- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bonneville Hot Springs Resort Spa
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1252 E Cascade DriveNorth Bonneville, WA 98639
(866) 459-1678
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
23 reviews for Bonneville Hot Springs Resort Spa
Review Highlights
"I would definitely recommend a private hot tub room."
(in 3 reviews)
"We checked out the indoor pool, very large and warm."
(in 2 reviews)
"The mineral-water spa on our balcony was very private and..."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
23 reviews in English
-
Review from Sarah B.
1/18/2012
I came here after receiving a gift certificate as a holiday gift from an employer. Why on earth they chose spa gift certificates to a spa that's over an hour away from Portland for their Portland-based employees, some of whom certainly were car-less, we'll never know. I have suspicions. In any case, the resort itself seemed nice, but this is a review for the spa - specifically, for their facials.
I had a facial here. I drove all the way out after work one day, with a fresh back injury, in the rain and wind. What a drive. Oy. And when I got there, I was late. Like, half-an-hour late, late. They squeezed me in anyway, because they're nice and I drove all that way after all.
Sara(h), the aesthetician, was amazing. She did amazing, magical things to my face. And she was relaxing, soothing, didn't make annoying chitter and/or chatter. And most importantly, did I mention my skin? Twas immediately clear, shining, soft, wonderful. And remained in this baby-like state of perfection for a solid three weeks thereafter. This is not always the case after facials. If I lived closer, or Sara(h) worked somewhere in Portland, I would most certainly become a slavish devotee, depositing every other paycheck directly into the spa coffers.
Thankfully, though, an hours' drive just won't fit into my busy schedule of shenanigans, shenanigans and more shenanigans. Thus, I am able to save my facial money in order to one day purchase a whole new face. For now, my face remains in a state of imperfection.
Some stuff to know, if you are a facial person and care:
- They have the Clarisonic machines and aren't afraid to use 'em. Cool.
- They use super-quality products. I don't remember the name of the line, but I took samples home with me and they were the real deal. If I were the sort of person to spend $70 on facial moisturizer, well I would be $70 poorer.
- They have heated chair-bed things. This is pretty standard for facial outfits but hey, you never know.
- The aestheticians will give you a detailed recommended skin-care routine when you leave. Sure, it includes recommended products they hope you'll purchase from them, but mine also contained non-salesy advice. Good on them. -
Review from Leah K.
I had no idea this place even existed. In fact, I never go east on HWY 14 past Camas, since that is where I'm from.
Didn't get to stay overnight but just came for the day. Lovely pool, large hot tubs, and 195 degree sauna. My favorite thing about the whole place was definitely the wood ceiling in the pool room. Beautiful texture! Will be returning in the future. -
Review from E L.
Portland, OR
8/10/2011
For sure... get a hot tub room because that's the only thing at this place that's worth coming for. Their natural hot springs water is quite nice.
We have been here a several times because they USED to be good. They used to have 20% off gift cards at Costco, and let you use those for anywhere at the resort at any time plus use a AAA discount. They slowly got greedy and did not let you use the gift card and AAA discount, and not let you use the gift card during the week when the spa offerings are at 20% off. They just got more and more stingy.
The resort itself is dated, and the pool is stuffy. However, the outdoor hot tub is nice if you like an overly chlorinated hot spring water experience. Their spa is okay. All the services are overpriced and their pedis and massages are average. They figured they can get away with it since you probably will never go back. The restaurant used to be good, but over time, you can tell that they have cut the corners. They changed the chef a year and a half ago (give or take a few months). Since then, their food has been very bland and no creativity or love is put into the menu items. I'm also not a big fan of the guests there: most of which seem to come from the eastern part of Vancouver, WA.
They have Wifi in the lodge, but not in the rooms.
It's pricey for what you get. I'm still on a mission to find the perfect weekend getaway from Portland. This is not a place I would recommend. -
Review from Jeff M.
Portland, OR
2/21/2011 3 photos
A Haiku Review of Bonneville Hot Springs Resort Spa:
Slightly outdated.
Still give it a solid "B".
Get a hot tub room. -
Review from Ryan N.
Cascade Locks, OR
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The beer and food selection is so so for the area and the prices are pretty high for what you get. Go for the spa not the food and drink
-
Review from Chiemi N.
