At that price, I’d sooner stay at a Motel 6, where at least they wouldn’t hand you a plunger. The owners need to put serious money into the property or drop the price to motel levels, and either way, the plumbing needs fixing. PS, the only things put in the toilet were poop and toilet paper. They have AAA 4 diamond awards on the walls, but I didn’t check the years. My mistake for not doing my due diligence.