Decided to book the Umstead for our seven year anniversary. We have heard many great things about this hotel and spa. Pulling up to the hotel the valet opens your door and makes sure to take care of your luggage. The front staff is friendly and welcomes you to the hotel with a glass of champagne and our itinerary for our stay. The room was very spacious with a beautiful view. It was clean. The spa staff was amazing as well, they address you by your name which is nice because it lets you know they care. Although we had to get our couples massages in separate rooms the staff let us enjoy an hour after our massage lounging around in the coed pool and waiting area. It was very relaxing and they would constantly ask if we needed anything. When we went back to our room we had a bottle of wine, chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us in our room with a sweet card congratulating us for our anniversary. We will definitely be back. read more

The Umstead Hotel - Complimentary wine and dessert - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

This hotel deserves to be part of the leading hotels of the world group. The service is truly impeccable and the attention to detail is impressive. The rooms themselves make you feel as though you are in a spa even if you don't visit the spa on the bottom floor The rooms have great bathrooms, terry lines robes and all the amenities you should expect at such an establishment.. Regrettably, I did not have the opportunity to visit the spa itself. The attention to detail seems to carry through out their hotel, from the multiple doormen, to the valet and the wake up calls. The Bar/restaurant is clean and sharp, the prices are a bit high for the Bar drinks, but I guess that should be expected at such an establishment. The Bartenders were also attentive and helpful. The overall experience was a great one. read more

The Umstead Hotel - Standard room - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Enjoying a pampering stay at an upscale hotel is woven into practically every vacation we take. The night we spent at The Umstead far and away exceeded every other experience we have had. From the moment we pulled in to the valet, to the moment we left the following day, everything exceeded our expectations. We were addressed by name frequently. Every staff member we encountered was pleasant, happy and polite, and seemed sincerely interested in ensuring our stay was excellent. The turndown service was top notch. Breakfast at Heron was amazing. Quality cocktails and atmosphere after hours at the bar. Beautiful property to explore. Private rooms, never heard another guest, never heard a door shut, never heard a TV blaring through a wall. I really have no reason to return to Raleigh, but honestly would return for a few days just to experience a restorative stay at The Umstead. It was transformational. I'm not sure what they are doing that allows them to run their hotel at a level so far beyond any other I have stayed at, including several (Ritz) that charge as much or more per night. Just fantastic. read more

This hotel opened in January 2007 and I used it for an event for about 100 people in October 2007. I stayed there about 2 weeks. The people, from sales, catering and such were as gracious, thorough and flexible as could be. They allowed us full access to their parking lots, limiting their valet and employee parking space. We used the lawn in back for a dinner which I have to say was not so good. But the lunches we had out on the terrace with chef stations was fabulous. They cooked to order and had really good tomato basil soup. All the staff addressed me by name. The rooms were great with 42-inch plasma TVs and the bathrooms had rain-type shower heads. The amenities were top notch and the tubs were so deep you could swim in them. They immediately addressed any concerns that I had and the valet staff was as nice as could be. The great thing about this hotel is that they're 5 minutes from RDU airport, and it's like an urban luxury retreat. I had a chance to try the spa and the treatments, from massage to pedicure, and all were really well done. The hotel prides itself on being very hi-tech. If you order room service, there's a silver weight-like thing they put on your tray. When you place your tray outside your door, it alerts them to pick it up. Convenient so you don't have stinky food sitting in the hallway for hours, which is disgusting. They have a few suites on the bottom floors, king-size suites and one huge Presidential which we used for a hospitality room and it worked out great since there's a big balcony if you have people who want to smoke. This hotel has two large driveway entrances. Since we were staging an event, we utilized both. One of them was on the convention side and it was perfect because it lead right out to the driveway. I have to say the ballrooms were a bit on the small side for our purposes, but we had a stage and a classroom, chevron setting. All three meeting spaces had built-in screens and drop-down projectors. If you plan on using both rooms, the air wall that separates the two does a decent enough job. And there is a separate wall and doors in front of the two larger meeting rooms so that you can put food service out there if you want and not worry about people stealing your food, or walking by and gawking at your meeting should the doors be ajar. The decor was nice and the hotel had a great lobby with a beautiful arrangement of flowers. Concierge was very nice and I felt very comfortable there my entire stay. All our guests enjoyed it and I know some of my clients said they would consider using the venue again for their different purposes. I would definitely stay there again on my own or for business. Best part is that there are good places to eat in the surrounding areas and you're only about 15-20 minutes away from a major mall and Raleigh-Durham/Chapel Hill. read more

Excellent experience. The hotel and the property is beautiful. But more than that the service is amazing! All the staff is nice and they go over and beyond. The food at the restaurant is wonderful too. All in all a great experience read more

