Vacation buyer’s remorse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I just returned from a 4-day long weekend trip to a far-out, isolated resort. Reviews were great, amenities seemed great, food/drink menu looked delicious. We were looking to completely escape and this seemed to fit the bill, but once we got there we realized we were mistaken. Already too far committed (non-refundable hotel at that point, plus a 4.5 hour drive away from home, and no close alternate options) we just decided to make the most of it. There were fun moments, but now that we are home and I’m looking at our CC statement, I am just sick that we spent good money on *that*.

Ever experience this before? How do you cope? I’m so annoyed and it’s all I can think about.

Just FYI, The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs is a new hotel and a neat concept and the General Lewis Inn in Lewisburg has been around forever, with good reviews. I doubt you are ever back in the area, but maybe this will help others who want to stay around there!

[Anonymous]

Stayed at the homestead once and it was so shabby that it was a bit shocking! It has so much potential too…you’d think with it being and Omni Hotel, they’d be able to fix it up.

[Anonymous]

On the positive side. A lot of the psychological advantages to vacations have to do with planning them and looking forward to them.

[Anonymous]

This has happened to most people, OP. It totally sucks especially since vacation time and money are limited resources

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read tons of reviews (I have anxiety) so this doesn’t really happen to me. I feel like the mediocrity of the greenbrier and the homestead is well known.

NP here. I have posted asking about either/both before, and no one came forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. I feel that way about pretty much all of the “higher end” options within a few hours of DC.

+ 1000

[Anonymous]

That sux. Have heard its been falling apart for a while tho.

Anyone heard of this?
https://www.nicewonderfarm.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read tons of reviews (I have anxiety) so this doesn’t really happen to me. I feel like the mediocrity of the greenbrier and the homestead is well known.

NP here. I have posted asking about either/both before, and no one came forward.

You have to go on travel specific forums.

[Anonymous]

Ugh I’ve had some terrible hotels… There was the “cute remote Mexican fishing/diving village” hours from Tulum (back in 2006 before Tulum was super hip and expensive ) that was a total isolated dump with sketchy places to stay/eat and dh got c diff there and I had to drive hours to get him to a doctor , so yeah that sucked….oh it was our honeymoon!!!

But now it’s a funny story in retrospect. Sorry op it sucks, but hopefully you’ll have an unexpectedly awesome experience next time.

[Anonymous]

My experience at the greenbrier was better but we stayed at a house on the resort not the hotel. The pool we went to was also nice, had a sort of infinity edge type feature and the service was very good. We mostly saw the hotel as an amusing Dorothy Draper time capsule

[Anonymous]

Only thing nearby i like is Primeland resort

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting about Greenbrier and thanks to the PPs who gave info about Homestead and Hershey as well. For years I've considered all of these places, and this helps me not feel bad about not having pulled the trigger because of price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only thing nearby i like is Primeland resort

I mean primland resort https://aubergeresorts.com/primland/

[Anonymous]

Felt this way after dropping quite a bit of money on an East Africa safari earlier this year. We didn't go 'all out' -- we did a mid-range package with mid-range places, and it got so boring after 3 days. We were ready to go home. Plus the food was horrible and the accommodations, though they looked so luxe in the photos and the reviews, weren't like that at all.

That said, 'you don't know what you don't know' - and I don't regret it because if I wouldn't have done it, I would've regretted it. I'm glad for the experience but never, ever again

[Anonymous]

Thank you PPs for the Schoolhouse and Primland info: the website info looks nice (all of them normally do) but how is the service there?

In my experience it is actually the service that is the weakest link in all of those locations - and it seems that it only got worse since COVID. Hope those places are exceptions to the rule.