Shenandoah Romantic Vacations

The room needs to be updated, furniture was banged up and the light shades had stains. Hotel staff wasn’t the friendliest. There was an event going on Saturday night, the music was so loud it was shaking the glass (we were on the 4th floor) in our room and even the bed. Thankfully it ended around 11:30pm. Breakfast was good although not free for our stay.

Everything about the Swanendele Inn was exceptional: the location, the accommodations, the facilities, the decor, the hosts, and, not least, the breakfast. In fact, you could spend several days just exploring the remarkable antiques and artifacts around the place. However, what made the strongest impression was the fiery glow of dawn though the pine trees outside our balcony every morning in the Margeret Brent suite. Rhododaktylos, "The rosy-fingered dawn": I never understood the true meaning of that phrase until I saw that.

Did not eat at the hotel.

First room we had to leave because of no hot water. Got a second on and was good. After that the gym was closed.

This is a beautiful, well-maintained hotel with a refined atmosphere and excellent attention to detail. The rooms and common areas are spotless, the views are lovely, and the pool, hot tub, and sauna are standout amenities. The location is ideal, close to the train and very easy to navigate via Uber, making travel seamless and convenient. I rated this stay four stars for two reasons. The onsite restaurant offers a very limited menu at prices that feel disproportionate to the quality. While that alone would not have impacted my rating, my interaction with the afternoon receptionist on 1/13/26 ultimately did. After a full day of travel, the receptionist was noticeably curt upon our arrival. His demeanor shifted once we changed from travel clothes into business attire. While this did not personally affect my stay, it raised concerns about how guests who may not present a certain way (or who have fewer resources) might be treated. A property of this caliber should offer consistent professionalism and respect to all guests. You never know who you are serving, and it was clear he recognized his mistake within a few hours and his attitude shifted. Overall, an elegant hotel with excellent amenities, views, and location with lots of potential. With more consistent front-desk service, it would easily meet a five-star standard and be comparable to my experiences in five-star hotels nationwide. Side note: Tazza Cafe is one block over, and is a lovely place for breakfast or lunch.

The room needs to be updated, furniture was banged up and the light shades had stains. Hotel staff wasn’t the friendliest. There was an event going on Saturday night, the music was so loud it was shaking the glass (we were on the 4th floor) in our room and even the bed. Thankfully it ended around 11:30pm. Breakfast was good although not free for our stay.

Everything about the Swanendele Inn was exceptional: the location, the accommodations, the facilities, the decor, the hosts, and, not least, the breakfast. In fact, you could spend several days just exploring the remarkable antiques and artifacts around the place. However, what made the strongest impression was the fiery glow of dawn though the pine trees outside our balcony every morning in the Margeret Brent suite. Rhododaktylos, "The rosy-fingered dawn": I never understood the true meaning of that phrase until I saw that.

Did not eat at the hotel.

The room needs to be updated, furniture was banged up and the light shades had stains. Hotel staff wasn’t the friendliest. There was an event going on Saturday night, the music was so loud it was shaking the glass (we were on the 4th floor) in our room and even the bed. Thankfully it ended around 11:30pm. Breakfast was good although not free for our stay.

Did not eat at the hotel.

First room we had to leave because of no hot water. Got a second on and was good. After that the gym was closed.