The Umstead Hotel - Guest room - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I surprised my husband with a weekend staycation about 15 miles from our home, to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. From the time we arrived on scene at the valet station in front if the hotel to the time we left and received assistance with our bags and door opening when we departed was an absolute pleasure to experience. The exceptional staff made our stay that much better. They all were very helpful, with smiles on their faces. Valet, Herons, The Lounge and Bar, and hotel consierge get 5 stars for their professionalism. Our room was clean, spacious, and when plenty of amenities! We felt like we were thousands of miles away from home. Definitely a pricey experience but well worth the money. Beautiful inside and outside. I would love to come back and enjoy it with family and friends for a weekend getaway. read more

See all

The restaurant is exquisite! Outstanding staff, fabulous and creative food, and peaceful environ. Large rooms, huge bathroom area and perfectly quiet at night--no outside noises from the hall/other rooms. Just a great place. read more

The Umstead Hotel - Crab cake appetizer - in a custard shell - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Don't waste your money, it's ALL hype and the staff needs to be retrained. Starting w/ assistant manager, shady Taylor!! The reason why I'm giving this hotel a one star b/c the room wasn't cleaned properly and the Assist Manager lack of experience at his job. After checking into the hotel, I go into the room and see flower petals on the floor and the ice bucket still had an old bag w/ water in it. I go back to the front desk and spoke w/ the assistant manager letting him know what I've found in the room. He stated he will have someone go up and clean the mess up while I was at dinner. After getting back to the room, only the flowers were cleaned up but the bucket still have the old bag w/ water in it still. I called the front desk to speak w/ the Assistant manager and he said he'll be right up. He brought a bucket of ice to the room and took the old one away. Not only once this hotel and assistant manager failed but they failed twice all in the same day. Why pay the large price tag for the experience and you get horrible services and dirty room. The first day was horrible and couldn't enjoy the evening from a long drive in from out of town. What a waste of a day and way to start a holiday off! Thanks Umstead, 3.0 b/c you aren't a 5 star hotels at ALL! DO BETTER!! Stay away from this hotel until they can get some qualified people to operate this place. read more

We spent a wonderful week here and felt completely pampered! It was very easy to find from the airport, all of the staff were beyond helpful and so friendly, and the room was luxurious. The soaking tub was an absolute delight! The view from the room was gorgeous, as were the rest of the grounds. Everything was better than we expected and we will absolutely be returning! read more

More often than I like, I have not gotten five-star experience in some of the five star hotels in which I stayed. I can say unequivocally that The Umstead Hotel gave me an unforgettable five star experience. Now THIS is what a five-star hotel should be like. The service was impeccably friendly, efficient and thorough. The check-in was a breeze. I was offered flavored water and champagne as I waited to be checked in. My room, which was an average room for this hotel, was spacious and extraordinarily clean. The attention to detail to service and comfort was astounding. From top notch toiletries, comfortable bed to entertainment options, everything was first-rate. The bathtub was deep and comfortable, almost resembling one of those deep Japanese bathtubs. The shower was an experience of pure pleasure - the water pressure and volume was so perfect that I felt like I was showering under a tropical rain shower in Hawaii. When their housekeeping staff makes up your room, they not only change and clean everything (you won't see any of your used shampoos, soaps and other toiletries left behind and they will clean your room like they were preparing the room for a new guest), but they will make sure that they arrange your personal items that you leave around the room in an organized manner on top of neatly folded hand towels. Herons, the hotel's main restaurant, is a dining experience unlike I have ever experienced inside a hotel. Even restaurants at top notch hotels like the Mandarin Hotel in New York or Hong Kong are not as great. My dining experience at this restaurant compared to my experience at places like Atera, Per Se, Jean Georges and Eleven Madison. The service, the presentation of the food and the imaginative and delicious flavors of the dishes were astounding. Herons is truly extraordinary. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. Carey, North Carolina is not exactly a tourist destination but I would come back to the city just to stay at this hotel. read more

Beautiful hotel and staff. Our girls spa weekend was a success! We stayed in suite 106, which is a spa level suite. The bed was super comfy, furniture nice and clean, and in room dining phenomenal. Francis really took care of us and was so professional, poised, and made our guest experience amazing. If you stay on spa level, please know it's ground/basement level, so your phone will not work unless you're on the hotel WiFi. The rooms have doorbells so you feel at home. The spa level rooms have a walk out onto a patio that leads to a grassy knoll, that overlooks the water pond and feature. read more

Decor: 4 Service: 4 Stayed here for two nights in a premium king room on the 5th floor. Pros: -free wifi -good service staff -maid service twice/day -rooms are clean and high tech -free self parking, valet available -convenient location next to RDU -restaurant is pretty good -nice green scenery and lake Cons: -food in bar takes too long -no rewards points -insects outside due to adjacent lake -scale in room was broken Overall, pretty good for a 5 star hotel. read more

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I recently spent a weekend here for a staycation, but I was really blown away by this place! All of the details are amazing- friendly staff right at the door, champagne at check in, harpist playing in the lobby in the afternoon, and many other small details that make this place fabulous! Our room was beautiful and included a large bathroom. The pool area was very tranquil and luxurious. They have a pool bar with a small breakfast and lunch menu. Again the service by the pool was very friendly attentive! I'll state the obvious though- this a pretty pricey place but definitely worth it! All in all really an amazing hotel and get away spot! read more