8/6/2011 2 photos
I've been to Bonneville Hot Springs Resort Spa a number of times in the past. I've always had a great time in the past. The first time I went, I went with my sister, and we stayed overnight. It's been several years, so I can't really remember the amenities. I'm pretty sure we did not get a room with a hot tub, though I understand that is available. We both got massages. It was my first massage. I've had many massages since then, but that first one at Bonneville was the best! She and I ate in the restaurant, and we were not impressed. We made note back then, that if we ever stayed at Bonneville again, we would have dinner at Skamania Lodge.
I've done several day trips since then. The first day trip, cost $10 for day use pass. The next time was $15. Each time, I thought the price was worth it. From the first time I slipped into the mineral springs pool, my aches and pains seemed to disappear! I've always left the resort feeling relaxed and pain free!
Today I went, and it was $25!! So as I sit here typing my review, I am pain free...so what complaints could I possibly have?? Well, for starters, I couldn't quite get over the jump in price. Also, there were quite a few kids there, that it was impossible to really relax. Some of the kids were well behaved. But, the whining, and crying, and high pitched screams, I could have done without. I thought the jacuzzi outdoors was off limits to children, but there were several toddlers out there. Also, on one of the balconies, a group of women were talking and laughing loudly. I really didn't get that peaceful rest I was seeking.
I was disappointed in the locker room. I've been to other spas, where there was a more luxurious feel in the locker room. The locker room looked like a typical locker room in your run of the mill gym. There wasn't any carpeted area to dress on...so I had to try balancing on my flip flops to change clothes on, so that I wouldn't have to step on cold, wet tile while changing. A decent vanity area was lacking, with no stools or chairs. There was a blowdryer, which I spotted prior to going swimming. Based on that, I got my hair wet. I would have put my hair up if there wasn't a hairdryer. After shampooing my hair, I tried to dry my hair. There was barely any air coming out of blowdryer, and then it completely stopped. So hair was totally wet when I was ready to leave. I would have given the Bonneville 3 stars, but I was pretty unhappy about the wet hair, so deducted a star for that. I keep thinking of ways to improve my next venture out there, but I think I'll just stop going. -
Review from Joyce J.
Seattle, WA
9/20/2010
My husband and I just spent an enjoyable weekend at this resort. I had never been to the area but it beautiful there and very "Pacific Northwest" with lots of green and misty sky. Checkin was courteous despite our midnight arrival and we had arranged for a package that included a bottle of champagne which was waiting in our room. Definitely opt for a room with a hot tub...very worth it! We spent a lot of time in the mineral tub and it was private and relaxing and in pefect working order. The room was nice and clean, the bed comfortable with a light down comforter.
Our package included in room massages and they were good, not great in comparison to many I have had. If I were to go again, I would probably opt to go to the spa and experience more services there. The rooms come with a breakfast buffet which was good and had standard fare as well as omelets/eggs to order and waffles/pancakes.
There is an expresso stand/shop open almost all day and fairly late. We opted to eat dinner in the lounge vs. the dining room and I was glad. They offered the full dinner menu which was quite pricey (approx $35/entree) and a more casual menu (quesadilla, burger, fish n chips). Cocktails were great and reasonably priced, microbrews were only $4 and entrees were at the $12-$15 range. The food was great, the server we had was goddawful but not a night-ruiner.
We checked out the indoor pool, very large and warm. Quiet at 8:30pm. They have a few hot tubs in the pool area and an extremely hot sauna. The best part was the outdoor hot tub with a nice sprinkling of rain. It really is a beautiful place.
Checkout was smooth and overall, worth the trip down there. Rooms are not cheap and if I were to go back, I would probably forgo the package and just get a King spa room on the hillside and sample the spa menu once we go there. -
Review from Stephanie Y.
Portland, OR
3/29/2010
We went here for a two night stay and thought it was fine. The service was not friendly, but it wasn't unfriendly, either. We had a hot tub room looking at the hillside, and it was really great. The great-room was beautiful and perfect for reading or having a drink from the bar. The food was overpriced for what you got, but they were definitely trying, and I wouldn't call it bad.
