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The Abbey Resort & Spa
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Hotels, Restaurants [Edit]
269 Fontana BlvdFontana, WI 53125
(262) 275-6811
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for The Abbey Resort & Spa
Review Highlights
"Also check out the living social escapes."
(in 3 reviews)
"Overall, the staff was friendly and helpful."
(in 3 reviews)
"I was very pleasantly surprised."
(in 3 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Buzz M.
Billings, MT
1/27/2012
This is a wonderful old hotel that's been remodeled a number of times. Recently they've added small flat screen tv's. Small. LIke 20".
Rooms are nice, bathrooms are clean, and if you get a lake view with a patio you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Krystle H.
Lake Geneva, WI
2/5/2012
This review is originally from 2010-2011
Spa is so overcrowded they don't have enough lockers for everyone receiving services. How embarrassing to take my mom there for her birthday only to have her carry her things in a bag. After begging the front desk for a locker, we did get one (just one! for three women!) there were dirty slippers and a dirty robe in the locker. Then my sister was picked up 15 minutes late for a 25 minute massage service.... sounds relaxing,huh?
After I asked to speak to the director the problem was resolved with a gift certificate to visit again. I do admit it was nice, however I would've rather had a relaxing experience.
On a separate occasion my fiance and I went on a romantic retreat. The rooms are beautiful, however the staff is unprofessional and below par. This second stay is the only reason why this review received a 2 star instead of a 1.
The pool and hot tub offer a nice relaxing setting.
I will never be back, maybe you'll have better luck? -
Review from Cece O.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
I came up here on a Living Social deal last month to get away from Chicago for a few days, and I was not disappointed.
I took Metra up to Harvard station, and they have a free shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off at the station, and any where within a 10 mile radius (you just have to arrange it in advance). It beats the issues with parking people have noted in other reviews and the typical traffic you have to face to get there from Chicago.
My room was lovely. The decor was warm and inviting, and I loved the bathroom. My only complaint about the room was that I had a slow drain in my shower, and I contacted the front desk about the drain and it was fixed within an hour.
I have various food allergies as noted in my other reviews, and Chef Pickos and Chef North were totally on top of their game. I had delicious meals in both the grill and the bar that never made me sick. The wait staff are also trained to help people with issues like mine, and would double and triple check all labels to make sure everything that was put in front of me was ok.
The spa was amazing and truly a highlight for my stay. I recommend getting a deal here if you can as well-the spa prices are very expensive, sometimes even more expensive than a typical Chicago spa, which I thought was weird.
So while there were momentary hangups for the stay, overall I thought it was great place to stay at in the fall, and I would go back there again if I ever needed to get away from the city again. -
Review from Karen Anne B.
Riverside, IL
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first impression of the Abbey was that the reviews were overly harsh. We checked into our room, it was clean and nice, a decent size, comfy bed and our room had a private balcony (where as some share one big long one). The heat/air had a thermostat, which I love in a hotel room. The grounds are well kept and quiet (both during the day and at night).
The shower was large and nice, but the hot water wasn't quite hot enough to make me happy.
The parking lot by the front entrance was always full. They offer complimentary valet but we wanted to just leave the car for a minute while we checked in. Seems like it should be no big deal. When we were walking in, one of the employees said they wanted to hold our keys. Why? Whatever, we gave him the keys but they should really have a place where you can park for 15 minutes without forking over your keys.
We were having a hard time figuring out where to eat. We tried to call the concierge. It was 5pm and they were already closed. Seemed a bit early to be closed.
The room had a small refrigerator that made quite a bit of noise when the compressor would kick on, plus a popping and clicking that went on all damn night and kept me up for most of it. Additionally, the toilet kept running every other time we flushed it. So we had to pick up the lid and giggle the thingie to make it stop. Gross and annoying.
My husband mentioned the refirgerator and toilet when we checked out and all they said was they were sorry and they'd have an engineer check it out. How does that help us?
We were also socked with a "resort fee" though my husband doesn't rememeber agreeing to it...
Basically, I have mixed feelings about the Abbey. Maybe if I got a deal I'd stay there again. For the price we paid though, something more than "Oh sorry" would have been nice. -
Review from Susan M.
Morton Grove, IL
1/22/2012
loved it, great food, super comfortable bed and room, staff was terrific. i do think it is a bit pricey and the resort fee is a bit crazy but other than the cost being a bit high, we loved it and i would return for sure. markus, the guest service manager was top of the line helping us out.
sue and patrick -
Review from Louie B.
