Escape to Fox Ridge: Your NH Dream Vacation Awaits!
Oh Boy, Let’s Dive Into This Review… It's Gonna Be a Long Flight! (And Hopefully, Not a Turbulent One)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to embark on a ridiculously detailed review. I've got my coffee (essential!), and my laptop is prepped for some serious clicking. Prepare for honesty, some rambles, and maybe a few tears (from laughter, hopefully!). This ain't your average, sterile travel blog… this is me spilling all the (digital) beans.
SEO & Metadata – The Necessary Evil (Don't Judge Me!)
Before the fun stuff, gotta hit that SEO nonsense. Because apparently, algorithms control the world.
- Keywords: Hotel Review, Accessibility, Luxury Hotel, Spa, Pool, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Cleanliness, Safety, COVID-19 Protocols, [Hotel Name – I'm making that up on the spot, let's call it "The Serenity Suite"], Wheelchair Accessible, Family-Friendly, In-Room Wi-Fi, Free Breakfast.
- Metadata Description: Unfiltered review of The Serenity Suite Hotel! Dive into detailed insights on accessibility, dining, spa experiences, cleanliness, and their COVID-19 response. Find out if the reality lives up to the hype. Honest opinions, quirks, and all!
Right, now we can start.
Accessibility – The Good, The Bad, and the “Almost Got It, But…”
Okay, so let's talk accessibility, because I'm a sucker for hotels that actually think about everyone.
- Wheelchair Accessible: This is where things started promisingly. The website boasted about fully accessible rooms. Fantastic! But, and this is a big but, the ramp leading to the main entrance looked like it was designed by someone who'd never seen a wheelchair. Steep, narrow… I swear I saw a sign that said “Caution: Wheelchair Olympics Ahead.” (Okay, maybe I imagined that last bit, but still!)
- On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: I did manage to squeeze through, and restaurants did seemed accessible, but the tables were a bit too close to each other. Not a HUGE deal, but added to the experience a bit.
- Facilities for disabled guests: They did have elevators, which was a BIG win. But here's the kicker: getting to the elevator involved navigating a maze of potted plants. Cute, sure. Accessible? Not so much. I spent a solid five minutes trying to maneuver my suitcase around a particularly large fern. It was like a bizarre obstacle course. I am sure the staff did a fantastic job with guests.
Internet Access – Wi-Fi Nirvana (Mostly)
My lifeblood. Gotta have that internet.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! AND! Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services! Hallelujah! The Wi-Fi was actually decent. I could stream without buffering… a near miracle! The LAN connection was a nice touch for those (like me) who still cling to the old ways.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Worked pretty well. No complaints. Though I did spot one guy trying to Facetime his cat from the lobby. Maybe the hotel should offer a "cat-cam" service. Just spitballing!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Spoiled for Choice (Maybe Overwhelmed?)
This is where The Serenity Suite really aimed to impress.
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: The spa was gorgeous. The staff was super friendly. I dove right into a sauna. I swear, I could practically feel my stress melting away. Pure bliss! Oh, and the steamroom? Divine!
- Fitness Center: Actually quite well-equipped. Treadmills, free weights, the whole shebang. I attempted a workout. Attempted being the operative word. I'm more of a "walk to the buffet" kind of exerciser.
- Massage, Body Wrap, Body Scrub, Foot Bath: Yes, yes, and YES! I indulged. The massage was phenomenal. The scrub? Left my skin feeling like a baby's bottom (a clean baby's bottom, mind you!). Honestly, the foot bath was probably the highlight. I may or may not have almost fallen asleep in it.
- Pool with a View, Swimming Pool, Swimming Pool [outdoor]: Beautiful views. The pool was the perfect temperature. The poolside bar? Well, let's just say I spent a significant amount of time there. This is definitely what made it feel more like heaven than hell.
Cleanliness and Safety – COVID-19 Era Woes (And Wins!)
The Serenity Suite has clearly put a lot of effort into their COVID-19 protocols.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! Everywhere! Which, honestly, was a relief.
- Rooms sanitized between stays, Room sanitization opt-out available: Good options.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried! It was a bit tricky in the buffet (more on that later).
- Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Individually-wrapped food options: Very impressed!
- Staff trained in safety protocol, Hygiene certification: Staff all wore masks, and the hotel was covered in those nifty little "cleaning in progress" signs.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Always a good thing to have.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Foodie Factor (With Caveats!)
This is where things got… interesting.
- Breakfast [buffet], Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Buffet in restaurant: Okay, the buffet was… a bit chaotic. While they tried with physical distancing, it was like a free-for-all. People reaching, bumping, sneezing… I'm a naturally anxious person, so this was a touch stressful. The food itself? Pretty good. Solid options, though nothing mind-blowing.
- A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant: The a la carte meals were far better, and the Asian/International cuisine was a standout. Their vegetarian options were… extensive. And the desserts? Forget about it! My waistband is still recovering.
- Poolside bar, Bar, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Happy hour: All excellent. The poolside bar was my happy place. The coffee was strong. The cocktails were… strong. (I may or may not have forgotten my phone number at one point).
- Room service [24-hour], Bottle of water: Always appreciated!
- Snack bar: Fine, not a problem, but the selection was limited.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
- Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Food delivery: The staff were generally fantastic. The concierge was super helpful, the housekeeping was efficient, and the doorman always offered a smile (even if he definitely got confused by my luggage-fern escapade).
- Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Facilities for disabled guests, Gift/souvenir shop, Laundry service, Luggage storage: All great. The currency exchange was a lifesaver.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, Air conditioning in public area, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Smoking area, Terrace: All were available.
For the Kids – Family Fun?
- Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Family/child friendly: I don't have kids, so I didn't personally experience this, but I saw a few families around, and the kids seemed happy. There was a dedicated kids' pool, which looked amazing
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Good thing.
Available in All Rooms - The Necessities (and the Luxuries!)
- Air conditioning: Thank goodness!
- Free bottled water: Thumbs up!
- In-room safe box: Always a good idea.
- Mini bar: Tempting!
- Wi-Fi [free], Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN: Nailed it!
- Desk, Laptop workspace: Perfect
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Yes!
- Alarm clock, Wake-up service: Always!
- Non-smoking, Soundproof rooms: YES!
- Hair dryer, Slippers, Bathrobes, Toiletries, Bathrobe, Towels: All good options!
The “Everything Else” Category
- Exterior corridor: Nope.
- Floor: Yes.
- Hotel chain: No clue.
- Proposal spot: I think.
- Safety/security feature: Good.
- Smoke alarms: Always.
- Soundproof rooms: Yay!
- Getting around: It's fine.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property: Safe.
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Front desk [24-hour]: Check-in was
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your sanitized, Pinterest-perfect itinerary. This is real Fox Ridge Resort – North Conway, NH, a place I've probably spent more time thinking about than is strictly healthy. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and a whole lotta sugar-dusted donuts.
FOX RIDGE RUMBLE: A North Conway Adventure (or Maybe Just a Mild Panic)
Day 1: Arrival & the Quest for the Perfect Poolside Chair
2:00 PM: Arrive at Fox Ridge. The gods of travel smiled because, FINALLY, the GPS actually worked. (Small victories, people, small victories.) Now, the real battle begins: The Hunt for the Prime Pool Chair. It's a high-stakes game, a Darwinian struggle for sun-drenched real estate by the kiddie pool. My strategy? Pretend to be looking for something in my bag while subtly eyeing the "perfect" chair (sun for the entire day in sight, good shade, proximity to the bar, etc.). This year? Fail: grabbed the wrong towel… and now every chair is taken (I hate this).
2:30 PM: Check-in. The lobby is, predictably, awash in the low-volume sounds of a thousand conversations and the faint smell of chlorine. Ah, the comforting symphony of family vacation. (Good sign: the staff seems functional. Bad sign: I’m already sweating.)
3:00 PM: Room reveal! Pray it’s not too close to the elevator. Last time, I thought a herd of elephants was tap-dancing in my room. Now, I got a room - but a room with a view as well! Maybe the Gods are with me… still, gotta unpack. (Unpacking is a ritual I loathe. It's the official start of "living" in the room, which means clutter will soon take over).