The only real complaint is the day spa. The people were so rude and unknowledgable when I booked our appointments, one of which was one of their monthly specials, which was supposedly 20% off. Two days before our appointments, I received a call saying that we would not get the 20% off because after we booked, they reserved that date as a black out. After confirming that at the time of booking it wasn't blacked out, the person on the phone, as well as the person screaming in the background, informed me that as stated on their website, they have the right to do that. I just thought it was rude, and though 20% isn't much extra to pay, it also isn't a lot to honor in that situation, either. It seemed unnecessary and small.
Overall, it was a quiet get-away. There are nice day hikes around the area, and a soak in the mineral water really seemed help sore muscles. I would definitely recommend a private hot tub room. Don't come here if you are looking for raging fun, but it is a perfect place to relax and unwind. -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
9/12/2008
Relax. Relate. Cough. Cough. Cough. Release. Cough. Hack. Ugh.
Lemme tell ya what not to do. Don't ever get a massage when you have the beginnings of a bronchitis bout. Just don't. It will seem tempting, I know. But don't.
If however, your lovely gal pal offers to take you there for a surprise bday gift, then by all means, get the massage, but warn the masseuse that you are going to be slipping little coughy coughs in there and he should just continue and not stop and ask "are you okay?" after every lung tremble.
Besides all of that, it was a lovely massage and I was definitely more relaxed than when I went in for the rub down. I think that was thanks to the divine and heavenly Eucalyptus bath I soaked in for 20 minutes before, along with the butterfly in a cocoon treatment after that. So lovely.
As for the place. Well, it's... interesting. For example, not many spas have a miniature golf course as you pull up and not many spas have a fake rock wall surrounding the entry way. I almost half expected to see Goldilocks and the 3 Bears somewhere in the changing room. Sadly, I didn't find them.
The staff though was very nice and welcoming and it wasn't a stuffy sort of vibe, which I definitely appreciated. There is nothing less relaxing than a spa staff with attitude. I often wonder what makes spas like that think they are soo cool. Trust me honey, just cuz yo water is made with oranges n cucumbers don't mean you all dat! -
Review from Laura N.
9/16/2008
Here are some truths:
My car doesn't have air conditioning.
It has been hotter than a honeymoon hotel of late.
Bonneville Hot Springs Resort is about an hour away (...45 minutes if I'm driving.)
You'd think these things would deter me from going twice. In one week.
If those factors didn't deter me, you'd venture that the ultimate campy-horror movie hunting lodge and taxidermist shangri-la, complete with run-down astroturf mini-golf, eerie player pianos, and fake flickering candles would do it.
nope.
Their rooms have balconies. With private hot tubs.
Get past the initial facade and you will find yourself in paradise. Here's what our $250 package included:
-one night stay in suite with private balcony hot tub
-cold champagne and snacks waiting in the room
-two 80 minute massages
-two 25 minute hot spring bath soaks
-two 25 minutes mineral wraps
-$20 credit at the lodge restaurant (which got us free breakfast)
-Full access to spa, pools, hot springs, sauna...
Sunday football, massages, champagne, Entourage, private hot tub...you get the idea.
The best $250 I've ever spent.Listed in: Pamper Me, Please?
-
Review from Charlene K.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2011 3 photos
Diamond in the rough! Very affordable luxury! Surrounded by mountains and pine trees this place is where I like to camp. Nice rooms with hot tubs. Hotel has an indoor pool, a full bar, a restaurant and a FULL SPA!!! Be sure to treat yourself to a massage package - IT FEELS SO GOOD I'M GONNA DIE!! Been here twice and LOVED IT!
-
Review from Nate K.
Duluth, MN
3/30/2007 2 photos
Honestly, i found this place by accident. Nevertheless, Bonneville Hot Springs Resort has to be one of the best spas around. The place is located about a hour west of Mt Hood on the lower end of Washington state and is the perfect getaway. The hotel has a log cabin feel with deep leather chairs and fireplace for late night reading, the rooms are classic with huge bathrooms (supposedly this is a big thing for girls) and the hottubs on the decks attached to each room is the perfect place to spend a quiet evening. The Spa which is attached to the hotel is a full sevice spa and it is the pefect way to star a day of vineyard hopping. Best of all the place offers great packages and for holidays or that weekend getaway.
