Very expensive! Deerhurst is beautiful, but dated. For the price of accommodations they really should do a few renovations around the resort. The rooms are very big, clean, and decorated in a rustic theme.The food is amazing! We ate in the Compass restaurant and would totally recommend it! Deerhurst has a nice pool and gym, which will most likely be packed on the weekends. There is a toddler play area too which we loved. A short walk from the resort they have a petting zoo as well. A lot to do for families in any season . We will definitely be back to use the pool and toddler indoor playground.
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Love this place winter or summer time. So much so I always recommend it for weekend getaways and group retreats. There is so much to enjoy, golf in the summer, skating trail in the winter. The wife and I love the summit lodge suites and the condos and we're with friends. Book your stay here, you wont be disappointed. For group bookings call and ask for Steve Sadonoja great guy and really helpful and attentive.
The only good thing about this place is that the facilities are nice.
At check in we were given the wrong room number and we were sent to a room that was occupied by another family, who thankfully, were not in the room at the time we walked in.
I have never stayed in a hotel which advertises something completely different on their website than what is provided. On their website it clearly states that there is a skating trail, however, upon arrival we learned that it didn t exist. The skate rentals were being provided for a local arena in town. They have a lighted path where people can walk with the provided snow shoes but so many people have walked on it that it s just a trail and the snow shoes are unnecessary.
We paid for the extra amenities that are included (i.e. snow shoes, cross country skies, skating, etc...) but they ended up being useless... and there is no refund for this...
Besides this the food is way overpriced, bland and the customer service is terrible.
when we checked out my wife and i found a charge on our bill which had already been processed for $34.95 plus hst for what the hotel calls a resort fee. when we made the reservation we were not told about this fee and were quoted a rate plus hst which did not include this amount. we questioned this at checkout and a supervisor was sent to speak with us and told us absolutely the charge would not be removed. she didnt care about this at all.
in addition the room had been poorly cleaned, we stayed in a Summit suite which we were told had recently been renovated. the workmanship was very poor and the heating didnt work too well. the sitting area would not warm up and the bedroom overheated. the thermostat was set at 16 Celsius when we arrived while the outside temperature was -18. this didnt make sense to us.
anyway the real problem is this resort fee they arbitrarily charged us which isnt about the amount but rather how they handled it. We also think the food is overpriced for what you get. An underwhelming stay to say the least.
Deerhurst is an interesting resort located in Huntsville, Ontario, that is approximately 200 km north of Toronto in Ontario's Muskoka region. It also borders the much famous Algonquin Provincial Park.
Deerhurst has history attached to it and therefore some parts of the resort still appear as if they date back to 1896 when it was first opened by English entrepreneur Charles Waterhouse.
The resort is also home to two 18 hole golf courses - the Highlands and the Lakeside.
Suites that overlook the Peninsula Lake are spectacular. If booked early (prior to peak season), it might not be very expensive. We have stayed in the main building in the past and didn't not quite like the rooms. New development is surely a safe best for young families.
PROS: The ala carte breakfast at the Eclipse Dining Room is strongly recommended. The egg station is a must indulgence. Compass bar offers a warm set up. However, the Antler steakhouse is pretty ordinary may not satisfy the refined carnivore palette. Then there is the Maple Pub serving typical pub classics.
The art display just outside the Eclipse dinin room is interesting surely demands a glance to respect the local artists.
The check-in is quick and your might very well be greeted with a warm and friendly smile.
Rooms are usually tidy and toiletries of good quality.
The main building though renovated, is still old occasional smelly carpets and clogged washrooms.
The indoor pool is great and they have a small arcade and playroom for kids.
One can also book indoor rock climbing (paid) or spend time at the kids tree house (free)
CONS:
Winter activities on site ski hills (2 min walk); ice fishing, sled rides...
INCLUDED: Rooms include flat-screen TV with cable channels and DVD player, as well as a CD player are available. Certain units have a sitting area for your convenience. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. The 3 bedroom suite is luxuriously big. Photos attached explain.
