I have long wanted to stay at what was once known as the Mount Washington Hotel (now the Omni Mount Washington Resort) and finally got there last month. I’m pleased to report that all my expectations were met or exceeded. The Omni is one of those grand hotels of yesteryear that, even from a distance, simply LOOK luxurious. What’s nice about the Omni is that that Gilded-Age luxury has been carefully preserved. Our room was spacious and high-ceilinged with a window overlooking the property’s expansive entrance meadows. The bathroom was large and modern, and of course, the towels, linens, and robes were of the highest quality. The large main dining room and the hotel’s steakhouse have large windows facing Mt. Washington and they offer a nice variety of well-prepared cuisine. On the grounds facing Mt. Washington are two or three natural-gas powered fire pits surrounded by adirondack chairs — a perfect way to wind down at the end of a good day. Being avid hikers, we didn’t find the stroll from the free parking lot very burdensome, but those with walking difficulties may want to opt for valet service. All in all, the OMWR completely fulfilled my decades-long dream of luxuriating in the shadow of Mt. Washington.

If you have ever taken a ride on a Bretton Woods Ski lift you would have looked down at the majestic Mount Washington Hotel. The red roof shining in the sun while clouds hugged Mount Washington, you may have even been lucky enough to have a cloud free day and enjoy the full mountain view. Things I like about this hotel are the ski-check at the entrance so you don't drag your equipment up to your room, the shuttle (maybe too many stops between the hotel and the mountain) so you can keep your car parked in the lot while getting front door mountain drop off, and the friendly bartenders in the rosebrook room and the grand lobby where the kids can disappear for a short time exploring while enjoying that cold beer in pease, if only for 5 minutes. The rooms are big enough for the family (we had 2 adults and 3 smaller children) and have a nice "historical" feel to them. This isn't a sleek modern hotel with steel and glass everywhere, it is a New England hotel with painted white wood trim, simply tiled bathroom floors, and old stuff everywhere. A perfect hotel retreat for the family. The room prices can get expensive during vacation weeks and long weekends but it's worth it when you just park your car and let the hotel take care of everything else. Be careful, the one main restaurant will get fully booked so make reservations if you plan on eating at a table.

One of the Grand Old Hotels in America, a little worn and fighting the effects of what Covid has done to the hospitality industry around the world but is holding her own. Having been in quarantine since March and confronted on what to do for our 50th Wedding Anniversary I booked a 4 day weekend at the Resort. We arrived at the resort and checked in. The first thing you notice is the lobby seating areas are roped off due to Covid restrictions but there is plenty of well distanced seating on the expansive porches encircling the hotels and on the property. Most but not all of the public dining areas are open with again attention to safe dining practices. The indoor pool and spa are opened golf, tennis and horseback riding are available and plenty of hiking. The breakfasts in the main dining room are great. Lunch and dinner menus are limited, this is where Covid has really hurt the resort. Hotel staff are friendly. The manager needs to get out and take a closer look at rooms and bathrooms, they need some attention. In conclusion, I would go back again in a heartbeat; Omni properties are among the best out there and I have stayed in a number of them across the country and have never been disappointed. I can only imagine how great an experience it would be to stay at the hotel when this pandemic is behind us and things start to get back to normal. Until then you can still kick back and enjoy the Bretton Woods area, the scenery and the history surrounding this hotel.