Insider note: this place is really perfectly situated - 4 hour south of Seattle, 2 hours north of Portland, 30 minutes away from Mt. Hood and there are tons of really great vineyards up and down the highway.
Insider note II: if you can get it - do the executive room - it is huge and it has the best view in the whole resortListed in: Personal Favorites!, Best of Carrie & Nate
-
Review from Justin N.
Vancouver, WA
9/18/2011
We came at last minute to the hot springs for our anniversary in September of 2011. I had heard about this place before, but had no idea what to expect: I didn't know if "hot springs" meant that you were going to some place way out in the woods where they somehow diverted water from "hot springs", etc. Well, it is a hotel, with a large pool and hot tubs, etc. I am not sure how the "hot springs" and the pool and hot tubs correlate, but I am sure that they do. I would be interested in learning about that. Anyway... the PROS: the staff was very friendly. It is obvious that there is some sort of a rule that they have which states that you have to be very, very nice to all of the people who come through the door. We were greeted with kindness over, and over, and over again. So, I thought that was great. To me, if you are going to spend the money to go to a place like this then part of what you are paying for is "royal treatment", and I thought that they did a good job with that. The food was good. It is a peaceful atmosphere, to be sure, so it is a nice get-away that isn't far from the Portland/Vancouver area. I would certainly consider coming back. The CONS: the place is very dated. I mean, it is really dated. It seems like it is coming straight out of the 60's, 70's and early 80's. Lots of wood, dark woods, low lighting, etc. As a home inspector, looking at construction all of the time, I immediately noticed this. And I would say that it kind of puts a damper on things because architecture and decor weigh heavily on my mood and personality. The rooms are nice, not exceptional. The pool and spas (the group spas) are nice, but again the pool room is extraordinarily dated. From what I can tell the only things that seem to be new(er) is the metal roof and the courtyard landscaping doesn't appear to be too old. Other than that, the place is dated. Our room was $275+. Was it worth it? Ahh... well, there are two ways to approach this. We were originally going to stay in Hood River at one of the most sickening and dingy places we have ever been to. I didn't feel comfortable there, and it was $80 per night. We would have been very uncomfortable, and to be frank I didn't feel safe. So, we came here and it was $200 more. The $200 covered: live music, the accommodations of a lounge, a nice breakfast in the morning, the spa and pool, a pleasant atmosphere, nice staff who went out of the way to show kindness, good service, nice landscaping, good smells, the feeling of safety, beautiful surroundings with the mountains and trees, etc. So, compared to where we WERE, I would say yes it is worth it. Had I not gone to the place that I was at before, then I would say yes and no. It is hard to justify spending $275+ on a hotel of any kind (at least it is for me), and I would expect something much nicer, personally, than this. BUT, to be fair, I would also add this: a lot of really nice hotels and resorts have other things to offset the expenses of the rooms. For example, if you go to Las Vagas the rooms will usually be nicer and MUCH cheaper, but why? Because they are getting you THERE and assuming that a disproportionate amount of people will spend a lot of money in the hotel and loosing money in the casinos. If you go to places in Mexico the hotel may be cheaper and nicer, but again they expect you to spend money on other things. So, if you are just coming to a place in a lovely environment, such as this, and want to relax with pools and spas, etc. you are paying for what you get. When you go to places in Vegas you will spend way more money in the long run. I don't know if this makes sense, but that is how I see it. You can't compare, in the end, this place to other places because they have nothing here to offset the hotel costs with. Oh, and I would also add HOW NICE it was to have a huge balcony facing the courtyard where there was the constant sound of rushing water around us at all times. We kept the door open and the sounds, smells and fresh air definitely made for a VERY good rest.
-
Review from Janessa T.
Spokane, WA
1/30/2009
This place is the ultimate in getaways. My mom and I went here for Mother's Day weekend 08 and it was not what I expected at all. I thought it would be snooty (I'd never been to a spa) and ridiculously overpriced. It was neither. The restaurant was affordable but the food was unique, which is sometimes hard to come by in hotels. I had the best creme brulee there ever--it had blueberries baked in. The spa was a delight and not pretentious at all. I was disappointed that some of the spa was closed for remodel so we couldn't do manicures or use the 2 person rooms, but the construction wasn't noticable.