Franklin, MA
9/9/2011
I was in Wisconsin for the 20th anniversary shows of Pearl Jam. A bunch of fans ended up at The Abbey.
My room was basic but nicely appointed. Comfy bed and great pillows. Fridge and Microwave in the room which was a nice plus. Tub drain did not work but I was only there for 2 nights and had a busy schedule so I just jammed some coffee stirrers in there to make it happen :)
I did get a massage in the spa which was nice. The spa pool was huge and the hot tub was HOT! a nice relaxing piece of an otherwise hectic trip. Had never seen water w strawberries in it and it was a nice change from the usual lemon.
Made the Champage Brunch at the Fontana Grill. The food was very good - with my favorites being the thai chicken, the shoestring potatoes and the sliced beef. The omelet I had made was GIANT, it was good but too big especially with so many other choices.
I did have an issue checking in where my room key did not work when I got to the room. I had to walk back to the front desk and it was at that time that they warned me that phones could deactivate the key. Why they didn't tell me this the first time I don't know.
Another small thing is that one of the housekeepers I saw seemed to be ignoring people. I said good morning to her but she just looked away and said nothing. I feel like for a place to be 5 star every employee should be treating every guest like gold.
Overall a great place and I'd go back if I was ever in WI again. -
Review from Lisa H.
Morton Grove, IL
1/2/2012
This place is the best Midwest resort for all chicagoans. It truly has it all. I went there for new years eve and 2 days later I am still celebrating. 5 star resort , very good food, very attentive staff , quality service , cozy ambiance perfect winter resort .
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Review from Orlagh B.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2011
got a living social deal for one night stay. my boyf and i went for our anniversary. inclluded access to the spa and spa suite. really enjoyed our stay. was worried after reading the bad reviews, but i thought the place was great!!!
really comfortable big bed. lovely staff and brilliant spa! cant really complain. if you are using the living social deal make sure to book the private spa suite thats included, an entire room to yourself with jacuzzi and tv, ordered room service to the suite, great fun!
one WARNING, do not eat at the FONTANA GRILL, the reviewers were right about how poor the food is there and the prices are extortionate... with about 4 table tops in the grill it took 1hr30mins for the food to arrive, not even a bread basket ordered, crappy cocktails, def look outside the hotel for food. otherwise a great getaway -
Review from Angela G.
Lansing, IL
So I knew I had a vacation coming up from my job but really didn't have anything planned. I remembered I purchased a living social escape for the Abbey and made a reservations for the day after valentines day.(made the reservations 1 month in advance)
First, this is no where from Chicago. It took us less than 2 hrs coming from the southern suburbs. It was a nice scenic drive. You never realize how huge Illinois is till you drive through. (drove to St. Louis also) There's more than just Chicago and surrounding cities. Illinois has vast farmland and beautiful scenery. (And NO traffic either!) It's nice to see horses and cows, along with beautiful trees and rolling hills. Also one more thing about the drive, you can get on the expressway but it doesn't take you straight there. Once you get off the expressway, you have to drive another 30 to 40 minutes on the roads. (they consider it a highway but it's just street driving) Not a bad drive though.
This is a beautiful place. To be so close to home, it seems like a world away. They have free valet parking. You pull right up to the door and they greet you and take your bags. The valet was really nice and parked our car close to the door. Walking into the lobby, it seemed like you were walking into a vast living room. The fire place was going, there was a guy sitting there reading and the concierge at the front desk greeted us warmly. We were allowed to check in early. Check in time is 4pm but we were allowed to check in at 10am. They also told me that on the phone when I called to make the reservation. They said it would be no problem to check in early if the room was available.
Going into the room, I was thoroughly impressed. Check out the pictures, they speak for themselves. I didn't have any problems with bed bugs and staff was beyond helpful and attentive. They offer free wifi but I was having a problem with it in my room. They hurriedly brought me an ethernet cable to solve the problem. I was also missing the slippers that come with the robes. Again, no sooner that I called someone was knocking on the door.
We went into the gift shop and purchased a nice heavy cotton pullover for half price. Every time we went some where, the staff was pleasant and very attentive to our needs. If you're looking for a nice quiet place that's not too far away, this is it. Also check out the living social escapes. They are wonderful!Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/20/2011
Dear Angela G., I wnat to thank you very much for taking… More » -
Review from Kelly D.
Downers Grove, IL
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
We really enjoyed our stay here.
