My family and I spent 3 wonderful nights at the Shamrock Lodge. It was an incredible and relaxing…read morevacation. It's easy to tell why many of the families there keep coming back year after year. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. They made my wife dairy free dishes from scratch when she didn't feel like some of the other options and cooked up grilled cheese sandwiches for my kids for lunch when they didn't want their chicken wrap. The owner personally introduced my wife to the kids club counsellors so that she was more comfortable leaving them in the mornings to play. This went a long way in helping both of us relax. Besides the good food, great staff and amazing views. The other guests were so welcoming and friendly. Our daughters made friends instantly and we felt very comfortable letting them run around and play with everyone. It's a great culture that Shamrock Lodge has cultivated. With magicians, tubing, water skiing, canoes, kayaks, fireworks, and more. Shamrock Lodge really went above and beyond to always have something to do and look forward to. The only criticism, and its a big one, is that the rooms are not air conditioned. There was a portable air conditioner in the room but it was barely functional and the room was way too hot all the time. It was brutal and really took away from our enjoyment of the vacation. They really need to invest in proper air conditioning for the rooms.

On the edge of one of the most pristine of the Muskoka Lakes, Shamrock Lodge is one of the most…read moreenjoyable places we have ever stayed at. A full service hotel with all 3 meals included, this getaway also provides immaculately clean rooms and thoughtfully kept grounds. It is family owned and the owners and staff have a clear love for both the land and the patrons. The staff were a delight - very friendly and ready to provide anything needed. There is a clean pool and sauna in the main lodge, and if you want to swim but aren't a pool person, not to worry because the lodge backs onto a gorgeously clean lake. A variety of watercraft such as canoes, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and paddle boats are available for patrons to borrow at any time. Motorized watercraft are also available for an hourly rental fee. We would, and plan to, return here.

Recently stayed here for a few days. Beautiful views and nice resort…read more Pros: - Food was quite good - Staff were welcoming and pretty friendly for the majority. - Outdoor whirlpool was really good / strong pressure and hot temps - Rooms are spacious and cleaning staff are helpful. Example: Will lay out your toiletries neatly on a towel in the bathroom lol - They have Kayak/ Canoe/ Paddle - I enjoyed kayaking around a little island in a group. They go fast though, so be prepared to go at it like an exercise session. It's not leisurely lol Cons: - Staying in the 2nd building is a bit of a trek if you need to go to the main building a lot. Unless l you rather be closer to the water and the Deck. They have golf carts to take you up to main building too but I think it's a bit of a wait sometimes? - Drinks were not great. Sodas are flat, cocktails are not that good and wines are $30 for a half glass. Beers are okay. - Never got a welcome cocktail but when I was leaving I just asked if I could have one and was asked a lot of questions for some reason so I just gave up. lol Overall, I would recommend as scenery is quite nice but there are a few spots they could improve on considering they are charging quite a lot per night during high season.

