So we'll start with the four hour drive up to the couples resort. We arrive, are extremely tired and just want to relax and have a nice meal after we check in. The rooms are a time-warp going back to 1991, and freezing cold!!!! We called them in advance to let them know what time we would be arriving,,,a fire would have been a really great touch. (I spent the next hour sitting fully clothed in the sauna.) The check in staff actually talked behind my husbands back because he wouldn't accept that a gift card meant negative 100.00, not a charge to the room.. They thought he had left the room and complained about him. So next we arrive to the dining room on time for our 7:15 dinner reservation. We wait 20 MINS! Where the waitstaff showed us to the
lounge to sit. The same waitress came to show us to our table, actually looks my husband up and down. Sneers and says "We have two problems, we have a table ready for you,,,but we can't seat you because your wearing jeans". Ok,,,annoying because that's only one problem, but I'll let that go because her tone was so incredibly condescending and disrespectful. What a way to address a guest that just paid 1000.00 to stay for two days. She said you will have to have room service, and we charge a 10.00 fee.....oh by the way, they might as well charge for toilet paper as well because every little chance they get to gouge you they will! ( 30.00 eco fee? 3 dollars for a side for breakfast? and 3.00 for a keurig coffee in the room??? 18.00 for bubble bath? in this ugly room,,really?????? So back to the dinner issue,,, the manager was not apologetic at all either and we were left completely dumbfounded to be treated that way.It was a terrible experience not even attempted to be rectified. We get back to our room, (still starving) and the phone does not work to call the front desk to order our meals.. We call from our cell phone and order our meals and thankfully, the room service was very polite and understanding.
we are about to sample our meals, and see how the rest of the weekend goes.....

An overrated, cheap rendition of a wannabe, exclusive, winter resort banking on a romantic ambience, a pseudo-flamboyant, culinary cuisine presented in photogenic, skimpy portions.

As for the exaggerated, nano-entrees - ask for a pair of tweezers. It’s supposed home-cuisine fails during breakfast when one notices “Kraft jams”.

Always start with the positive. Rooms are excellent (wood burning fireplace, jacuzzi tub inside and outside) big comfy beds, great activities to choose from (spa, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiles, dog sledding, skating, trails) and the property is set on a beautiful piece of land overlooking the lake. We went walking on the trails in the woods and went dogsledding which was spectacular. What they don't do, which is unfortunate because if they did it would take this place over the top is: unfriendly and unhelpful staff (which you expect in a small town resort and a resort charging $400 a night) the problem won't be rectified by the automatic tip added to your bill (we have never believed in this practice and have not seen it work). They nickel and dime you for everything (water in the room, coffee in the room ($3 for a single serving of Keurig) breakfast and dinner is included but if you want bacon with your waffle it will cost you another $3. Something you don't expect when paying big bucks for a room. ECO charge on your bill is a scam (every room burns wood! Whats ECO about that?) Dinner is the biggest let down, food was decent but the service is horrible. We arrive both nights on time and then have to wait for 15 minutes before getting seated even though there are empty tables (including the one we were seated at) in the dining room. They boast a sommelier buy all they have is a bartender, no suggestions with food pairings and when he opens your wine doesn't even pour it for you. Another table was drinking white wine and they did not keep the wine chilled for the guest (even after them asking) If you want anything from any server you have to flag them down. They claim they are a 5 star resort but their service and dining room is far from it. It is a shame because this place has everything at hand to take it over the top and be 5 star and renowned but they fall short. Not good value for your money, there are other resorts in Ontario with same amenities for less. This must be a management / ownership issue becasue the issues run through the entire organization.

My husband and I have stayed at this resort once before and it really is a gem so far as location and the exquisite dining. We thought it would be a nice winter getaway. The drive to Algonquin is lovely any time of year, but it was particularly beautiful this time with snow covered trees and lots of snow! But it was cold!
We checked in around 5pm on a Friday evening. Our room was a Master Jr. Suite in a building separate from the Main building, meaning we'd have to get dressed up, coat and boots, to go to the dining room, bar or games room. The room was nice, fireplace in the middle, couch and bed, with a jacuzzi (as advertised) in view of the fireplace. There was also a table for in-room dining, a stocked fridge, and a Keurig for coffee.
We went over to the main building to make a reservation for dinner only to learn they were pretty busy. The staff though offered to waive the $10 room service fee because of this. So we went to the games room for a few rounds of darts and back to the room just in time for dinner to arrive. The meal was 5-courses of small, but wonderfully prepared food. We really enjoyed it. And spent the rest of the night relaxing in the tub, enjoying the fire, etc etc.
We decided to see if we could get into the main building for our second night so we didn't have to get our coats on in the evening and could enjoy more darts, ping pong and pool the next at our leisure without venturing out in the cold.
The next day we took advantage of the slightly warmer weather, skating then a hike, while we were out they moved our belongings over to the new room. This room though was not nearly as nice as the first room. The fireplace was at one end, right by the door to the balcony, the bed took up much of the room and the view from the jacuzzi was the side of a tall bed! The bathroom was small, and there was NO pressure in the shower. There was a draft in the room and the tile floor in front of the fireplace was very cold. It was our decision to move so we couldn't complain, but I would never stay in this room again (#19).
The dining was really enjoyable though and the service excellent! The food was beautiful, tantalizing, and wonderful on the taste buds. The evening was very nice, but then we got back up to our room, changed into more casual attire, and went down to the games room for a little competition!
and so on to the little extras! Including the wine, the cheapest bottle on the menu, the extras came to $145+. The stocked fridge wasn't included, $2/water or juice, the coffee was $2 a k- cup, the spa supplies $13.50 for bubble bath, and then a $30 enviro charge (I guess that's the wood). They charge you 15% gratuity, fine, but then they charge HST on it which I don't agree with.
My advice, bring your own! Save your money. The total for two nights in the cheapest rooms at Couples with the extras over $900!
Very nice place for a getaway, just beware of the price!