The Umstead Hotel - View of hotel from the pool - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

My girlfriend wanted to do a tea party for her birthday. I love tea so decided to travel to join her in N.C. for her tea party. It was a sunday afternoon and as we walked into the hotel someone escorted us to the restaurant which the tea was served. We were sat in a corner with a nice view of the outside. You can see the trees...thinking that if it was fall or winter it would be pretty. The waiter was nice and explained the tea and menu...I think he was new so it felt a little monotone. Tea was ordered, disappointed because the tea was not at hands reach....meaning that when my cup was empty I couldn't refill but I am assuming your not suppose to refill your own cup? Every time a new course came out we had to wait for a tea refill....but I did have about three pots of tea! Tea was nice. Sandwiches were good. I think the bread for the cucumber sandwich was cut and toasted for a while so it seem a little stale but the flavor was good and and everything else was absolutely beautiful and delicious. So our tea was from 2:30 to 4....we didn't leave til 5. read more

See all

We came to enjoy nice drinks by the pool. When we arrived at noon we had an average but expensive meal on the terrace. The pool looked lively and we were excited to go down to enjoy. We were very disappointed to learn there was a long waiting list to get a chair. Without a chair it's nearly impossible to enjoy the pool. We found a chair by the bar while we waited 2 hours to get a seat. We never got a seat and in two hours we had one waitress come by once to ask if we needed anything. Not the staycation that I expected. We observed several guest today that were not happy about their experience. One positive was complimentary champagne at check in. Although the check in attendant didn't offer it to us. We had to ask about it before being offered. Breakfast in bed was very nice and added one star to the review. read more

This review is long overdue. As a Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthday gift, my husband sent me away on a long weekend to the Umstead (ok I demanded it, but he was very understanding that after 1.5 years of taking care of my kiddo, I needed some me time, so he made it happen) From the moment I arrived the staff was wonderful Lori, you are an absolute rockstar. Thank you for being so amazing during my weekend. You had great recommendations for food and wine, and always made sure I was comfortable while I lounged around the restaurant or outside patio reading my book and relaxing. You were equally fantastic during my night at Herons, remembering which wine I liked and not rushing me at all, even though I was a party of 1! The Umstead is lucky to have you! The room I had was a double with a huge bathroom that just screamed luxury. When I wasn't walking around the beautiful grounds or having a spa treatment, just relaxing in my room made the weekend worth while. I absolutely love how they have food and bottle service by the pool! That was the icing on the cake for me. If you need to get away, but can't find the time to jet set to an island, I am telling you, look no further than your backyard. The Umstead is an absolute gem! When I got back from my weekend away, my husband jokingly asked what I wanted for next years Valentines/Mother's Day/Birthday gift. I told him I would love to have this weekend all over again. Because, once you find perfection, why would you want to switch it up? read more

Very poor customer service!!! Also there was a used Covid mask left in our room when we checked in - inexcusable!!! We checked in after receiving really bad customer service at the spa. The massage therapists were awesome but the attendants were rude (specifically Jan). We were told when we booked the reservation that we would have 45 minutes to enjoy the amenities (which is way too short, especially if you are staying in the hotel). During our time in the current pool we ordered drinks that were brought out by a very nice gentleman. He never mentioned that we would not have enough time to finish them before Jan would rudely come over to tell us that we only had 5 more minutes before we would need to check out of the spa. I asked if I could shower and she said yes but several times while I was trying to get dressed she came over and made comments trying to get me to hurry. After I quickly dressed and combed out my hair (yes I left the spa with wet hair - in December!), I told her I needed to go the coed lounge to find my husband and she said - "No, you need to come with me & you need to leave now! I will go get your husband and bring him to meet you in the lobby" She was so rude to me that I literally left in tears, with wet hair to check in to the Umstead hotel to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary. Once we got to our room, we were very pleased with the appearance of the room and the bottle of complementary champagne & chocolates that were left in our room with a very nice card wishing us a happy anniversary. But, as we were sitting on the sofa enjoying our champagne we noticed something strange looking behind the tv cabinet. I got up to see what it was because it was so odd. It was in fact a used "Covid" surgical mask!!! I was disgusted and immediately called down to the front desk. They said they would send housekeeping up to our room and they did. The gentleman from housekeeping was extremely nice and apologetic. We thanked him and he took the mask and went on his way. I was a little surprised that he didn't disinfect the carpet or something else, besides just taking the mask off the floor. Shortly, we received a phone call from the manager on duty, Taylor. He was very personable and apologetic as well. He wanted to send us up more hand made chocolates. I was surprised again that this was all he was offering because well, Covid! We didn't want to make a big fuss and just wanted to get on with celebrating our anniversary, so I told him chocolates would be fine (we really enjoyed the ones left with the champagne). He said he would send them right up but it may take a little time because they are hand made. I told him that was fine, we just had a dinner reservation at 6:30. He asked if we would like to wait until after dinner and I said no, please send them up now. We wanted to have them with the rest of the champagne. We waited and waited but they never came. So we got ready and went for dinner (oversight, I told my husband that I was sure the chocolates would be waiting in the room when we got back from dinner. Probably a misunderstanding). Well the chocolates never came. We never heard another word from Taylor, or anyone else about our stay... The next day when we went to check out, I was sure that someone would apologize and give us our chocolates and apologize for the mask and the rudeness at the spa - but nothing! When asked how our stay was, I said that I need to acknowledge the fact that we had experienced very bad customer service during our stay. I went into detail and then it was obvious as she read the notes in the computer that she knew we had some issues. She was surprised that we never received the chocolates and then she disappeared for a while. She came back and offered us 25% off the room portion of our bill. I was again surprised that this was all that was offered after everything, but I didn't want to argue about it. Clearly we are not important enough to the staff at the Umstead Hotel or Spa. Clearly the nearly $1,000 that we spent for a one night stay, spa treatment and dinner was not enough to motivate the employees to give us good customer service, kindness & respect. To them I'm sure $1,000 was nothing. To us it was a big deal. We could have gone out of town for our anniversary. We could have gone back to The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, SC, we could have gone back to the Grandover in Greensboro but we chose the Umstead Hotel to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we weren't asking for anyone to bend over backwards to make us feel special, but we did expect courtesy, respect and kindness. I sent this review to the Umstead when we received their survey via email. I did get a call from the Spa manager, only to offer excuses for the rude behavior and to scold us for not leaving within the 45 minute limit per their Covid guidelines! I will not be back. Don't wast your money here!!! read more

