I was hoping to return from a wonderful stay at the Victorian Inn, and to write an elaborate review about how wonderful the stay was. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by the overall service at the Victorian Inn. Quite simply, our visit lacked finesse and quality service.
Upon arriving at 3:00 pm (which was agreed upon at the time I made our reservation), we were informed that the room was not ready due to a late check out. Really, it appeared that the room was not set up with the romantic package I requested. We went to the room where we found lukewarm champagne (it had not been chilled previously, as I was told it would be), and the strawberries had been hastily, and sloppily, dipped and laid on a plate. The roses would have been nice, but they were unwrapped and tossed on the bed.
While opening the champagne, the cork popped and hit the chandelier, breaking a small dangling charm. My boyfriend and I collected the pieces off the bed and the floor, which was very dirty, and clearly hadn't been swept in some time. I quickly went downstairs to tell Marcus about the incident. He was a bit frustrated (and rightly so--I am very aware of how obnoxious it is that we broke something), but then his comments evolved into highly inappropriate, suggestive comments. Being referred to as a "bad girl" or a "wild woman" is not something I expected at the inn. He also told me "You're lucky you're taken...," which, quite frankly, gave me the creeps. I offered to pay him to repair the piece of the chandelier, but he assured me that was not necessary. (I will say that that was very generous and understanding of Marcus, but my positive interaction with him ended there.)
Later, in the room, we wanted to sit on the balcony. The balcony had not been swept, and the table was covered with cigarette butts from the previous guests. We were also disappointed to see that our private balcony had a perfect view of trash cans. Not very romantic. Back in our room, we could hear every door, every chair, every conversation, every phone ringing. That wasn't too bad; we were aware that we were upstairs during the dinner hour.
We did go downstairs for dinner, where they weren't sure where to sit us. We ordered a pleasant meal, but spent too much time waiting on our waitress to get back to us. I understand the staff was busy, but the service just felt like another disappointment in the long line of let-downs we had experienced at the Victorian Inn.
After dinner, we decided to try the in-room jacuzzi, which was absolutely wonderful. The towels, however, were dirty. I reached for a wash cloth and it was still covered in make-up. Sigh. We thought we should go to sleep to avoid any other disappointments, but we were kept up all night by the arctic cold air conditioning, and the train tracks, and the fire station. It would've been nice to know that the inn is nestled between two of the noisiest sites in town.
Maybe some of these issues could have been avoided if someone had checked us in properly and told us about the noise, or the location, or air control, or anything. Instead, we were waiting for someone to haphazardly decorate our room and then we were sent upstairs. For what I paid, I am highly disappointed in the quality, the presentation, and the overall service--or really, lack thereof--we received. Nearly $300 is a ridiculous price for room temperature cheap champagne, dirty towels, a freezing bedroom, and an inappropriate, uncomfortable experience with Marcus.
Yes, it's a visit to remember, but unfortunately, not for the right reasons.
I would also like to note that I sent this same review to the inn on the day we checked out. It is nearly 2 weeks later, and I haven't heard anything from them.
Region:
United States >
Virginia >
Luray
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge
Free Breakfast
Free Parking
Kitchenette
Restaurant
Suites
Ranked #8 of 14 B&Bs / Inns in Luray
Price Range:
$$
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
-
The Victorian Inn is an elegantly remodeled Victorian home located in the heart of Luray. The Victorian Inn offers 3 elegant suites with king beds and Jacuzzi's for two. Guests may also choose to stay in The French Cottage which houses two oversized suites with kitchenettes, Jacuzzi's, and private decks. The French Cottage is located directly behind The Victorian Inn. Travelers may also enjoy one of our three Shenandoah River Escape Cabins located on the banks of the Shenandoah River. Each cabin has it's own unique personality and offers full kitchen amenities, Jacuzzi's or Hot Tubs (depending on cabin), onsite BBq grills, firepits perfect for roasting marshmallows, and much more. The Victorian Inn houses a restaurant that is independently operated with seasonal changing menus.
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