Pretty much the only bad thing about this place is how it turned into a YMCA on Mother's Day. A lot of townies came in to have brunch with their families, and then decided to pay day use rates for the pool. Well, check in for that is at the same desk as spa check in and there were kids running amok everywhere as we were trying to get in for our spa appointments. The desk staff was really great at making sure those of us with reservations had priority. Even though there were a ton of screaming little kids and the spa walls didn't quite keep the sound out, once I got into my facial I forgot all about the aggravation.
I will definitely be making many happy returns to this gem. For what you get it's really quite affordable. We had a private balcony jacuzzi and it was totally worth it. I have a bad back and hotel beds usually bother me but several nights here were no trouble at all. I can't say enough good things about this place. If you live in Washington or Oregon, go!!! Now.
To correct a previous review it's only about 45 minutes east of Portland and just across the Columbia on the Washington side. -
Review from Erin H.
Portland, OR
5/27/2011
My fiance proposed to me and planned a weekend stay at Bonneville as part of the surprise. We made reservations for the restaurant and told them it was in celebration of our engagement. We were seated and there were only two other couples in the entire restaurant. After waiting 30 minutes with no service, not even glasses of water. We stopped the server that had passed us several times and asked if we could at lease open our wine. She said "I'm sorry, your not in my section". Again the restaurant is small and she was the only server in the entire place! 45 minutes went by and I finally got the manager. As a "courtesy" for our wait she would waiver our $15 corking fee. Really!!!? We finally ordered (with the same server that wouldn't help us earlier). I ordered the fillet mignon medium well. When it came out it was so undercooked I was shocked. Literally, it was raw and cold most the way through. I got the manager and she proceeded to tell me that I could go talk with the cook myself but that they didn't get along and she didn't want to deal with them. She offered to comp our uneaten meals and let us order something else. The only things available were from the "late night menu". We got chicken strips. This is no joke! Long story long I will never go there again. It is was such a disappointment.
-
Review from Deanna H.
Portland, OR
6/1/2011
I arrived here to soak in the hotsprings. Their outside hot tub is the best part of this experience and it was not working. I recieved no notice, was not discounted or compensated upon my initial request for this and on top of that was treated very rudely by the woman who appeared to be in charge... Their customer service appears to be extremely lacking. They did, however, finally give me a 20 percent coupon cut from a magazine for a return visit. However, it was handled very poorly and I am very dissapointed. I was hoping this was a place I could frequently visit, but this is not the case.
-
Review from Jeff H.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2008
Nice accommodations - kind of a lodge feel - great bed and we had a room with a private deck and hot tub that was really nice - very clean and convenient. The communal pool and spa area is also quite nice and opens onto a wonderful garden area. The restaurant was a nice experience as well - good food and a pretty good value.
-
Review from Claire W.
Portland, OR
1/18/2010
An enjoyable adventure when your in the area. What will you find? Hmm, let's call it in between a small resort or a large hotel. There's a number of nice rock waterfalls around the property with steel and bronze animal statues. The front lobby has a grand atrium with a beautiful three-story fireplace. I imagined the Christmas stocking you could hang on that mantle planed out of a whole pine tree. It would hold that pony you always wanted. The wall scones were wrought iron with leaves, a nice touch. There's twenty different cushy couches and leather club chairs to sit in. One grouping surrounds a table with an globe sunk in the middle. It was a fun conversation piece. We ended up resting here a moment with a glass of wine to chat after our relaxing hot tub soak.
Down the hall at the spa, you can pay $16.13 (it's Washington, there's sales tax) for a three hour pass to the pool complex. Indoors, there's an large pool, a large hot tub (call it a small pool with jets) and a sauna. Out in the charmingly landscaped courtyard is another large hot tub that's not quite as hot as the indoor one. We visited on a holiday Monday and there were lots of kids around, but they are not allowed in the outdoor hot tub which is my favorite because I love sitting on the edge and getting really cold in the breeze before dunking back into the steamy water. There was also a fun bunch of Romanian gentlemen wearing leather winter hats in the hot tub.
