From the moment you slide down the driveway into the architectured arboretum entry, your arrival literally announced through a sonorous bell ring, the Inn seeks to challenge you to resist its charm, thoughtfulness, and comfort. Many businesses will say they treat every customer with special service; this is the first time I have encountered a business that genuinely made that experience a reality.
The website is thorough and easy to navigate, with clear pricing and options for rooms throughout the year, transparently showing updated offers, and, as soon as I confirmed a reservation, I was sent an online catalog with deeper information about their services and amenities. There are many good nuggets of information on the Inn online and worth the research to find videos, articles, and podcast interviews through the years to get a sense of the rich atmosphere that envelopes you within. I had been tracking reviews heavily and was disturbed to see someone just before our own visit claim they had been mistreated due to being gay. As a woman with a trans woman partnering on this visit, I can say I wondered regularly if they had mistaken me for some ultra celebrity- but in fact it seems to be simply The Way of the Inn to make things easy and beyond comfortable. I called ahead a few times with specific questions on activities and rooms and given thorough answers every time, with follow ups and total access to anything I showed interest in.
Which doesn't ignore reality- while the Inn was almost at full capacity, I rarely saw more than 40 people together at any one time, and it felt easy to be socially distant and like it was a private intimate hideaway. The majority is the population you would still expect to see: some families with small kids, some baby-mooners, many couples of all ages, all drifting around. People with canes can probably get through without trouble, but anyone with greater mobility issues will probably not: the Inn is still centurues old and many paths are gravel or stairs or too small for a wheelchair. The only times I sensed a normal hotel feel were during the high dinner hours. I was surprised at how easy and welcome everyone was to take any small opportunity to chat and enjoy small talk- it was like being at an adult summer camp where the main activity was lounging.
After the bell rings you in, at reception you receive a branded zippered pouch with your current itinerary, keycards, map, and events schedule. Our check-in was less than half an hour delayed but we were gifted drink comps to use at the bar for the wait, a delightful extra perk to start our trip. I was impressed at how regularly and fully they updated their activities- it is kept at the front desk, the gym, and on the tv (though not very easily viewed there). Nightly turndown service was fresh water bottles and a variety of cookies. We often passed the cleaning staff in the room, and they were just as informed and happy to answer questions as the front desk. Stewards were constantly at the entryway and rushed to open doors at any convenience.
Everything lives up to and surpasses what you expect- the views, full of the constant St. Michaels wharf and yet ever-changing views with the clouds and sun, sumptuous rooms, inspired and rich food, fun bubbly cocktails, stocked gift shop. It delivers every promise in a quiet unassuming way as a true oasis. read more