The Umstead Hotel and Spa

Granted I check out tomorrow :-( but this is the epitome of what a hotel stay should be. Cleanliness and Customer Service was spectacular! The hotel grounds are are just beautiful. I am not sure how they did but Umstead got it right! Their staff ...everyone on their staff - from the young lady who asked me if I wanted anything while I was just looking out the window to the receptionist, valet, pool assistant/lady..everyone had such a lovely attitude. The rooms were so clean. I am just super happy with this place. The store clerk at the hotel boutique was just so sweet and helpful. I can't say enough! This is what I expect from all hotels but unfortunately rarely received. It was exceptional. If I can I will be back :-)

I had a amazing deep tissue massage with Kyle, I highly recommend him! The spa still limits guests to 1 hour for use of amenities after your service, which is a bit frustrating. In addition, locals are limited to booking spa appointments as they are held for hotel guests only. Hopefully in the future they will consider changing this policy as it is very hard to get an appointment. Overall the facility is super clean and spa service was outstanding as always!

My daughter Shelley & Son In Law Reagan gifted me a day at this amazing spa. It was absolutely incredible. Derek gave me my full body massage was so talented & kind🗝 everybody that I came in contact with from the front door all the way to me exiting or of the highest vibration. If you truly want an experience that is relaxing along with vibrationally invigorating this is definitely your place🗝

I had an interesting experience during my stay at the Umstead. I went for a work trip celebration- I think we had a total of 10 rooms booked. They did allow me to check-in early which was great.

I was staying by myself and had a great corner room overlooking the pool with a large balcony. I was getting settled in and had just taken a shower and an employee walked into my room without knocking. I am not sure what the policy is, but being such a prestigious hotel, and employee should first check to see if anyone has booked the room and if they couldn’t do that, then at least knock first before entering without warning

Of course I was startled and screamed because I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in my room.

I called down to the front desk just to let them know what happened and to advise their staff to knock before entering a room.

Besides that strange experience, the spa service was good, as was room service for breakfast and later that night.

I am not sure if I would go out of my way to stay there again, but overall it is a nice hotel.

For the hotel itself? Five star experience, no question about it. From the valet, to the folks checking you in- you'll never find a more pleasant staff than you do here. Almost everything I asked for was met with "of course". The only negative that I experienced was saying on multiple occasions when asked if I was celebrating anything special was that I wanted to make this stay truly special and celebratory because I was FINALLY doing something for myself after 13 years and 5 children, but I think being a mom and finally getting the chance to do something for myself is not necessarily a celebratory event. I'm a bit sad that my very serious request to make this stay as special as possible was ignored, especially knowing the lengths the hotel has gone through for friends on just regular stays.
The Heron- I'm completely upset and almost scared to go back here. I had a 1030am reservation for brunch, my server approached me about 3 times in the 2 hours I was here. Upon approaching the manager about feeling disregarded, she argued with me that she was sure that was not his intent (impact vs. Intent should definitely be discussed). This was neither helpful nor a solution to the issue. The worst part of it was the staff talking about me smoking as a direct insult to me bringing up the lack of service. 1. I asked to sit outside to be able to smoke, 2. There is no signage or anything I could see that lets you know what part of the patio is ok to smoke on, and 3. I immediately moved as soon as I was made aware. The only "good" interaction was the front desk employee, I believe Rachel was her name, who was the only one to ask how my service and meal was, who complemented my head wrap, and told me how wonderful my perfume was. It's almost painful to write this review, as a black woman if I point out flawed service I'm "angry". As a black person, I'm just looking for something for "free". Upon hearing my complaint the manager offered to "send something up to my room", and after paying my bill, STILL tipping my server 20%, and the total amount of money I've spent there since the beginning of my stay it felt like a gross insult. Will a $15 dessert sent up to my room change my dining experience? Will it change how hostile it feels knowing how I was referred to? Will it change arguing with me about intent? No.