My favorite place in the world!! Come here a couple time a year to enjoy the spa and the pool and the premier service. I definitely am not the wealthiest customer that comes through the doors, but I am never treated any differently. This is my happy place, where I come to unwind, decompress, and recharge. I would highly recommend Natasha for a massage and I would highly recommend the Umstead overall for a spa visit or hotel stay. read more

See all

If you happen to wonder into this stunning hotel and spa you will have to take a double check to see where you are. Simply put, a hotel this nice and luxurious isn't usually found in such a quite town outside of the bid cities. No matter if you have stayed at some of nicest hotels in Vegas, California or New York, this hotel holds its own and more at a fraction of the price. The bar and staff are wonderful as is the restaurant. There is a very nice outdoor patio overlooking a wooded pond area with ducks and wildlife for your viewing pleasure. The rooms are spacious, loaded with a wet bar and plenty of snacks (extra charge of course) and you will find robes, slippers, plenty of bath supplies, a scale, coffee maker and even an umbrella in the room. The tub is separate from the tiled & glass door shower and features double sinks, large mirrors and plenty of towels. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone. Enjoy! read more

Definitely enjoyed our stay here. You can't get better service. Friendly staff, who go above and beyond making your stay special. The hotel is clean and quite lovely. Enjoyed brunch at the Heron. The food was fresh and delicious. Looking forward to coming back next year! read more

See all

Nicest hotel option in the Raleigh Durham area. Very close to the airport and fairly new property. It's spacious rooms and layout are a better deal than going downtown for a chain hotel option. I have found downtown hotels pretty substandard. This hotel I think was set up by corporate neighbor SAS. It's great for business meetings, retreats or personal travel. Haven't tried the spa but I've heard good things. If I am not going to pine hurst to golf and gotta be in Raleigh , this is my choice. read more

See all

I wish I could gush about this hotel but overall it was definitely a 3 star experience. Check-in was efficient and I was escorted to our room, which was lovely with a patio, bathtub, nice view and comfortable bed. We had a gorgeous cheese plate and bottle of wine on the desk when we arrived, which was a great touch. The local cheese was the perfect treat after a log day of travel. The gym was a good size with everything you could want. The pool looked lovely but as it rained the entire stay I did not get to use it. The spa was booked up so I was unable to try a treatment. I ate in the lounge restaurant twice and while I was quite impressed with the quality of food, the service was simply not good. It took eons to get a menu and I had to ask more than once. The late night dinner I ordered took forever to come out as well. I tried to eat in the main restaurant Herons, but waited at the desk for 10 minutes on a Saturday at noon and now one came to seat me so I went back to the lounge. My biggest complaint with this hotel was the service. I called and requested housekeeping when I left the room and 2 hours later when I returned, they were just arriving to clean. I also requested that the cookies be removed (as we had eaten too many, which I specified) and they kept bringing more. I also would call down to the spa or housekeeping and no one would answer. The phone would just ring and ring. The front desk staff was great and kindly watched our little dog twice. Overall, this is the best hotel in the area but I feel they could really improve upon the service. It seems they need more staff and the restaurant staff needs to be made more attentive. read more

Had dinner at the bar last night. The service was exceptional-atmosphere also very special with beautiful contemporary decor, fresh flowers and live music. Will the area was full we still felt special. The drinks while a bit pricey were strong and tasty. We started with onion rings served with a human sauce. I had a burger with bacon and cheddar with homemade chips (one of my favorites) and the hubby had a fried honey chicken which he devoured. Their 5star rated dining room is more of a formal option but does require reservations. Next time I want to test out the bar area for high tea - they say that's a great experience as well. read more

