Lakedale Resort — Hotel in San Juan Island

To be clear, I'm not reviewing the entire resort or even the entire campground, since we didn't stay long enough to evaluate them. This review is of one site, their policies and the behavior of one staff member. We made our reservation 3 1/2 months in advance, thinking we'd be given a site number in advance. We paid $48 plus tax per night for a "lakeside campsite." As reviewer Richard Thompson mentioned, they don't assign sites in advance ... or so they say. When we arrived, they told us we had site 212. We drove all the way to the end of the road and found a sign pointing down a narrow path to site 212. We drove down the path, which was barely wide enough for our Forester but so overgrown we could hear the foliage scratching the paint. At the end of the path was a tiny site, surrounded by high foliage except for where it abutted a marshy portion of the lake. This may have been one of the "hiker/biker" sites that they decided to call "lakeside" so they could get more money for it. We could already imagine the flocks of mosquitoes that would visit us all night. Also - as Thompson pointed out - the "restrooms" provided nearby were just port-a-potties, the real restrooms and showers being much more than a short walk away. We returned to the general store, told them the site was unacceptable and asked for a different one. The young women were polite and sympathetic but told us nothing else was available. We wondered how that was possible given that we had passed numerous empty sites, checked in before 2 pm and "no sites were assigned in advance." They said they'd call their supervisor, Kelly. Kelly arrived, asked what the problem was and started right off telling us he couldn't understand why we didn't like site 212, because they'd never had any complaints and he'd stayed there himself many times. He wouldn't acknowledge that it was small and claustrophobic, didn't respond to the fact that it was next to a marsh, and said the narrow path wasn't designed to be driven down and they didn't guarantee car access (actually, the website says these sites accommodate one vehicle). In the face of his dismissive and condescending attitude we became frustrated and incredulous, but we never raised our voices or used foul or abusive language. Nonetheless, he accused us of being hostile. I pointed out that characterizing customers' complaints and concerns as baseless and unwarranted is not part of good customer service and maybe HE was responsible for our anger. Kelly said he could get us another campsite, but "we wouldn't like it." Apparently it was in the group site area, but we didn't inquire further. He wouldn't respond to our question as to why none of the empty sites we had passed were unavailable when supposedly no sites were pre-assigned. By then we simply had no desire to stay there or deal further with Lakedale Resort. We told him we wanted a full refund and he agreed. We then spoke to the general manager, Karl Bruno. He was much more polished and polite than Kelly, but he didn't answer our question either, and insisted that they'd never had any complaints about site 212, which we simply don't believe. He asked what he could do for us and we told him we'd already decided not to stay there but wanted him to know about our dissatisfaction with the site and Kelly's arrogant response to us. It sounded like he was more interested in defending the resort than hearing about problems. As for us, we had spent the better part of a day getting there, including riding two ferries, and we found a nice hotel so the trip wouldn't be a...

