Postcard Cabins St Francois, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy — Hotel in Bonne Terre

A Cozy Escape with Room for Improvement

Our recent stay at Postcard Cabins St. Francois offered a generally positive and much-needed break from the everyday. We were particularly impressed with the attentive staff. Text messages were answered promptly, and requests for restocked supplies and additional firewood were met with impressive speed. This level of service truly enhanced our experience.

The cabin itself was a marvel of thoughtful design. Despite its small footprint, it felt incredibly cozy and never cramped. It was also remarkably clean, with the exception of some minor mold at the base of the shower walls – a small detail that could easily be rectified. The kitchen was well-appointed with the basics, and we were delighted by the unexpected bonus items like snacks, bottled water, s'mores packs, and even oatmeal for breakfast.

The outdoor area provided a decent space for relaxation, though we did note that some neighboring cabins seemed to have much smaller outdoor footprints. While the cabins were situated close enough to create a sense of community, they weren't so close that we could easily see our neighbors, and for the most part, it was easy to imagine we had the woods to ourselves, despite occasionally hearing others.

However, there were a few areas where our experience fell short of expectations. Some of the listing photos showed induction burners, but we found our cabin had standard electric ones, which was a minor disappointment for cooking. A simple addition of an extra hook for a dishtowel in the kitchen would also be a welcome convenience, as our current spot by the door was already occupied by hats and other items. We also felt the cabins could be situated a bit farther from the roadway; passing cars not only contributed to noise but also kicked up dust from the gravel drive.

Sleep quality was a mixed bag. I found the pillows amazing and the bed decent, but my husband noted a noticeable dip on his side, which made for a less comfortable night's rest for him. The mini-split air conditioning was an absolute godsend in the upper 80-degree heat, though it struggled to keep the cabin below 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. While this was still remarkably cooler and less humid than outside, it made for a slightly warm sleep, especially as the bed did not include a top sheet, leaving us with the choice of the duvet or no covering at all.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience from a service standpoint. While it felt a bit pricey given some of the amenities, its proximity to St. Louis and the ability to pack minimally make it an excellent spot for a quick escape from the world. We may consider another visit in a few years, but it's unlikely to become our "go-to"...

Let me start by saying that I had high hopes for this experience and all in all it was alright. Three stars given have zero to do with the employees/groundskeepers at this outpost; their service and hospitality was 100%.

The things that rubbed us wrong were - the cabins are close, it was like being in an RV park, maybe a little more generous on space than that but you could hear your neighbors, see them and know the comings and goings around you.

Next - we brought our own coffee because pour-over coffee was in the provisions so naturally I thought there would be a pour-over available but no, it was individual pre filled satchels that fit over cups; so we were forced to purchase coffee if we wanted it. Coffee seems like such a trivial thing not to provide considering the already high cost of the 2 night stay.

Firewood - I knew we would have to purchase because I certainly wanted to cook over the fire and enjoy being outside; the bundles were small and we went through 8 of them before I decided to stop, and that was only having a fire for Sat morning (4hrs) and again Sat afternoon for 4hrs. Our provision bill amounted to $80 which felt like a cash grab, again - on top of the cost of stay. Having a half cord of wood for use at each cabin with the bundles being an extra charge after if necessary seems like an easy amenity.

And lastly, there was only one 1mile trail at this outpost which was a tremendous let down for us, we expected to do some exploring on site, not intended to leave at all. So no, we wont be back and will prefer to use our time and money towards a weekend better suited for us in the future. My dog had a great time and I so enjoyed seeing her...

I booked a cabin with Postcard Cabins over a month in advance for a surprise getaway with my husband. Less than 24 hours before check-in, I received a call informing me that my reservation was being canceled due to overbooking. The employee I spoke to admitted they had “gone through the list” and simply didn’t have a cabin for me. When I asked how they determined who to cancel, I was told it might’ve been as arbitrary as alphabetical order.||We were already 9 hours from home when we got the news. I immediately contacted Marriott, which now owns Postcard Cabins, assuming they would assist in finding alternative accommodations—they refused. I even asked if they could help rebook us at another Marriott property nearby, and again, both Marriott and Postcard offered no support.||To make matters worse, the General Manager of Postcard called the day we were supposed to check in and gave me a completely different reason for the cancellation—claiming it was due to the cabin lacking air conditioning. That explanation came a full 24 hours after the original cancellation and contradicts what their employee told me. Frankly, it felt like they were scrambling to cover their mistake.||With no help from Postcard or Marriott, I had to scramble and book through VRBO at the last minute, paying over $200 more than my original reservation.||The only thing Postcard offered me was an apology and a refund—hardly adequate given the stress, inconvenience, and additional cost their error caused.||This experience was unacceptable, and I will not be booking with Postcard Cabins—or...