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Review from Andrea A.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2011
My boyfriend and I decided to leave the big city for a weekend away for our anniversary. We decided on the Abbey Resort, which was a perfect decision! It was one of the many frigid weekends here in the Chicago area, which was a perfect time to be at the Abbey since it is all enclosed. Our room was very clean, and had cute decorations. We were on the top floor, which was nice because of the higher ceiling (it definitely made it look bigger and more open).
We spent one day at the Spa, which is $25 per person just for admission. If you are going as a couple, I definitely suggest doing this since the area is adults only. We also got great sandwiches via room service to the spa area (mine was a yummy lobster and avocado sandwich).
The restaurants are OK- it is typical food that you would find at any resort. There were only two minor complaints that we had: no ESPN in the rooms (which my bf did not like since it was the Australian Open) and some of the staff was great, while others were snobby and cold. Overall, it was a great place and worth the price, especially if you live in Chicago!Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/21/2011
Dear Andrea, I want to thank you very much for sharing your… More » -
Review from Al M.
Round Lake, IL
10/3/2010
To be honest, it is what I expected. Clean, moderately comfortable, not luxurious. Overpriced for what it is. The rooms are small, even with a harbor view, and an upper level room they still feel cramped. We attended a wine tasting which we paid $35.00. It was 45 degrees outside, and they still had the tasting event outside. It should have been moved inside or they should have had more than 2 heaters outside. The music was very nice, a jazz trio the played while their fingers turned blue.
The food was very limited for the price paid, fruit salsa on scallops is so 1996. The mushroom in puff pastry was something I could have found in my grocers freezer from Stouffers . The cheese a pate table was well done. They offered a nice selection of Wisconsin cheese and a couple of nice homemade pates.
The staff was pleasant. There was no place to put our dirty plates and wine glasses. 1 bus person was not enough to keep one from wondering to find a place to put a dirty glass or plate.
The Director of Operations (I don't remember his name) was very engaging and interested. Unfortunately it was so cold and the wines were quite mediocre for the cost of the event, I did not care if he was Elvis. I can go to a tasting locally and try 70 wine and have good food for $25.00 a person.
So the real question is would is, would I go back? Probably not, for the price and what they were offering and the level for service, we can do a lot better.Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/21/2011
Dear Al, I appreciate your taking the time to share your… More » -
Review from Liss B.
Rochester, NY
8/2/2011
Where do I start!? This place was HORRIBLE! They play this place up to be such a fancy high class resort, and it was anything but that!
Problem # 1: When checking in, we got our keys, we go to the room, and they keys DON'T work! I had to find a maid to let me use a phone from another room to call the front desk. We wait for about 20 minutes until someone comes with new keys...he opens the room to find 2 women in the room! Someone was already in our room! The guy calls the front desk, who puts us into another room. I had to go back to the front desk to get the keys and when I come back, THEY DON'T WORK!!!! Another trip to the front desk...where I am "helped" by a bunch of teenagers.
Problem # 2 All of the buildings and rooms have this horrible musty moldy smell.
Problem # 3 Our shower took 20 minutes to drain after each shower! It was like taking a standing bath.
Problem # 4 After 2 nights there, we tried to get back into our room...and the key DIDN'T work again!!!! I called the front desk, where they told me they were "busy" and I would have to wait 30 minutes or walk to the front desk! How rude! I am a guest!
Problem # 5 Good luck finding a parking spot or getting anywhere in the "resort" the map was horrible! We were trying to find our breakfast area and asked 4 hotel employees where it was and they DIDN'T know!
I will NEVER stay here again! Nor recommend it to anyone! This place needs a lot of work! Including some serious renovations! Not worth the money! Walking in on someone already in their room is extremely embarrassing! And apparently it happens rather frequently! Ridiculous! -
Review from Jen K.
Chicago, IL
6/25/2011
The resort was basically what I expected, nothing overly extravagant but definitely doable. My room wasn't cleaned the second day that I was there, but I have no idea if it was supposed to be. The staff was super friendly and helpful, but the property could use a facelift for sure.
Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 7/27/2011
Dear Jen. K, I want to thank you very much for taking the… More » -
Review from Meg W.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2010
I've been going to The Abbey since I was a kid. It was always the greatest place for an easy family vaca. Nothing fancy, but just good 'ol Wisconsin fun.
My kids love it. The pool, the games on the lawn, the arcade-great!
The rooms are nice too.
