Hotel Hartness

Hotel Hartness, Greenville, United States: A Michelin Key Selected Retreat

Hotel Hartness in Greenville, United States, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its elegant ambiance, exceptional service, and beautiful grounds, establishing itself as a top luxury destination in South Carolina. Guests frequently describe their stays as wonderful and relaxing experiences.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Hartness is overwhelmingly positive, with an average guest review score of 9.4 out of 10 on Booking.com, reflecting a "Wonderful" rating. Condé Nast Traveler ranked it among the Top 25 Hotels in the South, and Travel + Leisure readers named it the #1 resort in South Carolina and #3 among resorts in the U.S., also placing it among the top 100 hotels in the world. Guests frequently use words like "absolutely beautiful and comfy," "exceptional," "stunning," and "first class" to describe their experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love the serene environment, the beautiful design of the hotel, and the attentive staff.

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel is often described as classy, stunning, elegant, and a work of art, with decor, furniture, and design that evoke the grandeur of a former private home. It offers a "warm cottage type charm" with comfortable places to relax by a fire. The property is especially noted for its beautiful decorations during Christmas.
• Amenities: Hotel Hartness provides a range of appealing amenities, including a luxury spa (Spa H), a seasonal outdoor pool with loungers and umbrellas, a 24-hour gym, and walking trails. Guests appreciate complimentary bicycle rentals for exploring the extensive grounds within the 482-acre Hartness community. Welcome amenities like champagne upon arrival are also mentioned.
• Service: The staff is frequently highlighted as amazing, attentive, friendly, and helpful, contributing significantly to the positive guest experience.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Hotel Hartness are described as appealing, cozy, and perfectly sized, designed for style and comfort. They are noted for being very clean, well-maintained, and featuring comfortable bedding and spacious, well-equipped bathrooms. Rooms offer luxe touches like plush bedding, soft bathrobes and slippers, free Wi-Fi, and HDTVs with cable channels. Some suites, particularly those adjoining Spa H, offer furnished balconies with views of the nature preserve. However, one recurring minor complaint is that some rooms can be too warm, with the air conditioning not always reaching desired temperatures.

4. Dining Experience

Hotel Hartness features two on-site dining options: Patterson Kitchen + Bar and The Captain, an intimate wine and cocktail bar. The restaurant is described as fabulous and excellent, serving sophisticated Southern fare with local Upstate South Carolina ingredients. The bar offers great food and delicious drinks.

Regarding breakfast, feedback is mixed. While some guests consistently described the breakfast as delicious, wonderful, and offering good essentials, others expressed disappointment that the complimentary breakfast buffet with porcelain dishes and silverware has been replaced by a cafe serving prepackaged food and coffee in disposable containers. Some also noted that breakfast was not rich enough and lacked vegetables. Room service is also desired by some guests.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Hotel Hartness receive exceptionally high ratings, with a staff rating of 9.7 out of 10 on Booking.com. Guests consistently praise the staff as amazing, attentive, friendly, supportive, and helpful. Specific mentions include welcoming staff at the front desk and helpful grounds support. The superior experience and personal service provided by the team are frequently highlighted as a testament to their excellence.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Hartness is situated within the 482-acre Hartness community in Greenville County, offering a secluded and quiet environment, sometimes with pond or garden views. While providing beautiful scenery and walking trails, it is noted to be a "little bit out from the city center" and "far from downtown Greenville." The proximity to the airport is a plus for some travelers. The hotel is also commended for its accessibility features, including wheelchair-accessible paths, parking, pool, restaurant, and lounge, along with elevators and visual alarms.

7. Value & Pricing

While many guests find the Hotel Hartness experience to be "first class" and "reasonably priced" for the quality of the environment and amenities, some have questioned the overall value, stating it "is definitely not worth the price paid" due to perceived inconsistencies in service. The average price for a weeknight is around $276, and for a weekend night, it's about $274, though prices can fluctuate significantly by season.

8. Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, a few recurring issues have been mentioned by guests:

• Room Temperature: Some guests have found the rooms to be too hot, even with the thermostat set low, making it difficult to sleep.
• Breakfast Changes: The shift from a complimentary breakfast buffet with real dishes to a cafe offering prepackaged items in disposable containers has been a disappointment for some returning guests.
• Service Inconsistencies: Despite overall excellent feedback on staff, a few reviews point to inconsistent service, with some staff members appearing indifferent or grumpy, requiring multiple attempts for simple requests.
• "Retreat" Marketing vs. Development: One reviewer felt the marketing of the property as a "retreat on 180 acres" was misleading, as ongoing development and construction of housing developments were visible from their balcony, impacting what was once a forest view.

Sources

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