See all

I recently surprised my wife with a one-night's stay at the Umstead for Valentines. Saying she was "surprised" might be a little bit of an exaggeration. She had already guessed that we were staying at the Umstead Hotel and I tried to give the most convincing lie possible. Turns out, I'm not a good liar (lucky for her). Anyways, we roll up in my Aston Martin (ok, I only felt like royalty). Valet attendants helped me unload the luggage and took the car away. We were not allowed to touch a door handle as we entered (believe me, I tried). We checked in and got a brief tour of the hotel's first floor. Interior is very well-appointed and luxurious. We get up to our room and, I must admit, it didn't feel like a 5-star room. To be fair, I've never been in a 5-star hotel so this is just based on intuition. The bed and sheets were very comfortable. The bathroom was very spacious and impeccably clean. Some oddities: the commode was only partitioned from the rest of the bathroom by a glass door that didn't go to the ceiling (limited privacy) and there were two other sliding doors that didn't work that well. The light switches on each lamp were hard-to-reach (sorry, that probably seems so petty). The rooms have a nice TV and DVD player (sorry, no Blu-ray yet) but who goes to watch TV anyways? The service is probably what makes this hotel so special. I'm a little weird about letting people do things for me that I could do myself but I think if I were to get over that complex then I'd have the real five-star experience. I think if you asked one of the bell boys to tie your shoe they'd be obliged to follow your instructions (anyone want to try this?). That evening we had a special dinner at Herons (see my other review of this place). After our meal we had a few drinks in the bar. They had a singer/musician that sang some classic favorites. It was very relaxing and there was nice ambiance in the room. I even found the courage to do a quick dance with my wife during the last song of the night (we were trying to recall our First Dance at our wedding but didn't do so well). If you're going to be drinking then you might find it more economical to buy a bottle of wine instead of four Gin and Tonics (at least, that's what we learned to our surprise). If you like to be treated like royalty then Umstead is probably as close as you'll get in the Triangle. And, Herons (the on-site restaurant) is very awesome (again, see my other review). read more

This review is for the spa only. I had a luxury manicure and pedicure last weekend and it was one of the best I've ever had. When you have an appointment, you are granted access to the spa for the day (pool, hot tub, relaxation room with light snacks and tea). I came a little bit early, put all of my stuff in my locker, and chilled out in the relaxation room before being taken back to the nail area. The stylists are friendly, knowledgeable, and very good at what they do. The atmosphere is relaxing and calm. Note that a 20% tip is included in the price of the services. read more

My mom and I came here for their afternoon tea, and it was truly a one of a kind experience. The service at The Umstead Hotel is like none other. They treat you like royalty, making sure you don't have to even touch the door when you are walking in and out. Everyone is willing to help and answer any questions. The afternoon tea service was slow, but very attentive. Chrystal took very good care of us. Slow is actually very good in this case because we did not feel rushed at all. I've been to afternoon tea places where they only give you a 30 minute slot, so this was so much nicer. Ive also been to tea places where it was more like a restaurant, but this was also much better since we were seated on sofas/armchairs. Much more relaxed!! My mom and I just sat and enjoyed each other's company for a good two hours. The tea selection was short, but varied. You can decide to try different teas at any time. The light hor' dourves were very delicious, but our favorite was the dessert tray -- the scones and cornbread madeleines came with different creams and spreads, all so decadent! The price is a little bit steep ($32), but the ambiance and service at The Umstead make it all worth it! 10/11/12 - I am adding in some details after having been to the Four Seasons Afternoon Tea in Atlanta, GA. The Umstead Hotel's Afternoon Tea is much nicer than the Four Seasons for the same price. When comparing service, ambiance/comfort, quality of tea and hors d'oeuvres, the Umstead wins. I also forgot to mention above that they have a live harpist who plays during the Afternoon Tea sessions. read more

This is the best spa in the triangle area --and one of the best spas I've visited in America. The prices, while not cheap, are reasonable. The spa facilities were clean, contemporary, and lovely. The spa services were great. Most importantly, I saw women of all shapes & sizes in the spa. The staff was friendly without being pretentious. Everyone made me feel welcomed. read more

Wow, amazing place and service. I got to have a spa day today and received a Swedish massage from Maria. She was very friendly, professional, and courteous. My massage was awesome and so incredibly relaxing. The room was perfectly lit, the music level great, the bed was heated and the 50 minutes just flew by. I was so blissed out afterwards, I had to lounge in one of their few lounges that we had access to with some cucumber water and complimentary snacks. They also have a beautiful meditation courtyard. Everything from reception, to the concierge, to the therapists, it was a great experience. The steam bath was intense, but it was infused with Eucalyptus and a great finish after my massage. I also enjoyed the whirlpool tub, and the many other amenities that were provided. I think I will be forever spoiled, and I'm looking forward to getting a facial upon my next visit. read more

