Suncadia Resort — Hotel in Cle Elum

We booked our reservation months ago and specifically asked for early check-in because we needed to get prepared for an afternoon wedding in Ellensburg. A week before, we called and confirmed our early check-in since normal check-in is at 4 p.m. We arrived a little after 1 p.m. and were told they would text us when our room was ready. Around 2:30 p.m. we had to change and prepare for the wedding and still didn’t have a room. We ended up at the pool and fitness center where we used the hot and steamy locker rooms to change. Still no text about our room. We eventually had to leave for the wedding we were attending, which was an hour away. At about 4:30 p.m., we finally received a text that our room was ready—a half hour after their normal check-in and two and a half hours after when we needed the room to get ready. My wife, who is a Hyatt points member, made the reservation and we expected them to be a little more accommodating given the exorbitantly high rate we were charged and the glowing reviews I read. In fact, this room was the most we’ve ever paid for just one night, in any city of the 70+ countries where we’ve traveled, and this is in Cle Elum. Besides, if I didn’t have to be here, would I really want to spend my time at a crowded, overrated “resort” in some small town in Eastern WA? Not exactly on our bucket list of destinations.

When we left the wedding and finally arrived back to check-in, we were given very vague instructions to find our unit. Remember, we’ve never been here before. I drove around for quite a while in the dark before finding the correct building. As far as the room we got, the floor was filthy, as of it had not been cleaned for months, maybe even years. Our socks were nearly black after walking around the room for just one evening. There was all sorts of food on the ground from previous occupants, and even empty beer cans in the nightstand. It was gross. Made me wonder what the $150 cleaning fee we paid was actually used for. The room itself was like any standard timeshare room at a resort that would normally cost half as much. For the price, we didn’t even get breakfast. Even highway motels offer breakfast and cost much less. We did try to grab a late bite at the lounge in the lodge, but they stopped serving a hour earlier. Of course, it took nearly six minutes to find that out, since the bartender purposely ignored us as she waited on the white patrons—not even an acknowledgement to say she would get to us in a minute. We felt invisible.

Not impressed and just outright angry that our experience was such a lousy start to our weekend. Did I mention that the price was extremely high. That’s because it’s a form of segregation where white people believe they can create an insular community safe from POC by charging more than most people can afford, especially POC. News flash: many Asians can afford it, but Suncadia is overpriced and certainly not worth it—I wouldn’t recommend it and would give the rating a negative number if I could. In the meantime, I’ll await the canned response from the director of guest services. It’s obvious that they care so little about their guests that they don’t even write personal responses to address complaints. Like adding insult to injury. We will not...

Everything about Suncadia was wonderful — the amenities were top-notch, and it truly felt like a golf lover’s paradise. Unfortunately, we checked out a day early because we couldn’t get any sleep. Kids were running up and down the hallway late at night and screaming early in the morning. It’s a great place overall, but we wish the noise level was better managed for guests...

If you want a relaxing, renovated, functioning resort this is not it. Kids everywhere at all times. More families here than couples. Whole lodge was under construction. Every meal was at best edible - nothing remarkable at all. For the prices, I was completely disappointed in my first and probably only stay here. Three stars only for location, and fireplace...