Willows Lodge — Hotel in Woodinville

Stayed here with my husband and had one of the worst experiences ever staying at any hotel. We had 3 nights book over Thursday to Sunday. We were even happy to be able to bring our cat along. (I also need her as a therapy animal). Our first night was great, the room was amazing and the room service was good, the only complaint was the bed and pillows are not comfortable at all so we had very little sleep.

The main problems happen the next night (friday). I had spent some of the day at the spa and planned to go back to my room to get some sleep, but sadly that did not happen. Upon arriving at the room we heard a band setting up right below the our room. Which we weren't to happy about, then the band started playing... and it was so loud in our room we couldn't even think. I was so upset as the noise was making our cat extremely upset and distraught, also there was no way anybody could ever sleep with the noise. We couldn't even watch a movie if we wanted.

We were in no way informed that a live band would be practically broadcasted into our room. We planed to stay here for some peace and quiet not to listen to a rock concert. I rang the front desk and asked what was going on and when it would stop. Turns out they play for 3 to 5 hours depending on the preformer. So we asked how they could help us get away from the noise and that we were not informed and that we weren't happy about it. A lady said they had the same room available away from the noise, so we agreed to moved.

We had everything packed up and ready to go, then we received a call from another employee saying that they didn't have any of the same rooms available and that we couldn't moved at all, even tho we had all ready packed and were ready to move. So we ending up havin to stay in the same room.

But the noise was just too much so I rang back and asked again, they rang back and said they had another room available. We asked if it too would have noise in which they said yes it has noise from another band playing from another location near that room, and that the noise in that room would last even longer then the noise we were experiencing. We were just so flabbergasted that they would even ask if we wanted to move, to a different room that had the same noise that would last even longer.

We of course decline that room, they did offer the night free to us so we decided to just put up with it for the night. Ten minutes past still very loud music playing, our cat still upset. I looked on their website and finally found a page that had the performers calendar on it and found out that there would be music the Next night also, and that it would last much longer. They did not inform us on this ether so we would of had the same problem the next night...

Knowing that this was not what we signed up for, we decided to just leave at that moment. A weekend getaway turned into a nightmare, we were so lucky that our cat didn't go into shock, tho she looked pretty close to it. Yes we were grateful that they even allowed cats in the first place, but now we really have no idea why the place is a hotel when you can't even relax in your room 4 out of the 7 nights a week. The music from the bands can be heard all thoughout the complex. this place should not be called a lodge or even have a spa for that matter, as it is very hard to relax of a evening with all the noise that should be far away from any hotel rooms. I think having the rooms redone with sound proof windows at least or informing any quests about the loudness, before they make a booking would be a big improvement. Even Disney has sound proof rooms and they are cheeper. Still pretty upset, disappointed and distraught about the whole ordeal. It is extremely expensive for even one night to stay here in the best suite... and for this to happen is just not right at all and not worth the price. Don't expect quiet if you stay here any days between Thursday and Sunday. They did refund us one night stay but we left that night anyway, they should of refunded us the previous night considering we left and...