Placed in building 5 which overlooks the golf course and the road that leads in and out of the resort. Very relaxing. Has a dinette. Large spacious rooms. Lots of activities through the resort. I organized an atv trip with one of their partners. Few issues. No bathroom amenities for a place that touts itself a resort. They give a squeeze bottle for shampoo /body wash combo and another for conditioner,rather than the industry standard of individual bottles. No lotion is provided, luckily I brought my own. Everything is dated. The Muskoka chair that I'm sitting on while writing this review has chipped stain, as is the deck on which it sits. When trying to call the adventure desk to book activities, I called about 10x, for them to pick up once. They hadn't set up their voicemail service. I am hard pressed to call this a resort, let alone a hotel.
Unbelievable resort. The lake is beautiful. The amenities are spectacular. And if you're looking for a nice hike ask them about the gazebo lookout. You will see the entire property. All the scenery around the property are picturesque!
Very nice resort! From the outside a bit older it still offers a lot of comfort and amenities. We had a 1 bedroom suite in the Summit Lodge. The interior was new with plenty of space plus a furnished terrace. The location on the lake absolutely gorgeous. Good selection of indoor and outdoor activities. We felt very comfortable.
I don't usually leave reviews early in my experience, but in this case I am making an exception. We arrived later in the day and checked in. This place is in a fantastic location. The scenery is beautiful, with nice beaches and warm water. Unfortunately as far as my experience went this was the highlight of the trip (mostly). We stayed in the Bayshore complex.
Rooms- The room we had was very nice, two queen beds, pretty comfortable. AC worked well, but it was quite loud. The biggest complaint I have is the shoe box sized refrigerator. You can barely fit a few bottles of water in it. If you are anything but a camel bring a large cooler with ice for drinks.
Food - This place has a ridiculously large range of food quality. The morning breakfast buffet was great (you pay for it like everything else but at least it was good). The rest of the resort is sub par to mediocre. Expensive to boot. Surprisingly the most reasonable priced thing was a pint of beer (craft) at 5.75. Also the second night we were here we tried to book reservations at the eclipse restaurant but we were informed it was booked to a private function. I can't possibly imagine any other resort that I have been to that simple closes off features of the resort at random. I mean you pay for access to these areas, I didn't get a refund for being denied access to the one of the on resort restaurant. If you are booking I would inquire about and conferences being booked at the time you are there.
Service- this is where this place seemingly really falls down. Now I was here mid week, but basically all of the activities are run by local teenagers. During my short stay I was greeted with eye rolls, huffs, ignorance of resort offerings and policies, blank stares, long periods of bring ignored while they fired off a final text, a few friendly smiles, and on one occasion sarcasm. (Although that was from the middle aged women at the gift shop not the teenagers).
Overall - This is a nice place and I hope my experience is the outlier, but it seems that every time I turn around there is one more thing I have to work at to enjoy, pay inflated prices for or just have to settle for something I can't change. I think if we come back I can be much better prepared to have an enjoyable stay, but the question is, why should I?
Rooms we were given was old, bathrooms were showing it's age and possibly moldy as well. Dinner first night at Compass Restaurant was okay but the worst service ever, slow as molasses or worse. Breakfast buffet the next morning was well laid out but the food was cold. Dinner on Saturday was at the special event , food was okay, went to the compass bar after with the family were refused service for being drunk, meanwhile half the people in the party hadn't had a drink all evening. Manager tried to make amends but their stories kept changing every time a person came to speak to us. Really felt like we didn't belong at the resort after the interaction at the bar on Saturday night, felt like an outsider even after spending thousands of dollars on accommodation and food in our two day stay. Felt like we were being judged due to the colour of our skin.
I have mixed feelings on the customer service here. I've been here a few times. The food is excellent. The activities are unorganized. They ruined a surprise to my wife by emailing us when I viewed their website. Be very careful.... They track you when you visit their website.