4:00 PM: Poolside (Finally!). Managed to snag a semi-decent spot. First up: the obligatory dip in the pool to test the waters. Followed by a mojito (or two, or three… who’s counting?). The first sip is pure bliss. The second, the world seems beautiful. By the third, I'm pretty sure I can float to… well, anywhere.
5:00 PM: I'm in the pool, observing the chaos of families. Kids are screaming, dads are grilling, moms are reading… it's a beautifully, gloriously predictable mess. I start to feel a weird sense of kinship with these people. We’re all in this together, surviving this trip.
6:00 PM: Dinner: At the resort restaurant. Food is… passable. (Let's be honest, you're here for the mountains, the pool, and the escape, not the Michelin stars) It's always a struggle to decide what to order, but eventually, I give in and eat the pasta.
8:00 PM: Evening dip in the pool. The water is colder now, the sky a dusky lavender. The silence is the best part. All alone.
9:00 PM: The grand finale: The real reason for this trip: A deep dive into the jacuzzi.* I could get lost in here. The jets turn my muscles to jelly, and the stars peek out above. Complete, utter, and blissful relaxation.
Day 2: Mountain Mayhem & the Search for Lost Socks
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. The buffet at Fox Ridge is a delicate dance. Avoid the dried-out scrambled eggs. Load up on the crispy bacon. Coffee, coffee, coffee.
- 9:00 AM: Time to hike! I picked a trail that seemed "moderate." (Which translates to: "Might die, possibly get eaten by a bear, definitely trip at least five times.") I'm not an expert hiker, but the views are undeniably worth the effort.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Packed a sandwich, an apple, and a granola bar (because I’m a health nut, of course). Found a rock with a fantastic view (worth the effort, and I didn't die).
- 2:00 PM: Back to the resort! Take a nap. Seriously.
- 3:30 PM: The Great Sock Fiasco: I've lost socks. (The number one travel enemy of all time.) This is not a metaphor. These are actual socks. I search under beds, behind furniture, where they can possibly be. (I will not give up).
- 4:00 PM: Swim in the pool. Just because.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. This time, I’ll try to be adventurous. (I order the chicken, which is a mistake.)
- 8:00 PM: Evening entertainment. There is an event in the evening (Maybe bingo?) which might be interesting (Maybe!?) I will take a nap instead.
Day 3: Departure (And the lingering scent of chlorine)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. The bacon is calling my name. The end has arrived, but I am happy.
- 9:00 AM: Checkout – the process will take longer than expected
- 10:00 AM: One last dip in the pool? OK, maybe.
- 11:00 AM: Drive home. I don't want to leave.
- 12:00 PM: On the road, the memories are made.
Fox Ridge Reflections:
- Quirks: The decor is a delightful blend of "slightly out-of-date" and "charmingly retro." It’s like stepping into a time capsule – a time capsule that smells vaguely of pool chemicals.
- People Watching: The best part. From the stressed-out parents to the kids with sugar-crazed energy, it’s a wild, wonderful, and often hilarious show.
- Emotional Takeaway: This trip isn’t perfect. But it is mine. And in the end, isn't that what really matters? (Also, I'm still looking for those socks…) I will miss the pool.
So that's it. My Fox Ridge Resort adventure, warts and all. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Now, excuse me while I go find my lost socks… and maybe plan my next trip. Because despite the imperfections, the chaos, and the inevitable sunburn, there's something deeply comforting and undeniably fun about a few days in North Conway. See ya there!
Santa Maria Getaway: Fairfield Inn & Suites Luxurious Stay!
So, what *is* this whole "Life" thing, anyway? Seriously, I’m asking.
How do you cope with, you know, *everything*?
What's the *worst* part? (Be honest!)
What's the *best* part? (Gush a little!)
What about work/career? It's such a *thing*…
Romance/Relationships. Is that *actually* worth it?
Okay, so, what about… money? Let’s be real, it’s a *thing*.
WhatHotel Search Today
Post a Comment for "Escape to Fox Ridge: Your NH Dream Vacation Awaits!"