Beautiful lobby and I hear the spa is nice. Rooms quite comfortable as well. But at least two stars off for 1) quite poor food, and 2) tech fail on the movie system. Regarding the food, while the front desk claims its restaurant is a 'five-star', at least as far as its room service goes, that must be out of a 10-scale. Ordered your basic cheeseburger and fries. Hard to get wrong. Meat quality substandard (I know ground beef), and the fries were inedible. Note to chef... An 'herb fry' needs to have a subtle addition to the stock potato base; not be so completely covered in herbs/salt that you can't keep one in your mouth much less actually eat it. Best bet with French fries? Don't mess with them. That's what ketchup is for. On the movie system, an odd thing happened.... Halfway through watching the movie - nearly midnight - the phone rang. Was the front desk saying the 'engineer' wanted to know if the movie was working. I said yeah, all fine. Never had a call like that before, but ok whatever. 40 minutes later - and fulfilling Murphy's Law - the movie failed. Maybe four or five minutes left; climax scene of course. Ok, bummer. So I called to let them know. "Who? What engineer? What are you talking about? Do you want the engineer? A refund?" No, I just wanted to finish the movie :| Note to Managment -- best time to have the engineer mess with the system? In the morning. read more

But bring lots of money with you. Everything is expensive. If you want to impress your friends take them here. Restaurant prices are $100 per plate. Ambiance is good. read more

I'm giving 3 stars this time. The locker room and reception girls were a little unfriendly. The pool service was subpar. We had to keep flagging the waitresses down and we didn't get drinks with our meal. The menu at the pool was very limited. I couldn't get the nuts and popcorn snacks with my room service meals like you get when you're eating downstairs, and the biggest issue was the fire and alarm during the night. The intercom instructed us that there was a fire so we proceeded out, and when we asked an employee if we were going the right way she shrugged her shoulders and said, 'I don't know.' read more

The Umstead Hotel - Leaving the hotel during the fire alarm. - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

This is really a nit - but the phone system for making a reservation at the hotel and/or spa is ancient, laborious and requires more patience than it should for a place of this caliber. Every call goes through a switchboard. Then you ring to the relevant department (in my case, hotel or spa). Then you ring and ring until someone picks up. It is extremely frustrating and time consuming to have even the simplest interaction with the staff. We love the spa, love the hotel and have never had a bad meal here - but this system makes a hassle out of what is an otherwise wonderful experience. read more

This review is aimed at people who already have very high standards for hotels. If you don't stay in 5 star hotels regularly, your perspective will probably be pretty different from mine. I'll start with the conclusion: The Umstead is not a top-tier 5 star hotel. While it is certainly classified correctly as a 5 star property, it lacks certain things that would make it world-class: - The restaurant. My waiter was a young boy who had all the fancy mannerisms down but lacked the intuition that makes for a truly great server. He got my order slightly wrong - no problem, understandable - but before I could say anything to him, he disappeared for 5 minutes. By the time I could correct the order, my food had gotten cold. Not only that, but at the same time as I made the correction, I had also asked for some ketchup. Moments later, my waiter brought over a plate of ketchup that was probably the equivalent of one Heinz packet (which everyone knows is not enough). A few minutes later, I had to ask for a second serving of ketchup. While incidents like these are small things, they still caused me to leave the restaurant feeling slightly less relaxed than when I came in -- not exactly the effect a restaurant wants to have. - One of the bellboys committed an error so flagrant that it instantly changed my experience of the Umstead: He complained about his job in front of me. At the time, I was engaged in a casual conversation with the concierge while stapling together some papers I had sent down to be printed. The bellboy walked up to the concierge and asked what time he got off. The concierge replied, and the Bellboy rolled his eyes and sneered, apparently expressing his displeasure at being forced to work a long shift. He then started mumbling something about how he "couldn't wait to get out of here" to the concierge, who handled himself with full professionalism the whole time, as if the bellboy were a guest who needed placating. Allow me to take a moment to address this bellboy: Dude. You work at a 5 star hotel. We are all here enjoying the "show," in which we feel part of a magically-run system where our every need is attended to. That's why we're paying more to stay here. Many of us absolutely love our experience at hotels like the Umstead. When you complain about your job, you're denigrating your employer, which reflects poorly on you, but even worse, you're pulling up the curtain and causing me to think way too hard about what's happening behind the scenes. There are plenty of times in life when that's appropriate and important, but my vacation is not one of them. Thankfully, those were the only 2 issues I experienced at the Umstead. Now, to be fair, here's what was great about my stay: - The room was beautiful and classic. The bathroom was sumptuous. - The grounds are absolutely gorgeous. There's a lake right on property, a beautiful garden, plantings all around, and an excellent pool. I spent hours relaxing by the pool, enjoying the sounds of happy guests, families playing in the water, and birdsong. The service at the pool was great as well. All in all, if I were to rate the Umstead on a scale of 5.0 - 6.0 (attempting to honor the fact that it is, in fact, a 5 star hotel), I'd give it a 5.2. It makes the cut, but it can't compete with at least half a dozen other hotels I've stayed at in the U.S. read more