When the resort is busy, you might as well forget about the Free Wi-Fi. Stayed here many times before but considering that it is 2018 and they still have poor Wi-Fi connection speeds during peak seasons, it goes to show how innovative and (not) forward thinking this resort really is.
they did not feel they were obligated to tell us that they had covid outbreak last week because the one staff member that got tested was negative, reckless and irresponsible
We had a faulty coffee machine which was changed only after we came down to leave the hotel, after waiting about an hour for someone to bring another one. Our charger was stolen from the nightstand. And I had requested housekeeping for later in the day since we were still in the room when they arrived in the morning, but no one came even though I had a conversation with the receptionist and she told me someone would be there before 4 pm.
Worst of all, I have yet to receive a response to the email I sent about our experience to Guest Services 2 weeks ago. It s as if nobody cared then, and nobody cares now.
Would not be returning for their sheer lack of interest in their guests comfort or complaints. If we were treated with more concern, we would have ignored the dated decor and stayed again on our next trip to the area this summer. Now we d rather book the Marriott, or even a nice inn compared to this overpriced resort . The old rooms that haven t been updated in decades are not worth the amount they re charging, and add in the sheer lack of concern for their guests and you definitely don t have an upscale on your hands here.
We had a wonderful time. The front desk staff is really friendly and were able to accommodate a room change based on the activities we were hoping to partake in. The room was also very clean and well maintained. I will definitely be returning.
We booked a one night stay and I honestly we wished we stayed longer! The resort provides all the winter essentials so you can enjoy your stay and all the activities they offer!
Nice place, but if you're not golfing it seems like the activities are a bit limited. Food was good, though not great ... Very hard to get a good cup of coffee I thought. I stayed in one of the Summit suites and it was nice.
Clean and nice staff. Beds were super comfy. Didn't eat in the resort, went out to town. Pool was ok, kids weren't overly impressed with it, and the arcade was fully booked. Walking trails were lovely and I loved that it was pet friendly. Stoneleigh petting farm right by the resort was awesome.
A very nice hotel with a good pool and meeting rooms. Somewhat resembles the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, but without the waterslides and kids activities. A bit boring for the kids.
If you're ever lucky enough to stay up here, just do it. Beautiful timeshare units, lots to do inside and out, the dining is terrific and the golf..... the golf is truely Muskoka golf. This is a special place.
Resort overall is great. Stayed in the Bayshore rooms and they are in serious need of some soundproofing. Can hear everything happening in the hallways including everytime a door closes. Keeping the pub open past 9 pm would also be a good thing.
Room and hotel generally nice. But water shut off and wasn't dealt with well. Told to wait. Then told to use swimming showers. Then told to wait. In the end it was 11.30 pm still no water and had to go to bed without a shower after a day of hiking. Given a 50 dollar discount the next day.
It was alright, but did not meet my expectations. The activities for the kids were nice because it was March break, but the pool was really cold and the entrance onto the ice skating was so slippery (they should have put down a mat). The fun zone didn't open until 12noon and was not very organized. We were traveling with young children and they were trampled by teenagers on most of the bouncy castles.
What room you get is based on where it is located. MapleLodge rooms are old and in desparate need of an update. Summit Lodge rooms are updated and very nice.
Service was not good. We booked online andgot confirmed Pavilion room and 3 days after it mysteriously changed. When we spoke to reservations they claimed that someone must have called when we booked and they got the last room. But 3 days later??? Anyhow, let that go. Next we get there and our rooms are not ready at 4pm. No apology was offered by the lady who checked us in. She simply said the room is not ready and we will text you when it is. She had no idea when it could be ready. Over 1 hr later I called to check and was disconnected. Called back again, I was being told the room may be ready in 1/2 hr. I can use the gym if I wanted to shower and they can keep my bag. During this conversation, I asked what compensation can I expect for my inconvenience, then the person said, she just refreshed her screen and the room is ready. Micraculous! I went over to check in again, Austin gave me my room key. I again asked for compensation for my inconvenience, and he asked was I not offered something when my room wasn't ready? I said no, he said it was strange. So not sure how this resort operates with not all staff on board with their policies.
We also experience very poor service from the waitstaff at compass. Rude and missing servers.
The checkout girl was nice.
Never again will we stay here and I certainly do not recommend it but to each their own.
