The Greystone Inn

We have been going to The Greystone Inn for 25 years and have loved all of our stays. We started out in the Mansion but as the years went by, we chose an entry level room in the Hillmont building. We love the convenience of just one step and a private balcony overlooking the lake. The bedroom/living room is very large and comfortable. I certainly enjoyed the soaking tub! Our only disappointment was the lack of local television channels on the tv lineup. When planning outdoor activities, the perspective of a local meteorologist is extremely helpful. We are looking forward to our return trip there next summer.

The Inn has a very pretty location on the banks of Lake Toxaway and benefits from co-location with the neighbouring country club (which is well-manicured, offers decent bistro-grade food, a stunning golf course, tennis/other sports and a small leisure pool best suited to children). Lake Toxaway is a quiet lake surrounded effectively by privately owned communities (ie minimal public access), so if you are looking for a peaceful setting, this is it. Positives: - Our mansion room was spacious with character, a comfortable bed and good bed linen - The food is fair but a bit over-priced; service in the restaurant was mixed - some good, some not - The lady running the bar was engaging and helpful - Spa: treatments competent and staff were kind - Grounds: well kept Downsides: - Room: Tiny bathroom - if someone is standing at the wash basin, you can’t open the door - with a roaring extractor fan filled with dirty fluff. Small towels (no bathsheets). Bedroom had no soundproofing to the corridor. Ancient coffee maker dispensing only lukewarm liquid. No in-room safe for valuables. No mirror in the bedroom. Bed still unmade at 2.30pm on any day - Service: With a few exceptions, staff were very friendly but they had very limited service skills. Simple requests (e.g. a kettle) were met with weak excuses (“we don’t have any!” and the offer of a jug of hot water). A good hotel seizes on small things with good grace as a chance to make your day - The spa: shared spaces are small and dark, with no dedicated relaxation area to enjoy after a treatment - Public areas of the hotel - more cleaning and maintenance required e.g. some dirty windows and tables, dusty light fittings, disintegrating plasterwork on the landing; outside terrace and garden furniture felt unloved - Price: way too expensive for what it is. Three nights here in our room was more expensive than three nights over comparable dates in June at the Four Seasons in Manhattan! I just checked. In summary: Reality check required. Objectively, I can’t make sense of the rave reviews. The Inn itself is quaint but definitely not great. I am not looking for a “city luxe” experience here - but at this price, you should expect top quality comfort and quietly excellent service that goes the extra mile. The hotel needs investment in buildings, equipment/fittings, facilities, cleaning, staff and training. Based on our experience, it’s trading on a pretty location and the country club facilities, rather than the quality of its core offering.

Gorgeous property with welcoming staff; excellent restaurant on property.