This review is for Brunch Dining. After a lose-lose first day in Raleigh, lost and without a clue and little to appreciate, boy was The Umstead a sight for sore eyes! Little did I know that something so fine was hidden amongst the trees in Cary. As reviewer Toni S. commented, you do get here and feel like you've entered another place, time-zone, world in comparison with the rest of the area. The hotel structure really is a great merriment of nature, design and modernism, with every detail labored over to perfection. There definitely is a feeling of grandeur from moment to moment in the hotel. While visiting on a rainy day, the dining room windows offered views of the dense Carolina greenery to enjoy while we enjoyed our meal. Brunch began with a small strawberry smoothie "shot," a sweet amouse bouche prior to our meal, followed by a basket of warm bread and really tender, precious petite scones that were about the size of my thumb. Kind of adorable! Too involved in conversation, I can't say I remember much about my friends' meal, but the (pecan crusted?) french toast with creme fraiche that I chose was really perfect. The dish came with 4 slices of toast, warm maple syrup, all light but just rich enough to be a little decadent. Best of all, it was not overly sweet. The portion was very generous and of course I had to share! Seeing that it was brunch, it seemed appropriate to have Bloody Mary with the meal. Not the best I've had, but very good regardless. The service here was impeccable, the atmosphere beautiful and peaceful... what more could you ask for? I look forward to coming back here overnight or for a spa treatment when I'm in the area. It can't get much better than this! read more

Received a Full Spa day and night stay for Christmas. This place is Amazing! We started with a Swedish massage, then a facial, and then manicure and pedicure and the whole experience was very peaceful and relaxing. The lake view rooms are to die for! This hotel and spa does not disappoint!! read more

See all

Service, clean, nice, service, service, smiles, clean, awesome. This hotel was recommended by a friend who lives in Wakeforest. We had a night to kill so we thought we would splurge and stay somewhere awesome. Sundays are cheaper than weekends, same goes for weeekdays; highway view is cheaper than 'lake view.' We got to the hotel and were immediately greeted by 3 doormen, they were gracious and absurdly helpful. They valeted our car, we checked in. We requested the paper in the morning, no problem. Got to our room....big and modern and awesome. Everything is impressive here, the bathroom, the bed, the desk, the lighting, the tv...everything. What a cool place. The spa can be used gratis by hotel patrons, awesome natural light showers; refreshing steam room; not insanely hot sauna; ice shower!, and hot tub.... What a treat, we used the facilities twice. The only issue we had was at the bar...We are not kids, but we were made to feel like brats. We walked up to the bar, before we sat down the bar tender asked for our ID's, looked at them suspiciously and asked "where's the birthday on this?" Well, it's the commonly used sequence of numbers denoting date of birth. We ordered our drinks and some snacks and he was just rude. The wife wrote a letter to management and they wrote herr back immediately addressing the situation and apologizing. That wouldn't stop me from coming here or telling others. There are enou drinking establishments around anyway. read more

We recently surprised my parents with an Anniversary night out which ended with a stay at the Umstead. I got a company rate which was GREAT! - Who doesn't love saving money! The service was impecible. Everyone was so friendly and nice. The room was large and so was the bathroom. Loved the ipad at the bedside where you could control lights, music, and a few other things. They couldn't say enough wonderful things about their stay. Next time it will be ME who is back to stay. read more

Feels like a Four Seasons. If you have the means or, like me, just like to pretend like you do, you should stay nowhere else while in the Triangle area, because this is truly the best we have to offer. service, amenities, food all top-notch. There is a very distinct feeling I get when staying in very nice hotels, like, if even for a night, all is right with the world, The Umstead brought me to that very special place. They serve high-tea in the afternoons, I haven't tried but intend to when I next feel like indulging or impressing a visitor. read more

