Historic Powhatan Resort - Recent Reviews

[Schooner Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schooner]

I am planning my first trip to Powhatan in mid October and have reserved a 2BR downstairs unit.

I have read lots of reviews on various resorts where I have stayed and usually take them with a grain of salt. However, numerous recent (summer 2008) reviews on Yahoo Travel paint a very negative picture ... bed bugs, roaches, rats and furniture that looks like it is from Goodwill, very shoddy cleaning of pools etc., as well as an unsympathetic staff. While I am aware that there are ongoing renovations and even deluxe units can things really be this bad?

Any suggestions that might help assure a memorable trip of the good kind? Would a call ahead to the resort be worth the effort to try and secure a renovated unit?

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I had a reunion there over Labor Day weekend. 15 units, no complaints.

[dwmantz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dwmantz]

These negative reviews never cease to amaze me. And I have no idea where these people are coming from.

My family is at Powhatan at least three times a year. This year, we also did a family reunion with the equivalent of 10 2BR units. In all this travel over multiple years, I've been less than satisfied only once. That time we were assigned a room that hadn't been renovated in some years. Granted, it was only for two nights and the resort was full. Still, it was no way near as horrible as some of these reviews suggest. After thinking about it a bit, I shut-up and enjoyed the rest of the stay. No one else in the family even noticed.

Also, I think it laughable when I see complaints about the outdoor pools at Powhatan. Like Spence, my family prefers Powhatan over Greensprings, and one reason for that is they love the outdoor pool complex at POW!

I already have reservations for two trips to Powhatan in 2009 and expect to make a third when we finally get the date of the annual meeting!

[Schooner Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schooner]

This all sounds quite reassuring ... thanks! I will report back on how the visit turns out.

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

Enjoy your time at Powhatan. It has been at least 7 years since I was last there so my input would be outdated on the status of the units. By the way we had a great time when we were there.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Hi, This is probably too late for you, but maybe others will get some value from this message. My family has stayed at Powhatan every summer for one week for the past five years. We absolutely love it there. Yes, it's a little worn around the edges. But it's a very cozy place. The units are in desparate need of refurbishing, but they are still livable. I never saw bugs or other critters - other than the geese and ducks who probably would walk right into the units if you let them. While not immaculate, they are at least clean. When we have been missing items (like dishes, towels), our request for extras is filled quickly - usually within an hour. The only problem that hasn't been fixable is the non-working hot tubs. I have visited Greensprings and found the place to be very uppity and unfriendly. The best way to describe the differences are that Powhatan appears to be a middle class resort while Greensprings seems to cater to the upper classes. That may not be true, but it's the kind of impression the two resorts give. Our family is going to Florida this summer. But we plan on returning to Powhatan in 2010 and look forward to seeing the renovations!

[Schooner Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schooner]

We just completed our stay at Powhatan in 2BR groundfloor unit. Beds were very comfortable and we did enjoy the general ambience of the resort, grounds and room. Staff were friendly and helpful. All in all I would say this is a good resort with even greater potential.

Where I was disappointed was in maintenance. Not that staff did not respond when called but in that there were visible issues with the unit that should have been caught and rectified without my intervention. For example, non functioning hot tub, broken washing machine, broken china in the cupboard, clearly visible mould behind the washer dryer on the wall, exterior siding (on virtually all buldings in the area I was in) that simply needed to be pressure washed to clean off a buildup of algea and grime that give a first impression of an ill kept facility. There appear to be more that adequate numbers of capable staff on site to keep on top of these things and it should not take extra money to do so ... just a more proactive, planned and supervised approach to verifying facility cleanliness/functionality! Waiting and relying on the client to complain is not the way to run maintenance.

Other issues such as burnt and dirty carpets in front of the fireplace should be reqularily resolved as well ... did not the previous occupants have to pay for the damage?

Other than the above, which I hope will improve, not a bad spot!

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

... just a more proactive, planned and supervised approach to verifying facility cleanliness/functionality! Waiting and relying on the client to complain is not the way to run maintenance.

Other issues such as burnt and dirty carpets in front of the fireplace should be reqularily resolved as well ... did not the previous occupants have to pay for the damage?

I agree with both your statements.

• Staff actions should be more preventive than reactive
• Accountability requires that preventive inspection

I had a guest there this summer who called me with their discrepancies, I asked them to call management and the answer was - don't worry we're not counting dishes, alarm clocks, or whatever!

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

I agree that maintenance seems to lack the foresight to be proactive in fixing things and maintaining the units. I don't think the cleaning people take much time to look over the unit after guests leave. We first stayed at Powhatan about five years ago. At that time, there were several items missing in the inventory. I called to report the missing items and was told they didn't keep inventory because they were starting renovations. As long as we had everything we needed, not to worry. We have been back every year since, and it doesn't look like they've done anything to the existing units. The only changes we've seen over the past few years are the replacement of VHS players with DVD units and new mattresses on some of the beds. They continue to build new units. I can understand the need to build to draw in new clients, but they still need to continue updating the older units. Also, the grounds were not as well kept this year as in previous years, so my guess is that they have cut back on outdoor maintenance as well. I hope the new renovations will bring some improvement. We really like it there because it's a little off the beaten path, yet still close enough to get to the major attractions.
If anyone stays there over the next six to nine months, please keep us posted about the changes. Thanks!

[itchn2go Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchn2go]

i was there last week. we only had enough hot water for one shower. It was corrected for the reminder of the visit. We were upstairs so we did not have a Hot Tub. Everything else was good.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

so we are planning to book 3 2bds in 2010 summer. what do i need to do to ensure we do not end up with any 'bad'/embarassing units? we are having a reunion with friends we have not seen in 12 years and would not want a run-down unit to ruin the experience.

so far i've read there are nice units and there are run-down units.
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[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

so we are planning to book 3 2bds in 2010 summer. what do i need to do to ensure we do not end up with any 'bad'/embarassing units? we are having a reunion with friends we have not seen in 12 years and would not want a run-down unit to ruin the experience.

so far i've read there are nice units and there are run-down units.
Posted via Mobile Device

It is a definite mix of pretty good and really quite bad as it often is at such a large resort. Not much you can do ahead of time to avoid it but if you get a bad unit go back and ask to be moved. The upside to such a large resort is they should have other units to change you into.

Don't know if it has changed recently, and hopefully it has, but in the past the resort has always been "underway" with much needed work. It never seems to be done or the upgrades the norm for the majority of units. To me a sign of poor planning and management.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I had about to 28 units booked for friends and a reunion over Labor Day weekend last year, nary a complaint in the bunch.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

I had about to 28 units booked for friends and a reunion over Labor Day weekend last year, nary a complaint in the bunch.

so for those who did 'complain', did they request to be moved (and were moved) to a better unit?

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

so for those who did 'complain', did they request to be moved (and were moved) to a better unit?

What part of nary a complaint didn't you understand?