Canyon Ranch Lenox

I booked a weekend at this hotel to celebrate my birthday with some R&R and was shocked by how different the experience was compared to my expectations, especially considering the $2,000 per night rate. I’m happy to spend money on great experiences, but this wasn’t it. Rooms: Pictures attached to show how outdated and unpleasant the rooms are. When I asked if there were any other available rooms, I was told they all looked the same. The staff mentioned that the hotel’s focus wasn’t on room comfort but rather on the outdoor experience. An interesting way to justify poor room quality. Entertainment: None. During my stay in September, there was no evening entertainment, so after dinner, your only option is to return to your (uninspiring) room. We asked if we could use one of the fire pits but were told it wasn’t possible. The nights felt depressing, and I almost left after the first night. The saving grace was meeting some nice people and finding peace in the property's surroundings and the nearby town of Lenox. Activities: I didn’t visit CR to work out, so I can’t comment on the classes. I did go on one hike, which I had been excited for, but it fell short of expectations. The supposed strenuous "level 4" hike was neither challenging nor long enough, coming in an hour shorter than advertised. Most of the activities I was interested in required an additional fee, so I signed up for a few. However, the costs felt unjustified. i.e., I paid $150 for paddleboarding, which involved a short 5-min drive. While serene, it was essentially just me with the two women leading the adventure - who mentioned that they would have come whether or not anyone had signed up, which made me question the pricing logic. Similarly, the on-site ropes course, while challenging, wasn’t worth the $200 price tag. Spa: Perhaps the biggest disappointment despite being the main draw for CR. The facilities were underwhelming. The men’s spa area was under construction, so the spa was co-ed for several hours, which wasn’t ideal. I had a massage booked for Friday evening, and while the massage therapist was kind, he was very clearly, very new. He even pointed out his own missteps during the session. I asked how long he had been doing massage, and he said three months. Three months! I couldn’t believe I was paying luxury spa prices for someone with only three months of experience. The entire 80 minutes was frustrating, and I felt duped. When I mentioned this to the hotel staff while canceling my other spa services, they did refund me, which I appreciated. But that’s 80 minutes I’ll never get back. On the positive side, I had two metaphysical sessions that were nice and informative. Food: Okay. I liked that you could get half portions of as many dishes as you wanted, but I learned this from other guests, not from the hotel staff. Lunch was better than dinner, mostly because the lighting at night was terrible—bright fluorescent lights with no ambient or uplighting. They have a lovely outdoor terrace, and it’s a mystery why they don’t use it for dining - a missed opportunity. I'd say favorite part of the food experience was the coffee from the café. Staff: Mixed. The front desk staff were indifferent and lacked enthusiasm, while the spa front desk women were sweet and funny. The activity leaders were knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs. However, one man working valet made me uncomfortable with overly personal questions and too many compliments. As a solo female traveler, this crossed a line. I was so uneasy that I reported my concern to the front desk just to have it on record, in case anything happened. Property: The grounds were beautiful and well-maintained. I genuinely enjoyed walking around and taking in the scenery. In conclusion, nearly everyone I met at the property expressed disappointment, and we were all confused by the lack of honest reviews reflecting the reality of the hotel. I loved Lenox and will definitely return to the area, but I won’t be staying at Canyon Ranch again, nor would I recommend it to family or friends

Great sports facilities and - for me with gluten and dairy allergies - was good not to have to worry about being cared for (an unusual experience). The property is dated and this is reflected in the rooms, decor, noisy plumbing etc. Breakfasts and the cafe served good food, though dinner was hit and miss (e.g. over-steamed vegetables). Unfortunately, the indoor pool and men's spa area were closed which was not advised on booking; otherwise, we would have chosen somewhere else. The reservation experience was also not great at times with emails that did not make sense and/or were contradictory.

I’ve been to Canyon Ranch many times and this time was just as wonderful. Great massage and facial, food was good, great classes and programs. Grounds gorgeous as always. Great outing to Tanglewood. It’s a very special place. Highly recommend!

Im still processing how I really feel about CR in terms of value..CR is really something different for everyone depending on your demographic (age and income). We were a family of 5 with 3 young adult children who saw this as an opportunity to spend quality time together, eat healthy, exercise and grow mentally and spiritually. Because this is considered at the very high end of $$$$, you must consider some things: Who are you with, how active are you? How often have you been in this type of setting? First the good: The Staff...first and foremost...EVERY one of them was courteous and knowledgeable- consistency is important at this level! The setting: if you are not often 'in the sticks' this is magical. We are from New England so it's not new to us but it's serene and bucolic. The programming..quite diverse meeting most everyone's needs..be sure to go on line to view the offerings..Be sure to do at least 1 easy hike and or canoe off campus! The Food...mixed feelings... portion sizes are smaller but that doesn't matter because you can order 2 meals if you want! However, most everything was bland, dull with a few exceptions. The Demo Kitchen is a must try..we did it when the chef was creating a Vegan/GF meal...this was the MOST flavorful meal all week! Im not sure why the chef can't be more creative with both veg and non veg dishes... The dinner menu changes every 4 days with a nightly special so it has good variety- however the lunch and breakfast menus do NOT change..This becomes a drag if you are spending more that 3 days in my opinion. We were quite frustrated with keeping up with the correct daily classes/programming.. There are 3 ways to view it- The App, the Web and a weekly printed schedule they provide you when you arrive. ALL THREE were different! Not a lot, but its already overwhelming but then you don't know which version you can trust... The web/app should be the SAME if you are using the same database but they are not...Printed could be out of date due to printing lead times, etc... They need to fix this ASAP. All in all, our reasons for going were fulfilled and we were very happy to spend time together... I do not disagree with any of the 5 star reviews but I do completely disagree with recent 1 or 2 stars claiming the place was run down, etc...Thats a complete lie. Its dated yes but its super clean- I suspect older/retired types won't have too much of an issue with the decor but it felt stuffy to me and 20 years outdated in terms of colors and finish..and yes, there are areas on the outside that need work (honestly surprising to see several areas of the building needing paint and general maintenance that wasn't being done and the Bellefontaine Mansion exterior needs work (look up from the front porch along the facade and you will see some marble that looks like it could fall off!).

Gorgeous setting, food choices and quality, and a superlative and hard working staff. Some of the special midweek packages offered are worth considering. Always check the website before booking so you won’t miss out on the best values for your stay. You can even bring your small dog! I met an interesting array of dynamic guests from all over the world and was impressed that the staff was diverse and multi-racial. The programming is very high quality. There are some seminars and workshops offered at an additional fee, which I found frustrating considering this is generally an all- inclusive resort. I only did a couple of fitness classes because all the other activities (meals massages and lectures) filled my time. The indoor pool is bliss and the women’s spa (recently renovated) is spectacularly magical. Do try the cold plunge after your steam, saunas or whirlpool. It always invigorated me. I went once in late Spring and twice in early Summer. The grounds make you feel like Royalty out for a stroll in your Enchanted Kingdom or Queendom!