Last time we went we thought we got the worst room at the whole resort, but this trip did not disappoint as we finally got the absolutely worst possible room at the entire place, hands down. I will explain, but as a warning please call the resort directly before your stay and get room codes added to your reservation so you do not end up with the same huge disappointment as us. At over $1200/night it was heartbreakingly bad. We ended up in the sub, sub basement (bottom floor) of Paignton House (a separate building), at the absolute end of the hallway from the elevator. Technically it is the farthest you could possibly get from the main resort requiring - a walk down a long hallway from our room, an elevator up, a walk across a bridge, a walk across a games room, an elevator up, a walk down a hallway to the spa, a walk down another long hallway past empty doors, another elevator up and then you are in the main lobby. After we figured out the weird room numbering system at Paignton House (I guess to disguise the sub basement numbers) and realized where we had been put, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach and instant disappointment and regret that we had come yet again. We were all so excited to go and ready to unwind and as we walked down that long bottom floor, basement hallway I just began to cry. I think they really, really need to let people book SPECIFIC ROOMS so they know EXCATLY what they are buying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surprising people with a massive bill and a surprise awful room doesn't go unnoticed. We have been going for many years and it's really a problem because when you book it's just 'mystery location' for your room (even as a repeat Bonvoy Member who comes every year). The first year we were on the 4th floor of the resort, facing the water in possibly the best room in the resort, and each year they have popped us down a notch. If we go next year I think we may find ourselves sleeping in the little activity shed down by the lake with a few towels to lie down on. As usual, we brought food and the kitchen had almost no supplied, 2 cups, 2 plates etc. making it impossible to serve proper family meals. The burners also only get lukewarm so impossible to boil pasta or actually cook meat properly. This, once again, forced us to the restaurants to eat many meals and left us with a lot of food to throw away before we drove home as there was no way to prepare and serve it properly. As a side note: after we hoofed it all the way to the main building to get dinner one night we went over to the front desk to get water bottles. There, a man was checking in and he asked his wife to take his two kids out of earshot because "Daddy needs to do some taking." She walked away with the kids and the man began arguing furiously about the room he been given and how horrible it was. He was visibly irate. I think all in all the entire resort and it's design could have been heaps better. It should have been closer to the water. That's the big draw. The most expensive cottages on the lake are raised up a bit from the lake and offer a short walk to a beach and dock. Anyone who frequents Muskoka or knows the lake, knows that, which makes you wonder who they hired to design the hotel? Why is it so high up, forcing guests to walk up and down hundreds of steps, to the point of exhaustion, to get to the lake? Why does Paignton House have a bend in it, leaving the end units not directly facing the lake, but instead more towards the woods? Why is the place a sea of stairs, hallways and elevators making it feel very disjointed? Again, all questions for the architect but a simple review of even just Cleveland's House, and a few other tried and true resorts on the lake, would have given the hint that near the water is best. A longer, fully attached hotel, along the water front would have been perfect, but I digress. Things to consider for future projects. All in all, our most disappointing visit yet.
SA