After nearly 5 years we returned for our anniversary to find that not only has not much changed, in…read morefact, the services at the Marriott have been in decline. Everywhere that I go I have to clean my own chair and seats. This was a sign. First, everything is overpriced. If paying $700 per night wasn't enough, nearly every item on the resort is expensive in a way that does not map to its proportions. $18 for 3 oysters doesn't align with MP, $30 per child to jump on an inflatable raft on the lake, $150/hr jet ski rentals are just the tipping point. Look, I understand that the resort is for people who are privileged and certainly we are one of those people, but that doesn't mean I want to be raked over the coals for every little thing on the Resort. There was a time when everything was included, call me old fashioned, but what's included here? The service and attention to detail is greatly lacking and some staff informed us that it was their first day on the job. It was like pulling teeth to get information out of the front desk. Those failures of the staff are a direct result of poor leadership, and I think the lack of leadership is showing throughout the business as a whole. The spa was underwhelming as well, the two massage chairs (that are not cleaned between uses) and the Amazon 'reflexology' foot massage machine (which only does the right foot), accompanied by an oxygen concentrator that requires you to put on nasal cannula to inhale through some colored liquids for "relaxation" did not give me 5 Star vibes. I did however like the 18+ pool provided by the spa (despite the weeds growing up through the hardscaping), but do I think the whole thing is worth $100 day pass....I do not. The Avalanche Cold shower is to a cold plunge as a tomahawk is to a vegan hamburger, one is playing at being like the other but fails in all the ways that matter. We ate at the Chophouse, which was not bad, I recommend the short rib as it's been braised well. I had the lobster Thermidor as I am picky about steaks and how they are cooked. The lobster was underwhelming and was more of a canner than a mature east coast lobster. The spinach they served with it was overly bitter and should be dropped for the menu, it's not a 5 star vegetable. Use the lobster claws and shells to create a stock and use that to do a nice risotto with the Thermidor. I'm being overly picky but here is my last gripe. If you bring cutlery to a table, don't bring it in hand, use a plate with a napkin on it or a tray. Use oyster forks and small spoons where necessary. Do more. If you're charging $250 for a 50 ounce tomahawk. The service had to match those prices. If not, you cheapen the whole experience Marriott. 3 stars for the lake view.

I appreciated the weathered feel of the inn. It is like stepping back to the 1940's or 50's. It…read morecertainly has its charms, but it is not a dining destination, and even guests may well do better going elsewhere to eat. Bluntly: this resort is understaffed, under-maintained, and the staff who are there absorb resentment from guests that should be directed toward management. Our breakfast took 45 minutes to arrive, but there was only a single waiter. During our dinner, a family gave up and vented at another perfectly competent staff member. There were only two servers for a full dining room. The quality of the food was poor, and the prices sky-high. One suspects there are substitutions. Our fish terrine was three slices of salmon that looked like rollmops, on lettuce. Our filets of pickerel and trout were good, but served with what tasted like parboiled rice, three desiccated spears of a asparagus (inedible; I tried), one carrot split in half and a few green beans. This was $40. A glass of reconstituted orange juice was $4. The chef's resume on the inn's website is stellar, so I cannot help but suspect budgets are factor. Perhaps this is for some a pleasant throwback to Muskoka past. I found it a cynical money grab.

Been goinng here for yeArs and it seems it's always getting better love the employees love the…read moregrounds and especially love the food the rooms are really pretty specially if you stay on the water side the fireplaces are so cozy and the fishing is legendary if you ever get a chance to visit sherwood you will not be disappointed it's so relaxing and peaceful winter and summEr hospitality is compared to 5 class service

We had heard about Muskoka BeerSpa a couple years ago at a beer festival. It sounded like fun but I…read morefound it was hard to get a reservation to stay in one of their cabins, which range from a one-room, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom cabins. They even have economical "crash cabins" which are basically sheds with a bed and TV but no washroom ... you use the spa facilities for that. Cabins have a full size fridge/freezer and wet bar facilities, in room draft taps (beer is an extra charge), complimentary snack foods, satellite TV, WIFI and a VCR along with vintage VHS movies. There are linens, pillows and room towels but you have to bring your own soap, shampoo, etc. Guests have access to the beach, lake and water along with canoes and kayaks. Overnight guests who are 19+ have full day access to BeerSpa (pool, hot tub, saunas, etc.) About a month ago, I managed to reserve Cabin 9 from Monday until Thursday last week. Our cabin was one room and was a couple minutes walk from the parking lot. It was great to get away and we had a fun time ... so glad we got to experience it. Though the weather was unusually cool, it was nice to have access to the pool and lake. Both were chilly but that didn't stop people from going in. The pool is unheated. Gord and I spent some relaxing time sitting in Muskoka chairs on the dock by the lake. Our cabin was cute, old and rustic. Because the weather was cool, the cabin as cool too. There were a couple base heaters on the floor and they helped. It would be interesting to see how warm it stays in the winter. There was a small shower stall in the bathroom and the water pressure sucked. There was a microwave oven and a crock pot but it would have been nice to have a stove or even a hot plate. We brought sandwich fixings to cover some meals. Unless you want to drive 5km to Bala or 20km to Gravenhurst (and you don't want to do that if you are drinking), you only have two options available to you within walking distance (across the street) ... we went to Clear Lake Brewing Co. (owned by the the BeerSpa) three times and El Gringo's Cantina twice over our three days there. The Cottage (also owned by the BeerSpa) is across the street too but it is closed for the season, which was a disappointment. We didn't know it was closed and had been looking forward to having pizza there, which we heard was really good. There was a VCR and movies and satellite cable. We discovered right away that the Shaw cable box wasn't working and could log onto our NetFlix account on the TV when we wanted to watch TV. It became a big deal yesterday when we wanted to watch the Blue Jays' afternoon game and had to watch it on an iPad. I contacted the resort and they sent a fella down with a new cable box ... that didn't change anything. So then he came back with a new plug cord and the box worked. Yay! But we couldn't figure out how to make it connect with the TV so we contacted the resort again. They sent the same fella down and he couldn't figure it out either. By then, the ball game was over so it became a non-issue for us. They should check things like this before and after guest leave. WIFI was complimentary. It was either right on or non-existent (so we used our phones a hot spots). You can't drink the water in the cabins as it comes from the lake but if you bring a container, you can get water from them.