Everything looks like normal pools, but they are all filled with volcanically heated mineral water and a dash of chlorine by law. The lifeguard (not always on duty, check the website for hours when children are allowed) said it only smells like chlorine when the pools are crowded. Normally, there's no chemical smell.
The sauna was sweltering hot and really relaxing, especially paired with dipping in the 84 degree pool. I lost count of how many times we switched between hot and cool. Afterwards, it's back to the locker/bathroom where the showers have a complimentary shower gel and shampoo dispenser and two hooks. The locker room is nicely tiled with some cool black granite sinks. The lockers in the locker room unfortunately cost another $5 to rent, so we all carried our clothes to the pool and left them on a chaise.
I'm excited to try a more rustic hot springs adventure to Bagby later, but for a conventional or convenient dip, Bonneville Hot Springs is a good spot. Overall, it was a fantastic, relaxing afternoon. -
Review from Hal P.
San Diego, CA
7/31/2009
We stayed here for a night in early August 2009. We got a spa room looking over the hill. The mineral-water spa on our balcony was very private and nice. The room itself was very spacious and pleasant. It was hot in the Pacific Northwest during our visit, but the air conditioning was very effective and the room was very comfortable. The public rooms (esp the "Great Roon") are extremely attractive, even dramatic. Some of the color schemes could have been improved, but these flaws were minor. The restaurant was not getting a lot of business as of Aug 2009, and it is not cheap. Given these things, we were surprised to find that the food was just j superb. As you can tell from my other reviews, I am not easily impressed, but this place is really good, and we hope to come back and visit this place during some other season.
-
Review from leah g.
Portland, OR
8/22/2009
Went for the most divine bath and wrap. It is an unbeatable experience and for $30 it can't be beat. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is so plush. Might have to make this a monthly drive down the Gorge. It's worth it!
-
Review from Leslie B.
Everett, WA
9/28/2009 2 photos
I was on a business trip with 19 other people and we decided to stay here since it was semi-close to the businesses were were going to be visiting. For starters the hotel on the outside is decent, but on the inside it is gorgeous (hotel lobby). The hotel pools are all mineral water, including the indoor lap pool. The place also offer free miniature golf, which i heard is not good since the entire course is sloped (all the balls go to the same spot no matter how you hit the ball). It also offers all sorts of spas and pedicures. unfortunately I wasn't able to partake in those activities. The rooms are nice and roomy and all rooms have an outdoor balcony. Some of the nicer suites have a private hot tube that the maids fill up with fresh mineral water when a new guest arrives. My biggest problem with this place and its only because I was on business is the restaurant in the hotel. for breakfast it doesn't open until 7:30, which was difficult since we had to leave each morning by 8. So they opened up at 7, but i still didn't get my breakfast until 7:45am! They are very slow and don't have any sense of urgency....hence a spa resort. Another reason I'm not a big fan of this place is that it is in the middle of nowhere! no restaurants, no shopping, no nothing. It is close to the Columbia river gorge, so if you like kite surfing or wind surfing, this is the place for you.
-
Review from B E.
Portland, OR
10/14/2010
Great spot to relax. Rooms are always nice and the spa is very peaceful. Only bad thing about the place is that there aren't many options for food very close, pretty much have to eat in their restaurant. The restaurant is very good though, just a bit expensive.
-
Review from Brianne G.
Hillsboro, OR
1/4/2010
If you go, you MUST get a hot-tub room. How incredible to get in your own private hot-tub before breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Completely private deck, with a "mountain view" (just woods, but pretty woods! And when we went there was snow, so it was even prettier).... doesn't get much better. BUT (there is a but), the facilities are lacking a few things. The restaurant service is SLOW. Slow, slow. And food is okay, but not stellar. The rooms are somewhat lackluster. And there's no fitness room, which makes a fitness fiend like me a bit stir-crazy when it's slushy and rainy outside! My husband and I stayed 2 nights and we felt relaxed, but a bit holed-in by the end of the trip. Besides driving to Hood River, there's really nothing else close by to do. Maybe it's better in the summer, when trails are hike-able. My verdict: they need a fitness room (and I hear they might be getting on this next year).