But on our trip there this March, the food was awful. I mean beyond bad. After a breakfast when our eggs benedict were hard boiled from sitting under the lamps for so long to the fried calamari at lunch that were a soggy, salty inedible mess, we decided to eat every other meal off property. Which, with kids is a major pain the butt.
So, I sent in my customer service survey telling them how bad the food was and I got a form letter back saying absolutely nothing and offering no incentive to return.
It's the Grand Geneva for us from now on! -
Review from Amie C.
Chicago, IL
9/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to love you Abbey, I did. I had had a gift certificate for you for a year and I had excitedly awaited the day we would meet. You looked welcoming and warm on the lovely fall day we met. You seemed a bit outdated but that can be quaint at times. The room seemed quaintly decorated, the outdoor pools looked awesomely inviting.
Here's where it goes downhill for me......I recently acquired some info about bed bugs and have decided I DO NOT want to stay somewhere and bring them home with me so I do a quick check upon entering the room. Now, I'm not one for spreading rumors so I thought long and hard before deciding if I would put this issue in my review.....well here it is.
I'm not an entomologist, but I grew up with a father as an exterminator. I'm not 100% certain what I found was a bed bug. Did I find said bug(s) on the bed (ie mattress)? Yes. Are there any reasons why bugs of any kind should be on the mattress? Nope. I politely called the front desk and explained what I found. They sent someone to move us to another room and then I saw another important looking guy go into the room. We weren't offered any sort of anything! Clearly you can't comp my room, it's already on a gift certificate, but at least offer something worth my time. I would have been happy with someone talking to us. A little customer service goes a long ways. I don't expect free stuff just don't like to feel ignored.
We didn't try out the spa but it looked nice. The indoor pool and hot tub area were nice, felt outdated though. They do have a sweet game room am tables of board games set out ready to play.Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/20/2011
Dear Amie. C, I want to thank you for taking the time to… More » -
Review from Barbara D.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2008
Love this place.
My girlfriend had her wedding here this weekend outside in a tent.
Beautiful.
The place is so large, with all kinds of corridors and rooms, you can get lost here. However, it's classy without being over-powering.
They even have a little bar inside where we toasted into the night:-) -
Review from Lindsey C.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2009
I came here for NYE '08 with my boyfriend and for the amount of money we paid $225/person, it was pretty horribly executed.
The itinerary set for the night was:
drinks 7:00
dinner 8:00
dancing & live music 9:00-1:30am
Well dinner didnt start until 9:30 ish. They brought out the soup around 9 and then took it back into the kitchen. So something was definitely amiss.
Dinner finally wrapped up about 10:20. So that was a whole 1.5 hours from our dancing and music that we didn't get. The food was subpar, the band took a break seriously every 15 minutes.
At one point there were 3 girls dancing, and these girls were the only 3 people on the dance floor. At the end of Car Wash, they stopped playing and then said, "Ok this is a couples only song." So the girls kinda sheepishly walked off the dance floor wondering what they did wrong?! The band kept claiming they'd been "doing this for 20 years now!", well they certainly haven't learned much about keeping the dance floor busy. And at the end of the night, the band stopped playing at 1:00am. So instead of 4.5 hours of music and dancing, we got about 2.5 hours.
We ended up having an OK time, probably won't do that again though. -
Review from Amanda C.
Chicago, IL
7/12/2009
This is the kind of place that I would have totally freaked out over when I was about nine years old - this has got to be one of the kid-friendliest resorts I've ever been to. They have separate pools for adults and kids, all kinds of activities (nightly s'more bonfires!), board games all over the place, an arcade...you name it.
Which is not to say it's a bad spot for adults: the spa looked great, there's an adult-only pool, and the rooms are comfortable and really nice without being pretentious, and - most importantly, for me - it's far enough away from Lake Geneva that it's actually pleasant.
If you're looking for relaxation, try to avoid poolside rooms - it was loud in the pool area from about 10 a.m. on.
Minus one star because we came back to our hotel room one afternoon to find that the door had been left open (not by us). The good news is, this is Wisconsin, and nothing was stolen. Still, it made us a little wary of leaving our stuff lying around. -
Review from Sarah M.
Madison, WI
9/1/2010
I slept poorly here, and I usually sleep very soundly in hotels. It seemed to me that the AC turned off for about two hours every night. I would wake up in a stuffy room, with all the covers thrown off. It would not kick back on until about 3:30am.
I got about four flea bites while I was here...disturbing.
The rooms are large and otherwise comfortable, with nicely redone bathrooms. The grounds are large enough. We took advantage of the adults-only pool and hot tub.