I booked three appointments four months in advance for the same time, as we were flying in from NYC…read morefor the weekend. The week of our visit, their external booking system unexpectedly changed one of the appointments from 2:00 PM to 12:45 PM--without any notice or explanation. I reached out to their team, and it took three days to receive a response. When they did reply, I was simply told to "be patient." Eventually, they confirmed all three appointments for 2:00 PM, which we appreciated. However, they then followed up by texting the other guests in our group to ask if they would change their appointment time again--something that felt unprofessional and frustrating. Both declined the change. Then, the evening before our appointments--at 6:45 PM--we were informed that they could not accommodate all three of us at the same time. They proposed staggering the appointments: one at 3:15 PM and two at 2:00 PM. This would have left one person alone for over an hour. Fortunately, a fourth person in our party decided to join last minute, so no one was left waiting alone, but the way the situation was handled was disappointing. Given the price--$271 per massage--I expected a far more organized and professional experience. The massages themselves were fine, but certainly not worth the hassle or the cost. Additionally, there were not enough lounge chairs available in the pool area, which added to the frustration. Upon arrival, we asked for a small gesture to make up for the inconvenience--either a discount on the service or a complimentary round of drinks. He kept reiterating that Wink and Wave, who they use for their booking is a separate system. Which does not make a different to me. You hired them, so you need to take accountability for the service they are providing. While they did provide the drinks, it felt like too little, too late. Overall, I expected a much higher level of service for the price we paid.

We stayed at the Best Western Mariposa with our family during our youngest son's hockey tournament,…read moreand this was by far the worst hotel experience we have ever had. We are a team with younger children, and parents made a point of supervising kids closely, following curfews, and being respectful to staff. Despite this, we were treated with suspicion and hostility from the moment staff realized we were a hockey team. On our first night, the hotel offered an empty room for kids to play mini sticks. The following day, when kids asked again, we were offered a different room that was dirty and had broken glass on the floor. Staff were notified, but no apology or concern was shown. That evening, while supervised kids were using the pool, another family (not part of our group) opened an unlocked side door and ran into the snow before jumping back into the pool. Some of our kids followed. There were no warning signs and the door was not locked. The pool was immediately closed by staff without testing water levels, and parents were falsely accused of children urinating in the hot tub. By 8:30 p.m., all children were in their rooms with parents. The following morning, our team manager received a rude email accusing our children of running the halls late at night and harassing guests--none of which occurred. The situation escalated further the next evening when staff aggressively confronted parents at the pool and accused a guest of having alcohol without cause. When another parent calmly attempted to speak to the desk manager to de-escalate, the staff member pushed past her and retreated to her office, where police were called. The OPP attended and confirmed there was no disorderly behavior. Everyone was allowed to remain for the night. Beyond staff behavior, the hotel itself was dirty and poorly maintained. Our room had a dead bug and personal items left behind, public areas were not well kept, and breakfast service was slow and inattentive. We would not recommend this hotel to families, sports teams, or anyone expecting professional service or basic cleanliness.

