The Umstead Hotel and Spa

This is a beautiful hotel in an even more beautiful location with spectacular service. We have been there twice and booked with AMEX's Fine Resorts and Hotels program, so we got upgraded to a lake front balcony both times. The valet was prompt and the front desk employees were also excellent. After checking out, the front desk person walked me to the valet area to ensure that my car had been called for. The rooms are lovely and the bed was very comfortable. We especially loved the large balcony and the bathroom. I meant to see which products are in the shower because they smelled amazing. We also love the robes, as they have some fuzzy material that is very soft inside. We did not see any slippers however. You can use the iPad screen by the bedside to order room service. This was great as it told you how long the wait would be, and let you monitor the order. The food was excellent and they just added sushi to their menu. They also set up a lovely table, flowers included for dinner, in your room when you order. We ate at the restaurant for breakfast last visit and it was tasteful and quiet, and also has outside seating. The Crab Cake Benedict was full of crab! The spa is beautiful and serene, and the massage was excellent. You do need to schedule spa appointments in advance of your stay, as they book up. We love the pool there, as it is heated. So we were able to comfortably swim last October, and even last week on a 60 degree day in April. The pool service is wonderful. They will fix your chair and umbrella, check in on you frequently, and the drinks are prompt. Their frozé is fabulous. If you are looking for a serene pool day to accompany your spa treatments, ensure that it is not a school holiday. We were there during spring break week, so there were a lot of children in the pool. We enjoyed watching them swim and splash around, but it is something to be aware of if you are looking for a serene pool day. When we went last October, there were no children and it was quieter. The pool and hotel are in the woods so the sound of birds is very peaceful. If you decide to visit the pool, request a seat as far away from the pool bar as you can get, for two reasons. First, the fence door that the pool servers use slams very loudly. I feel that this should be fixed by the hotel as it was very loud and the servers come in and out of it constantly for pool service. Second, the pool servers chatted at quite a loud volume whenever they were not serving. I now know way too much about their dogs, what they like to do in their free time, and their favorite drinks. It was the girls first day, so maybe she was talking extra to get to know her fellow employee. But her voice was very loud and it definitely took away from the serenity. The pool was very busy, as it was a school holiday, so unfortunately we could not move to other chairs further away. The only other issue we had is that someone was constantly smoking on their balcony near ours. We could not determine which balcony, so we were not able to report it. But we were not able to sit outside on our porch much, or even leave our doors open as their smoke was coming in to our room. We did not let this distract from our visit. We absolutely love this hotel and will be back soon!

This is where we always stay when in the Raleigh area. This time, however, upon arrival we discovered that I had booked a room for the wrong night. The front desk was great. They identified an available room but when it was not ready in a reasonable time due to housekeeping, they upgraded us to a spa level suite room at no extra charge. That was amazing as I was the one who had screwed up the reservation. This is the only luxury hotel in the Raleigh area that we will ever stay at.

My husband and I travelled for a quick staycation, anniversary celebration. The staff was so professional and knowledgeable! The room was exceptional, beautiful and had an amazing view and balcony. We loved the bar and the turn down service! The shower was so nice and steamy and the linens were wonderfully luxurious. Combined with the delicious food from Heron's this made Umstead my new favorite place!

Had a wonderful birthday at the Umstead Hotel. Spent the night, had a family dinner in the bar, and breakfast the next morning. From arrival to departure, the service was excellent. Every staff member was friendly and helpful, including assisting my husband with planning a surprise dinner for me. I hope to spend many more birthdays at the Umstead and highly recommend it for a great gift to yourself or someone you love.

The room was large and comfortable, with two tables and a sofa in the bedroom and a nice ensuite bathroom with a good shower. I measured the WiFi at 39 Mbps download and 38 Mbps upload, so perfectly respectable if not exactly racy. The breakfast here was good, made to order. The staff I encountered weee helpful and polite. There is an outside terrace for drinks and a pretty lake with a circular walk around it just in the hotel grounds. Alternatively there is a gym, though this is a less scenic way to burn calories. The Umstead is an excellent hotel based on this and my previous stay here a year ago.