A fine choice when you're staying at the federal rate. -
Review from John S.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2009
Oh Abbey Resort, I had such high hopes. You seemed like such a nice place with promises of an excellent stay. I fear though, you simply stopped trying.
You know what would have been nice? A map. A map so I can know where to go for the bonfire and s'mores (OK it looked like a campfire with some tiki torches) A map so that I know that when your sign points down to find the sweet shop you really mean the other way and that its really a small counter in the arcade where no one seems to work.
You know what else might have been nice? A place to park that wasn't a hike simply to check in.
I realize that a significant portion of your business this weekend seemed to be the 4 weddings and 2 bridal showers, but you had other guests too.
I'm not going to hold the horrible treatment we received in the Waterfront Bar or the lukewarm coffee in the cafe against you - OK yes I will. For what we paid? You're lucky to get 2 stars and that's mainly because it was a really nice room. -
Review from Becky B.
Arlington Heights, IL
1/19/2010
Kid-friendly is the focus. The spa area is ok, but the rooms are sort of lame, although the beds are nice. No mini bar but there was a wine fridge. They are set up like an old motel so you have a few plastic chairs outside of your room and share the balcony with your neighbors. It's nice to see happy meal residuals from all of the inconsiderate parents. The beach was across the street and was CLOSED for no apparent reason. The onsite bar was ok but we found a better bar across the street to go to at night. The pools were nice but the adult pool filled up quickly.
The little downtown was really cute and we had a good time there, too bad it's on the opposite side of the lake.
Service was good, but this place is really a family resort and not a spa. -
Review from Tina T.
6/16/2008
We stayed this past weekend at the Abbey at Lake Geneva as part of the American Lung Associaton's Lake Tour Bike Trek, and I was impressed. I haven't been here in 23 years, and when I came here last, it was not as nice. They have given this place a wonderful makeover, and it is truly a nice place to stay, with many activities to do. And it is close to Chuck's - the bar to hang at in Fontana in the summer.
I also was very impressed by their generosity - they accommodated all of us bike riders who were riding in the 3 day fundraiser, they fed us at night, and it was great!
Three cheers to the Abbey and their wonderful generosity! -
Review from Tom M.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2007
Really gorgeous location - worked a wedding there tonight.
The resort itself is right on the lake - part of a marina. Typical resort kinda joint, with nice ballrooms, 2 lounges with entertainment, cool gift shops, etc. You could spend a weekend there and not leave the complex yet be completely pampered and catered to! -
Review from kerry d.
Chicago, IL
2/17/2010
We stayed here in February- odd time of year, but it was lovely. The room was spacious and had a nice view of the (frozen) lake. Very comfortable bed, nice large shower w/all the amenities and a balcony. The location was great- and there were a lot of activity options- although we didn't take part in any of them.
The room service was so-so, prompt delivery, but they forgot to put the turkey on my club sandwich...wouldn't recommend unless you're too tired to go out.
We've stayed in pricey B&B's in the area, as well as the other big resorts and I would stay at the Abbey before any of them.
Best choice in the area. -
Review from Amanda H.
Elk Grove Village, IL
2/28/2011
Ah! The all elusive 5 star rating!! My mom and I took a little girls get away for the weekend and decided on the Abbey based on one of their spa packages. It was well worth it and it was a great deal.
We started out with lunch at the Waterfront Grill. We split a sandwich and had a glass of wine. It was really lovely. It was early and quiet. Lunch was nothing spectacular but it was fine for what it was.
After lunch we had our massage appointments, which were really fantastic. The locker room was a bit crowded but nicely decorated and appointed with pretty much anything you could need. The massage was as good as any I've ever gotten. The only thing is that we forgot to pack bathing suits! You have use of the indoor pool, Swedish shower, sauna, hot tub, etc. Many fantastic amenities there!
We were able to check in early with no problem as our spa appointments were finished at 1:00pm and check in is at 3:00 or 4:00. The lady at the front desk was very nice and accommodating.
We decided on dinner at Fontana Grill so we didn't have to leave the resort. The dinning room was spacious and you weren't crowded in like sardines. They had a piano player that played requests which really added to the ambiance. The bartender was a bit brisk, but whatever. Dinner was really delicious! Our server was gracious and friendly. Absolutely no complaints!
