Star -- SANU POSTPARTUM STAY at the Lyle
Overpriced, Underwhelming, Not Worth the Hype
Our postpartum experience at Sanu was incredibly disappointing, especially considering the small fortune we paid and the expectations the owner set when selling us on the experience. We invested in Sanu believing we were paying for a premium postpartum retreat that would provide comfort, support, structure, and thoughtful care during one of the most vulnerable and important times in our lives. Unfortunately, the reality was nowhere near what was advertised.
From the moment we arrived, the lack of attention to detail was apparent. After a 2.5 hour long drive with a newborn was no "team" waiting to greet us, and not enough hands to get all our stuff up to the room in one trip. This was hardly the welcoming, seamless arrival we expected from a service specifically designed to support new parents.
The accommodations were another major letdown. The room was small, and there was no king-sized bed that would allow my husband and me to comfortably sleep together. For the price we paid, we expected a reasonably sized room and accommodations that prioritized comfort. When comparable hotel accommodations can cost approximately $400 less, it makes the value of this experience even harder to justify.
The food itself was OUTSTANDING but the options and service were equally disappointing. Numerous frustrations like not getting utensils and napkins with our meals ordered to the room. Forgotten items, that we ordered. There were no drinks included with lunch or dinner and the lunch selections were so limited that there was no protein option available. This meant having to consider additional expenses for something as basic as a satisfying lunch. For a postpartum retreat that promotes recovery, nourishment, and care, these oversights were unacceptable.
We also discovered that valet parking was not included. Between the limited food options, missing items, excluded amenities, and additional costs, the experience left us feeling nickeled and dimed rather than cared for. When you pay a premium for a specialized service, you should not constantly be discovering what is excluded or feel as though you are paying extra for basic conveniences.
Beyond these individual issues, there was a general lack of information, organization, and thoughtful structure. The experience did not resemble the polished, carefully curated retreat portrayed on social media. We expected more guidance, a regimented schedule, and organized activities or educational sessions to help us navigate postpartum recovery. Instead, the experience fell short of the picture that had been painted for us.
I reached out to the owner, Julia and expressed my overall disappointment, concerns and my desire to go home. We cut our stay in half and she finally agreed to refund us about 30% of our total paid. We obviously still took a huge loss but we couldn't stay there another day! Interestingly enough, she told us that she pays her doulas in advance and that's why she couldn't issue us more of a refund... I know that was a lie.
As a first time mom, I thought this experience would be helpful, relaxing, educational and rewarding but instead we were completely taken advantage of. We wasted THOUSANDS of dollars on Sanu for an experience that did not deliver in value, service or care that we were led to expect. I now realize why there hasn't been many reviews in the last two years or social media updates.
My advice to other families: do your research, ask specific questions. Do not let an appealing sales pitch or carefully curated social media presence alone convince you that the experience will be worth the price. Make sure you understand exactly what is included, what costs extra, and what the accommodations are actually like.
We genuinely regret spending this money and wish we had put it toward other forms of postpartum support or our child's college fund.
The one that I did give were for the Doulas - Shirley and Rhonda. They were absolutely lovely.
FYI Sanu is now located in DC at the Lyle. read more