I’ll start from the top. We had everything booked and ready to go. Upon arrival they tell us that we owe them 700 ldollars per day for “incidentals” and which, no where in any of our bookings did we read about this. So from the very beginning we felt like we were being taken for a ride. To their one credit, They let us check in an hour early. Everything after that was pretty nightmarish. For starters, our room was next to the gym and under some main hub of plumbing pipes. So there are periodically loud crashes from people dropping weights next door and even more periodically, the sound of toilets flushing and waste running through our ceiling. I suppose I should mention that this was supposed to be my wife and I’s mini-honeymoon. Just married this past week. First night there, we ordered room service. My burger was gristly. Got through about half of it before giving up. Her mushroom gnocchi tasted fine to her but woke her up at about 5am with terrible stomach pains. I woke up the first morning with what I initially thought were mosquito bites from one that had snuck in. The more time went by, the bites got more red and more inflamed, which made me nervous about possible bed bugs. A few hours later, we completely lose power. Sitting in a dark room with just a fire place. We both go down and mention that this is supposed to be a special time for us and it literally has been so unusually stressful for a vacation. To “smooth things over” they offer bringing a bottle of champagne to our room. The lady comes in, and while we have no power jokes about “how we should’ve brought candles”. Which seemed back handed. They gave us a 12 dollar bottle of champagne. We started to feel like suckers for having chosen this place. All they care about is making sure they get as much money out of you as humanly possible. After getting another couple of bites while lying in bed, I decided to call them and have them inspect our bed for bedbugs. They come in and haphazardly tear our bed apart shining a flashlight in a few places.. all the while insuring us that they have a very rigorous cleaning procedure between guests.. they take all of our sheets and bedding and have room service come in and replace it. I do my own search after they leave and run my finger on the wood beam behind the head of our bed and my finger comes back with what looks like months of dust gathering (see photos for dust and bug bites). I was never satisfied with their search for bedbugs. There’s a huge wooden headboard that’s not removable, which leaves plenty of places for bedbugs to reside while sheets get changed. It was too late to cancel our second day as it was about 3 or 4 pm when we asked them to inspect for bedbugs. At this point, we just wanted to go home. We stayed another night because they already had our money for it. I got one more mysterious bite in bed and was unable to sleep for the entire night. Cut to about 10pm. The building’s fire alarm begins to go off. No one comes to tell us if it’s a real fire or a drill or anything. We go to the front and the guy who works in the kitchen is standing at the door. My wife asks if we we are in danger and should we go out front? The guy literally says “there are some people out there already, you can stay inside or join them if you like” It was like they didn’t even know if it was a drill or a real fire. Honestly, that was hands down the worst lodging experience that both my partner and I have ever had. We feel foolish for having chosen The Willows Lodge to celebrate our new marriage. $2690 has never been spent so poorly. Still awaiting the “incidental deposits” to be refunded. $750 of which they charged us upon check out. Maybe this place was a notable vacation destination 20 years ago. From our experience it is run with neglect and a near palpable disdain for its...

Hello Mr Berkau, General Manager:We checked in on Wed 27 Apr to attend a private event at Sparkman Cellars that eve. We have often talked about staying at The Willows but never had the opportunity until this week. We have utilized the spa in the past, but not lodging. Check-in and the room condition were to standard, but you need to know about a recurring, fatal flaw regarding the front-of-the-house lobby team. There were multiple times where we departed through the lobby and returned via the lobby and there were multiple times where the doorman and others were huddled at the front desk, clearly chatting it up and hanging around and talking as a group. There were multiple times where the presence of guests entering the lobby (us) had no effect on the group gathering, leaving us to open doors when leaving the lobby and upon our return. This is egregious knowing that The Willows is portrayed as boutique and upscale. There were times when the elevator door made it's audible "ding" when arriving at the lobby....the huddled team that was clearly socializing never broke up and came to assist us as we walked to the main lobby doors. One would think that the doorman would have "learned" that if they were not at the main lobby doors and they were standing at the reception desk chatting it up that they would hear the elevator and quickly go to the main doors to be present with a cordial greeting and provide assistance. As we checked out of the room and took the elevator to the lobby, the door opened and we wheeled our luggage out....to find "the team" huddled at the front desk....including the doorman that stood there and watched us wheeling luggage to the main lobby doors as I verbally announced to all of them that we were checking out....AND NO ONE BROKE FROM THEIR GROUP TO ASSIST WITH THE DOOR, OFFER TRAVEL DIRECTIONS, ASK IF WE NEEDED A BOTTLE OF WATER FOR OUR TRAVEL,....NOTHING. The pattern of the team chatting and huddling at the reception desk that creates every first impression of your hotel has ruined your reputation for us. Another major lack of service occurred when we checked in at 230 pm, settled things in our room and noted that the lobby lounge opened at 3 pm for drinks, appetizers, etc. We left our room at 3 pm and went to the lobby lounge....no one from your team was present. We walked out to the patio seating outside and sat down, believing that a server would greet us....WE WAITED AND NO ONE ARRIVED AND AFTER SITTING THERE FOR 15 MINUTES....WE RETURNED TO THE LOBBY....your reception "team" could clearly see that we had sat outside, that no one had appeared to assist us, and as we walked towards the main lobby doors to leave and go find drinks and apps somewhere off property, no one from the lobby team connected the dots that we were never served and that we were now leaving....egregious. You are clearly surviving on your former reputation as a boutique enclave in the heart of world-class vintners....you have failed. Forget the $500 per night, I would not expect or tolerate this level of guest neglect at ANY hotel. Our expectation is formed by our previous careers in luxury hotels. Your ability to at least meet and hopefully exceed such expectations is a reality and expected due to your price point...