Stay 3 nights. Overall, bad impression. It could be that winter season is over and summer has not began. I don t believe that it should be excuse! Entrance very dirty, windows, carpets had not been clean after winter at all. Room pretty nice, however, balcony haven t been cleaned like the entrance. No housekeeping, just left fresh towels and that was it. Coffee caps used before as well as glasses were not removed (left dirty), coffee pouches not replaced.... Entrance to the swimming pool - hmm... needs major cleaning! 3 nights for $846..... wow! I was expecting much, much more. By the way, next to my room, there was a memorial plate attached to the door reading that The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada was sleeping in that room June 25th and 26th, 2010 , hosting Muskoka 2010 G8 Summit. Unfortunately management has forgotten about this event not keeping property in desired status.
The best part of my stay was Compass Bar & Grill. Food excellent, good selection of wines and proudly served Muskoka Brewery beers. Staff in this restaurant/bar was A+, excellent. Highly recommend this place. Beautiful surrounding area to walk and enjoy very fresh air of Muskoka!
The room was great! Loved that winter activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing were included. The pool/change rooms were hard to navigate, and signs to the winter activity area would have been nice. Access to board games was a nice touch, since there isn't a lot to do in the evening locally.
Overall, the experience was nice. When we arrived as first timers, we were not greeted as hoped. Did not receive the welcoming or intros as hoped. Had to ask for WiFi and hotel information. No directions to where provided as to where we were going to stay, what facilities and recreational activities were available and it was up to me asking repeatedly where we were going even after explaining that it was my first time staying at the resort. I believe that it was the staff who greeted us and checked us in because while hearing and watching the others at the desk... the guests seemed to have done a beautiful job at providing assistance to other first timers coming to the resort. Accommodations: Chose to stay in the Summit Suite Lodge. When arriving to our room, the carpet at entrance was stained and hoping to see improvements as we entered the room. We found dishes in the dish washer (clean) that were not placed in the cupboards prior to entry. The washroom's wall paper was falling off the wall. Beds were comfortable. Kitchenette ... it was ideal for what we needed it for. Would have liked to have seen a dish cloth to wash dishes by hand since dry towels were available. Overall, the room was clean for what it was intended the golf course view from the balcony was beautiful. Restaurants: Never tried them but the food at the wedding was delicious and plentiful! Activities: We went hiking ... it was nice but would have liked a map when we reached the top to know how to get down as a reminder ... found the signs going back down difficult to follow. The resort has an escape room, water activities, rockwall (for a fee), playroom jungle gym and an arcade room for kids, driving range (for a fee ... in my opinion, on downtimes, it should be included in the fee too because it was empty when we went to the range), workout room was equipped (sufficient for what needs to be done ... more cardio equipment), indoor and outdoor pools (indoor pool accommodated children and adults with a separate wading like pool and a hot tub, large enough for a lot of families to go to without it being too crowded. Outdoor pool - heated and nice. Recommend that lawn chairs are brought during busy time), beach ... perfect (shuttles are available to take visitors down, water activities available), and spa ... although it is separate and an additional cost, it is worth it if you like to be pampered. Spa, General Store and Recreational staff welcoming and helpful. Overall ... I would come back but will know to do my readings and research before coming as there is so much to see and do. Not too worry if you forgot something as Huntsville only 6-8 mins away and for ice cream lovers ... Kawartha is 4-5 mins away from the resort. Lots of stores available.
We're big fans of outdoor activities and Deerhurst didn't disappoint. We visited over Christmas and we had a great time. We brought the dog which was a huge bonus! Food, staff and room were all terrific. The only downside was that the pool area was super busy with families so we ended up skipping it.
Grandiose family fun and adventurous resort in Huntsville. One of the best summer resorts in Muskoka with a lot of water sports and fun activities. They have several buildings and condos and a massive golf course. Prices are fair and reasonable. I would go back anytime without hesitation again.