Horrific! This place is a money pit. First off, we are backpackers so we backpacked into the "resort". We reserved our spot prior to going because the website made it look so luxurious and beautiful and we didn't want to miss the chance to stay here. We paid the $38.00 for the hiker/biker spot which is higher than we've ever paid before but it was right on three separate lakes and we wanted to fish. We get there and the sign says check-in at the lodge. We go inside the lodge and they send us to the general store because we were "campers." We get to the general store and it's literally the size of our master bathroom. Inside, while we are waiting to check-in this man is renting a fishing pole and buying a fishing permit. Here, we learned you have to use their poles and buy THEIR fishing permit. Apparently the lakes are privately owned which was a shock to us because we came prepared with our fishing licenses! Ok, so we get our camp spot which by the way we were UNABLE to chose the spot we wanted online. So she shows us the map and points to the hiker/biker spots. Guess where they are? On the other side of the 82 acre property. NOT to worry though because "car campers" you are RIGHT up front! Did I mention we just hiked the 5 miles from Friday Harbor? So the lady says, "It isn't as far as it looks." This put us at ease until we started walking and reading the map. There is one bathroom for the entire park. Guess where? By the car campers!! We get to our spot after walking 3/4 of a mile down a gravel road that overlooks three algae and mosquito covered lakes. There is NO place for our tent. Seriously, we have a two person tent and there isn't a flat spot to put it on. Not even one that would work to spare the walk back! So, we go to call to see if we can move to a spot to put our tent. No cell service. Cool. Next move you ask? We hiked back to the "General Store." On the way, a nice lady heard us ranting about what a joke this "resort" was. She piped up and said, "I just spent $160 on dinner for kids at the "General Store," if you come to sight 211 we can commiserate!" At the store we told the teenager at the register that we wanted sight 201 because it has a flat spot for our tent. She says, "No problem, you just owe an extra $15.00." UMM WHY, WE JUST PAID YOU $38 FOR A TINY HIKER/BIKER SPOT WITH NO PLACE TO PUT A TENT!" She says it was one of their bigger sights. OHH, our bad, we can see where the extra couple feet are? We then asked how much tokens were for the showers. "2.00 for ONE token that gets you 5 minutes." Seriously?! I will bathe in your man-made lakes before I pay $2.00 for your showers!!! Don't worry though folks, the state park tokens that you buy for .50 cents work just fine ;) Later, we were still miserable here so we hiked the 3/4 mile BACK to the store to purchase their $5.99 bottle of wine for $14.99 thinking it might make the place a little better. Nope! Oh, by the way, NOTHING in their store is priced so just assume it's 4 times the cost of an actual store and you'll be fine. The wi-fi is for "Lodge Guests Only," as is the entire lodge. Don't be snooping around if you aren't a "Lodge Guest" . Matter a fact, don't even look at it. Oh, there are 2 port-a-potties for you campers. Don't plan on having visitors at your campspot either because they will need to pay a daypass of $10. Then they are only aloud at the camper sites.

BUYER BEWARE, THIS...

I stayed here as part of a guided outdoors trip. I spent two nights in the tents and two nights in the main Lodge.

Tents Pros: tents were huge and super comfortable with comfortable beds, lots of blankets, fold out sofa, and table with four chairs inside. Each tent had its own fire pit and two plastic Adirondack chairs outside with some firewood. The tents had openings on all sides that could be zipped open with screens for ventilation. The entire front side of the tent had a screen and another solid flap for privacy. It seemed that the tents all over the resort were arranged for privacy. For example in my area there were four tents arranged in a circle with the front opening and fire pit on the outside. Tents on the lake had the opening on the lake. -nightly hot water bottle delivery was sweet breakfast was good. A continental breakfast was served in a big mess tent with picnic tables inside and outside the tent. I think this is shared with all the tents and people camping.

Cons: showers: I think this is the same for everyone. There is one building with toilets and showers. We were given tokens for which allowed 10 minutes of hot water in the shower each night of the stay per guest. Not a big deal unless you take super long showers. Bathrooms could have been cleaner wifi/cell service: the resort only offers wifi near the general store and it was a little slow. Verizon service for me was though to get.

Lodge: I lucked out and stayed in a two bedroom suite. It was large with shower/sink separate from room with sink/toilet to accommodate a few people using them.

Pros:. -very nice rooms with mini fridge, plenty of glassware, Keurig, gas fireplace, and a balcony with seating (although see con) breakfast was great with everything at the mess tent plus made to order omelets served by super cheerful staff. There is seating indoors and outside on a deck overlooking the lake. the back of the lodge overlooks the lake with a huge deck that runs the length of the lodge. There were several seating groups with couches, chairs, and umbrellas. There was only one big fireplace outside, so I think you'd have to go somewhere else if you wanted to hang around a fire all night. We hung out here each night. wifi everywhere!!!

Cons rooms on the back side of the resort have a much better view (on the lake) than front. Rooms facing the front of the lodge overlooked a lot of trees and are on the main driveway of the resort. My suite had a balcony, but it was directly above the front door of the resort without much of a view. I don't remember for sure but I think rooms on the ground floor on the back of the resort all open onto the big deck and have some seats, but it's just the main deck. It seemed rooms on the second floor on the back of the resort had decks with some separation between rooms for privacy.

I didn't spend much time at the resort during the day so I didn't rent anything or spend time in the lake. Good location and close to main harbor and...