Topnotch Resort

We planned a trip to visit family in Island Pond VT. We decided that since we were taking a 4 hour driveaway, that we should incorporate another day and go to Stowe for an additional getaway. We decided that Topnotch resort and spa was the place to visit. We booked a couple of massages to add to the fun of the getaway. Adriana was absolutely phenomenal! The best massage ever! If you go, you must ask for her! Highly recommended! 👌

Top notch resort used to be a 5-star classy top notch place. Not anymore! It has declined to 3-star resort at best in both decor, accommodation and food services. The worst part is the AMBIANCE: The bare one- desk one- table entrance ( no leather seats or sofas) …..connected to what looks like a simple “camp cafeteria” and bar in a same open space, all noisy with wooden bare tables ….. killing what a separate small but elegant and warm main restaurant with light music and tablecloths could have offered The problem is the unsophisticated design( of the designer ) and poor taste ( of the owner), and has nothing to do with having the needed space or having the budget for expensive decor. Trying to look modern ended up looking cheap and cold The restaurant, hampered and hindered by the casual below average decor, is also average at best in terms of cuisine and food quality Rooms fees are high but decor average, and comes with old noisy bathroom fan. And. ….not a single bottle of water in the room! We will not be coming back.

This lodge may have been lovely at some point. However, despite looking forward to my stay on the advice of friends and colleagues, it was quite a letdown. The staff at the front desk was less than helpful. The "concierge" was a joke - barely acknowledged my presence. I was left to sort through the various pamphlets myself, while she sat and looked at a computer screen. The only shining star of the whole place was a gentleman who was in their "front desk area" who only works there part time. He is a minister locally the remainder of the time. Sadly, I don't recall his name. The rooms are dated and in disrepair, cracked ceilings, water damage on most of the furniture, and the sheets were barely 200 count. The screens were either damaged or completely absent, and the young people at the "front door" are not the valet as I had hoped and was led to believe. Every morning there was a mystery surrounding the location of my car, and then I came to find out that the young people are too young to park the cars, and are there only to open the door...? It is a far cry from the other lodge (at spruce peak) where I hope to return on my next visit to Stowe.

Beautiful location, very nice pools and hot tubs, and employees very pleasant and accommodating. But I would like to tell the owners to update the rooms and make the rooms match the cost per night. The room furniture is worn, walls peeling paint, and the bathroom door looks like it was damaged in water.

We had a wonderful spa getaway weekend. Everything was wonderful from the welcoming check-in with a good bag for the dog to the spa and fantastic food at the restaurant. The grounds are lovely and there are plenty of activities if you don’t want to just relax and hot tub your cares away. We are already thinking about when we can book our next getaway.