The Umstead Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

One of the best hotels, with the finest service, in the world. Period. My wife, Susan, & I had the privilege of traveling widely during the years we were in publishing and technology. We've staying in five-star resorts around the world, including Relais & Châteaux, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and private residences we rented. The Umstead offers the most consistently extraordinary service we have experienced anywhere we've stayed. The hotel has demonstrated this more than once, and on visits that ranged from a personal get-away weekend to a more recent company leadership retreat. You'll be greeted warmly by bell staff and doorpersons. Upon entry, you'll see the Dale Chihuly glass sculpture (whose work is in museum collections and public buildings around the world) in a place of visual prominence just beyond reception. You'll also be escorted from reception to the elevators by front desk personnel, except during unusually busy times. By the way, the rest of The Umstead's art collection is as spectacular as the Chihuly sculpture. Spend some time wandering the hallways. Service is The Umstead's differentiator. It is impeccable, but offered with such unfailing, spontaneous grace, it is never overdone. Where the hotel finds so many attractive, well-spoken young men & women, I don't know. I've asked! It would be great to tap the same pool of talent for the business with which I'm associated. From the door, to the front desk, to the concierge stand, to the server team in Heron's (the restaurant in The Umstead), first-rate hiring and great training is in evidence. Moreover, one's sense at The Umstead is not just of "being served," but of being welcome - the essence of hospitality. I don't know if what follows are the hotel's guidelines, but seemingly, within 5 feet of any staff member, one can be expect to be greeted by name; within 10, staff still make bright, cheerful eye contact and offer a pleasant greeting, usually accompanied by pausing whatever they were doing as if you or I, the guest, is much more important than whatever temporary task is at hand. How long has it been, and where, since you have experienced that? The architecture of the hotel promotes a sense of relaxation, with clean modern lines and lovely views from ample floor-to-ceiling glass in public areas and guest rooms. Furnishings and bathroom design contribute to that feeling of quiet calm. One needn't use the spa (although it is deservedly popular) to leave a stay at The Umstead fabulously relaxed. A few reviews have questioned the layout of the bathrooms. If you want thick mahogany doors, brass locks, and you are extraordinarily private, then perhaps this is not the place for you. On the other hand, if you appreciate open, European design and tranquil, spa-like colors, fixtures, & glass, you'll feel quite comfortable. The only bathroom quibble Susan & I might have is that, in the shower (separate from the soaking tub), it would be much welcomed to have a larger shelf for shampoos, conditioners, razors, and other items needed. In short, if you have the opportunity to be in the Raleigh, NC, area - and you value near-perfect service over pretension, you've found your home away from home. Susan & I can't wait to get back, and are already planning our next stay. read more

The Hotel: My husband and I arrived yesterday morning and The Umstead impressed us immediately., Four gentleman greeted us at e door assisting with baggage, escorting us to check-in, and accamodating us with transportation. Reception was very pleasant and extended a warm welcome. Since we arrived early and I am 7 1/2 months pregnant, I requested the room to be available when we arrived mid morning, but didn't expect it. I was totally surprised and extremely appreciative when it was available. I was anle to kick up my feet and relax immediately. Our second evening at The Umstead. ***WOW*** Somehow they found out that we were here on our babymoon. They surprised us with a bottle of sparkling apple cider and a gift. My husband and I were guessing what the gift could be. I thought it might be chocolates or a candle. He thought it would be lotion. We were both wrong and extremely touched. The gift is a book titled "In My Nest". It is so darn cute! It is orange in color with a furry little bird puppet in the center that you move with your finger from the back of the book. The entire center of the book made up of a circle from each page creating the nest the bird puppet moves in while you read to your child. We are going to read it to our son tonight. THANK YOU to The Umstead for such a personalized touch to our stay. The Food: We have dined from the room service menu as well as the spa menu & the lounge menu. Everything we have had is delicious. It seems the cuisine here is Southern with a modern twist. I have enjoyed the Umstead Burger with veggie chips for lunch. It was filling, yet not heavy. For dinner, the Duck Pot Pie. It was full of flavor and the biscuit really set the tone for a warm and cozy night. In the spa, I enjoyed the veggie sandwich accompanied with fruit. Again, delicious. The Pork sandwich at the lounge with sweet potato fries. Very yummy, and I took the time to separate the fat from the pork for a healthier option. My husband has enjoyed the bee filet w/ mashed potatoes, The turkey "smoked" wrap in the spa with a side for fruit, the young chicken for dinner. He agrees that the food has been exceptional. Everything we eat here is not only exciting to the taste buds but so worth it. You know if several dishes are yummy, then you can't go wrong trying another new dish. Kudos to the Chef!!! The Spa: Today, I had the gemstone facial in the spa today administered by Meiko. It was arelaxing experience with an adjustable heated bed and soothing music. The facial was okay. It was pretty much an application and removal of several products, waters & misting sprays. It aslo included a facial massage with two stone wands (black in color). This was nothing exciting though. By the time I entered the steam room all the products of the facial had run from my face. Meiko was friendly and courteous & advised me of every product she was applying to my face at any given moment. I had difficulty understanding anything she was saying to me, because her primary language is that of Asian descent. I was relieved when my husbands facial ended at the same time and we met in the hall where I could listen to his tech tell us where to go. All in all, this facial was okay, but I would definitel choose a European facial over the gemstone. My husband had the gentlemans facial and he enjoyed the steam, cleanse,extraction and product application. He said the mens lounge attendant was very polite. The steam room is great! I believe it releases eucalyptus and iced facial cloths are available too. There are several relaxation rooms and lounges available and the scenery, especially in the Fall is beautiful. There are light snacks, tea, and fruit infused water to enjoy. The showers are very "zen" with floor to ceiling windows partially frosted to allow natural sunlight in while enjoying the occasional bird chirping in the trees just outside, all in luxurious privacy. Tomorrow, I have the Mommy To Be massage. Sunday, I have a classic manicure, classic pedicure & the Cherry Blossom massage. I will post on those later. I posted a follow up review for my other treatments and created a new business name specifically for "The Umstead Spa". Please see my review updates under that. Thanks! read more

The Umstead Hotel - A gift to us from The Umstead staff in celebration of our babymoon. Thank you Umstead! - Hotels Near Me - Cary, North Carolina