We stayed away from the main building in a smaller building by the lake. The view from our room would have been fantastic but it was winter and snow covered when we went, but still nice. If we ever go again in the winter I would definitely recommend staying in the main building as it was a pain to have to dress so warm to get to the main building to go swimming and do the activities as it was a cold walk. They do have shuttles but you still have to dress warm obviously. We then had to lug around all our heavy winter wear and gear everywhere we went in the main building (pool, arcade, restaurants.....) and with young children it was a bit of a pain. The rooms where large with small bathrooms and very loud heating unit under the window. It was way to cold to fully enjoy all the activities and things you could do there when we went. The one day was - 44 with the wind chill. We enjoyed our stay but definitely did not get to make the most of it. We will most likely try again and hopefully get nicer weather.
Overall the stay was good. The best part of our stay was Amba spa. The staff was amazing! They were very accommodating and went above and beyond to take care of us. Loved every minute of our spa appointment.
The resort is overpriced for the service they offer. Our bathroom was not clean upon arrival. We had to call four times before it was taken care of. The food at Eclipse and Compass was mediocre. Good place for children.
Deerhurst resort is a great place to stay, my family of 4 have been there twice; the staff are friendly and accommodating, the rooms great, food fantastic (but expensive) but the clientele I don't know...some of the women think they're all that and a bag of chips. This lakeside resort is in the heart of Muskoka and gold hoop earrings and high heels are not required at the beach! Enjoy!
Very disappointed with my stay. I asked lots of questions regarding flexibility of packages and usage of equipment. Was told one thing and upon arrival everyone was clueless. Spent lots of money just to drive 2.5 hours in a snow storm and go to bed. This was my first stay and I was very disappointed. The rooms were clean with the exception of the linen. They were stained and disgusting. Lots of money spent just to be given false information. Maybe next time it will be better...
Loved the food, service and views! All in all a very relaxing weekend and I would go back but I have to say that I am disappointed in the outdated facilities especially for the price and the fact that this is a resort! Got the Junior Suite very big/grand room but as I said outdated carpet and furniture -no balcony, nothing in the very tiny fridge not even complimentary water (for the price) also smelled like mold. Steam room in the spa was gross - smelly, rusty, painted walls!!!!! Spa, indoor hot tub and pools could use re-vamp and expansion, Lakeside golf course - golf kart path needs repaving. There is a $35 resort fee charged per day - includes wifi and parking. Wifi - was terrible and accessible to anyone on the property... Parking I'm sorry this should be free especially because there is no paid parking for day visitors...they dont even ask for a license plate at check- in. I totally would have no issues paying the resort fee if the resort was properly maintained.
Beautiful resort with amazing views. Lots of things to see and do with conveniently frequent shuttles. There are a lot of kids, so it's definitely a family oriented place, but they really make sure there is enough to keep kids entertained regardless of the weather.
Staff is also great, though room service as late as 5 pm is a bit strange.
The food at the restaurant is quite expensive ($10 for edamame), but tastes great. During breakfast, however, they served rock-hard waffles form day before and old fruits that were spoiled. I did get a mild food poisoning on my last night, I can't attribute this to resort for certain, but all but 2 of my meals were there.
Didn't stay overnight, but there are tons of things to do @ Deerhurst, even if you're an outside guest. Had an amazing dining experience at Compass Bar & Grill (there's a few other restaurants at the resort as well), went to live entertainment afterwards, and then did a cabin escape room located on the property, which I highly recommend! Definitely check it out if you're staying in the Huntsville area and make sure you look at the activity schedule in advance!
Had an amazing time. Watched the Jim Cuddy Band. Excellent evening. Every member of the staff where great to deal with. Looking forward to another weekend away at the resort. Only down side was the sleigh rides could not go due to too much fresher snow.
Well kept facility, exceptional customer service, quiet, the small cafe has great tasting coffee options for a machine that uses fresh ground beans and the muffins are fresh all day, peaceful environment.
Visited on March Break, very nice place and they handled the crowd well. Rooms were clean and a decent size, staff were friendly and helpful. Buffet had a lot of variety. Food was generally a little expensive for what you got tho. Lots of walking to get to some of the restaurants and amenities, which was tough with 2 small kids. Overall we had a nice time, and our kids enjoyed all the winter activities they had to offer. Beautiful area, would consider returning.
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