Boar's Head Resort

For the price point, this resort was unfortunately very mediocre and overall disappointing. We are from Florida, where the word “resort” really means something (think year-round access to pools, water parks, gardens, activities, and amenities that are included and enhance the guest experience). Because of that, expectations were understandably higher. The hotel itself is extremely outdated. Furniture in the room was visibly worn and stained (see photo), which immediately took away from any sense of comfort or upscale-feel. For what is marketed (and priced) as a resort, the accommodations felt more like an overpriced two-star hotel. The biggest frustration was the mandatory resort fee. In the summer or spring, I better understand it's justification (due to the ability to golf, use the outdoor pool, enjoy the beauty of the gardens and grounds, etc). But in the winter, it’s genuinely unclear what this fee is supposed to cover. Most so-called resort amenities aren’t usable in cold weather (unless you’re willing to swim outdoors in 40-degree temperatures). If a property operates in a region with cold winters, it seems reasonable to offer winter-appropriate amenities that maintain a resort feel: an indoor pool, seasonal activities, ice skating, or at the very least complimentary access to the Christmas lights event for overnight guests. Unfortunately, none of that was offered. Even the holiday lights event (which was beautiful by the way) required an additional ticket, despite the resort fee. After paying it, we were left wondering what benefits we actually received. To be fair, the amenities we paid extra for were very nice. The on-site restaurant was delicious, and the spa experience was relaxing and well done (though a bit overpriced). Those experiences were the highlights of our visit. Ultimately, I would not recommend staying here. A much better option would be to stay at a more affordable hotel nearby and simply visit Boar’s Head for the spa and Christmas lights event, since you have to pay separately for everything anyway. There were no real perks to being a guest at the resort itself. And having access to an indoor gym in the winter doesn't make it a resort (many 2-star "non-resort" hotels offer indoor gyms, indoor pools and free breakfast). Overall, this property does not justify its price, and the “resort” designation feels misleading...especially during the winter season.

Lovely getaway close to Charlottesville. The lake view room was spacious and the view was great. The bathroom is on the small side with little counter space. The beds were comfortable but worn as one had a noticable dip in the middle. The lake view would be more limited when the trees have leaves. The winter view was very nice. We would definitely stay again. The location in proximity to UVA was fantastic.

Where to start? The room, smaller than a Hilton Suite hotel to be sure, was barely adequate for the price of $378 Thanksgiving eve and a shocking almost $595 Thanksgiving night. Add taxes, ridiculous "resort fee" and dinner and breakfast you're looking at $1600 for a two night stay here. Yes it was the holiday, and it was crowded. We get that. What was a major problem is barking dogs for hours on end in the rooms nearby. It's a dog-friendly hotel, and we love dogs. Just not people who lock their large dogs in their room while they go out walking around or whatever. And there were a LOT of dogs. So prepare not to get any sleep for your $1000 two night stay at this resort. We also had to call maintenance to come turn the heat on in the room. Boar's Head fancies themself a 4 star resort. They have a long way to go before they can earn that label.