I stayed the Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn & Conference Centre last night ... I've never been…read morethere before. It was $120 (plus tax) for the night. WIFI (which was quick) and parking were free. There is a restaurant in the hotel, the Grape and Olive Wine & Martini Bistro, but there are lots (Swiss Chalet, McDonald's, etc.) within walking distance ... I had supper last night at Kelsey's, which is across the street. I had breakfast in the restaurant in the hotel this morning ... two eggs, peameal bacon, toast and homefries ($8) and a glass of milk. It was good! I'd stayed here again.

The hotel is clean and everything is working. Although it is a little old but overall good living…read moreexperience. The favorite part is the breakfast. Love it. Highly recommended.

We are spending a family Christmas Eve in Gravenhurst and booked this suite with a double room…read more Check-in was a breeze with full social distancing protocols in effect due to the surge of Omicrom variant worldwide. Front desk staff are friendly & professional. It's a very nice suite with a 4-seat dining table, office desk, sitting area for four, a fireplace (with a timer) and a full kitchen (refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, sink and cupboards). The fitness centre, swimming pool and whirlpool pool were open with proof of double Covid-19 vaccination. looked well maintained. A complimentary pre-selected breakfast was included; filled out order form by 9 p.m. the day prior. Pickup the meal yourself in the morning. It's back on the road again tomorrow!

We recently visited the log cabin inn for a nice mini vacation. Nav and the serving staff were…read moretruly the best. Our check in was smooth and arrival to our room after a long drive was perfect. The room was nicely chilled, clean, organized and very spacious. We had a lovely view of the backyard with blooming flowers and a cozy fireplace if needed, plus the jacuzzi tub is such a treat when on vacation. We then enjoyed a lovely meal in the dining room. The restaurant was busy and even though understaffed the experience was truly memorable. Great décor, large beverage selection, and the chef and kitchen staff cooked delicious food. If you enjoy Salmon or Fettuccini, they are phenomenal and my recommendation. This restaurant is also open to the public for dinner so stop by if you are in the neighborhood. We will come back and recommend this hidden gem to our friends and family. Thanks Nav and team for making us feel at home.

I had an issue with them not giving us a menu when we first sat down. We spent about 11 minutes…read morewaiting for a menu and then they brought the cocktail list. The food is just okay. I got the gnocchi and my girlfriend got the lobster meal. Not ideal for lobster and gnocchi but I guess a lot of people got prime ribs but 4 stars. They also charged for a birthday dessert that was weird. Hollllla!

My friends and I have been using these cottages/cabins as accommodation in Wasaga Beach for years…read more The perks: - biggest cottage sleeps up to 16 people - cheap - can rent it for just a weekend - not strict about noise - 2 minute walk to the beach/bars - full of people in their 20's - each cabin comes with a bbq - parking is included - bigger cottages come with a fully stocked kitchen (including a stove) - bathroom and shower in the bigger cottages, plus extra facilities on site The booking process is sketchy. After verbally confirming over the telephone with someone that they will reserve a cottage/cabin for you, you have to go to TD bank and put the deposit (in cash) into their account. You then write to their email address to confirm you put the deposit in their account. Once you get there and pay (cash), everyone is given a bracelet they have to wear for the duration of their stay. Extra people cost extra money. Check out is a bit early (10am I believe?) but you can often leave your car their for the day after you've checked out. If you're looking for somewhere to stay with a group of friends in Wasaga Beach, this is a great option.

Very Tidy campground and cottages. We took a 3bdrm for the 7 of us and had lots of space…read more Recently renovated they were clean and welcoming. 2 min walk to the beach and not as much traffic/noise at night. Thanks guys!