Sundara Inn & Spa

My wife and I have been coming here for a dozen years, a couple of times a year on average though we've brought out-of-town family and she's brought 4-5 of her staff on day/night/day retreats as well. We love the proximity to Madison and our (my) favorite getaway is coming up on a spring/summer afternoon, relaxing in the pool, eating dinner at Dell Bar, golfing Wild Rock in the morning and having spa services that afternoon before heading home. It can be a wonderful way to spend 24 hrs. Sadly, the rigidity of the staff make relaxing here impossible. You will be met by a wonderful doorman/bellhop/chauffeur in Richard, who is the only one with a heart and soul---but the rest of the staff don't smile, are inflexible about their no-tech policy, and can't seem to find a way to extend the checkout time (because the rooms somehow magically ALL clean themselves promptly at noon, at least on Thursday). We had an 0800 tee time at Wild Rock and 1400 (2 pm) spa services at Sundara, just across the road. Checkout is 1100, late checkout is noon--NO exceptions apparently. Mapping this out, we wouldn’t be done golfing until noon, but could be back at Sundara and out of the room easily by 1300---but they won't extend the late checkout ONE hour. So having spent only 22 hrs on property and over $500 (not including another $300-400 in spa services yet to come) we have to rush, be packed and out of our room by 0700 and then live out of the car the rest of the afternoon, changing between golf clothes, bathing suit for the spa and clothes to go home in, running to/from the car. I know there are bigger things in life to worry about but sometimes, when you want to relax (and are paying a lot of money to do it), it's about the little things---these are the things Sundara staff used to care about. Now they've lost their soul and gotten too big for themselves---and the rest of us apparently. Go for the spa services if you need to, definitely golf Wild Rock, but forget it as a hotel. There are better, far less rigid and much more human places to stay.
1 7 years ago (16-05-2018)

Was a fabulous spa. Had a Body wrap and Vische shower treatment, facial, massage and wax. The shower treatment was excellent! All the technicians were professional and friendly. The pools were really nice. As a hotel, it was over priced for what it was worth. We stayed Friday through Monday. The restaurant was understaffed and you had to wait. The poor wait staff were moving as fast as they could. Food was okay. The shower in the hotel room was really neat if it worked. It had electronic controls that kept shorting out. So every time you wanted to get in the shower you had to wait for someone to come reset the fuse. The light bulbs kept burning out. For the 4 days and 3 nights we had to call maintenance 1-2 times every day. They did compensate us $100 but would not extend our check out by 1/2 hour. The complementary turn down service was two caramels in a cup each night and a random tea set delivered on the first night with no tea or hot water. Not what we were expecting when a hotel offers turn down service. I would truly recommend the spa. But as for the hotel. There are similar options in the area for a lot less money.
3 7 years ago (28-05-2018)

Very relaxing. Enjoyed all the extras with my service. Sand polish, hot plunge, cold plunge and outdoor pool and hot tub. Nichol was exceptionally wonderful too. Paid attention to detail with my pedicure service. Highly recommend!
5 7 years ago (15-05-2018)

Very relaxing. Very attentive. My stay at the inn was very comfortable and peaceful. No extraneous noise at all. They are currently adding a dining room which will be a wonderful addition. The therapists I have worked with have all been excellent. Sundara is pretty pricey but you get what you pay for.
4 7 years ago (17-01-2018)

The guy that checks you in is very arrogant, cocky and rude. We came in for a couples massage. Sundara is VERY expensive so I was expecting over the top service and atmosphere. Did not get that at all. The ladies locker room is very small. I came late at night during the week so it wasn't too bad but I can't imagine what Its like during busy times or weekend. The robes are very dated and completely worn out inside. The towels are thin and need to be replaced. The purifying ritual is a wonderful idea but once I got into the hot tub there was all kinds of gunk floating around me. GROSS!!!! (If you read the sign inside the purifying room they get their "body scrub" from right outside, literally. They use the sand or dirt from their excavation site and they add essential oils to it to make it smell good. They sell a jar of it in the lobby for $30 😂) We were then off to the "quiet room" were I was told you can't even whisper to each other. So as I'm enjoying my water people are coming and going through and talking at regular levels. Not quiet in there at all. We paid for the 50 minute couples massage. Appointment was set for 8pm. We got called in to the room about 8:03pm. They sit you down to discuss any issues you have and if you need more work on certain areas then go over the different essential oils you can choose for your massage. So this is another 10 minutes. The massage itself felt rushed but I couldn't see what time it was. After we got up and grabbed our robes it was only 8:50. It should have gone until 9:05. Our 50 minute massage was only 35. Total rip off. We will never recommended this place to anyone nor will we be back.
1 7 years ago (08-05-2018)