I read the other reviews and was expecting an average experience. I was very pleasantly surprised. I also read that people were complaining about the young staff members there. The only place we experienced young staff was in the Waterfront Grill restaurant. We had no problems with the young staff there at all. Our waiter was one of the better ones I've had; very personable and funny. Every staff member that we experienced wanted to help us and made our short stay there amazing.
We will be back next year, absolutely!Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/20/2011
Dear Amanda H., I want to thank you for taking the time in… More » -
Review from Emily T.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2010
"That was the summer of 1963 - when everybody called me Baby, and it didn't occur to me to mind. That was before President Kennedy was shot, before the Beatles came, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps, and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my dad. That was the summer we went to Kellerman's. "--Baby ( dirty dancing)
I imagine that if it were summer time, there would be shuffle board and crafts and game nights in the waterfront south lounge............. I visited in freaking january so none of that, but there was ice skating. My review might be somewhat jaded by the weather, but I can at least hit on some of the basics.
Maps are pretty basic. If you are going to have a resort with 7 buildings attached and a numbering system that is a secret code for world peace, then you should have a map posted on the walls. I love Map.
It would be important to let them know you need a step stool if you have an elderly guest or a short person with you. Getting on the bed may be difficult. Its like a tall building.
The rooms are cozy and inviting. The amenities were updated and I felt happy to be there at the end of a long drive.
I did not use the common areas, but i did take a tour and they seemed to deliver on how they were advertised. I was happy to see a fitness center with new equipment and plenty of it. They also offered pilates and yoga classes.
The Concierge was super friendly and made me feel like my questions were the only thing she had to worry about.
Overall, the staff was friendly and helpful. -
Review from Debbie C.
Chicago, IL
9/10/2011
I have never written a review on Yelp, but after my horrible experience at the Abbey I felt that I was obligated to share my terrible experience at this hotel.
My fiance and I went to the Abbey on Labor Day Weekend. I had booked a room on the harbor (keep in mind that the hotel has an extra charge for the water-front rooms) anticipating that we would have an enjoyable, relaxing time away from the city with a beautiful view of the water. Boy, were we WRONG! The hotel gave us a room located directly next to the freight elevator which we could hear running all night long. The noise was comparable to a large motor going on and off all night in your room. We complained several times from the moment we checked in about other noises coming in from other rooms as well. In addition, we needed to call the front desk several times during the night to complain about people screaming outside of our room in both the hallway and the outside area. Additionally, the room smelled very musty. The hotel offered no hospitality at all. When we complained to the Manager in the morning that we had received only 2 hours of sleep and how disappointed we were in our experience at the hotel, she became defensive and rude. She basically told us that it was just "too bad" that we didn't receive any sleep and had such a horrible experience, but was lovely enough to offer us a $25 credit. IS SHE KIDDING????????
I have never experienced such a poor management system at a so-called "resort". Perhaps if this manager was trained and simply apologized this experience would not be as awful as we both remember it to be. We weren't looking for money to be taken off and her offer of a $25 credit was simply offensive. A simple apology would have sufficed.
Both my fiance and I are professionals who have come to stay in Lake Geneva individually and jointly for years. We had a wonderful experience at the Abbey back in April and intentionally chose to come to the Abbey on Labor Day Weekend knowing that the hotel was hosting a wedding so we could check out the venue for possibly having our wedding. All I know is that we will NEVER come back to the Abbey, nor will we bring our families or friends and we will make sure to share this horrible experience with all those we know. -
Review from mike k.
9/12/2010
I liked this place...I really wanted to like this place....but my gf has this bed bug thing going on, where she checks everyplace we go. its pretty annoying....until she finally finds some. Ugh. Change of rooms, no one from management says anything to us...not even a free mountain dew.
Comment from Allen A. of The Abbey Resort & Spa 4/21/2011
Dear Mike, We appreciate your taking the time to express… More » -
Review from roxy l.
Oakland, CA
8/12/2010 2 photos
OK. Pluses and minuses galore for this one. I rated it slightly higher because I think there are a few things that make this affordable and fun, but you need a few caveats to feel the same way. Firstly, I don't know the area and booking something you've never seen sucks and you pray that they didn't hire the best photoshop expert ever to glam up the pics. I was also looking for a hotel to stay for an offsite wedding and NOT a resort to do stuff with my husband. We drove around the lake Geneva and that was the extent of how adventurous we got. So, what we needed was a hotel with enough perks to make our travels relaxed and enjoyable. We weren't looking to be wowed or entertained, but good service and attentive staff are always important to me.
1. Reserving by phone was the easiest because the nights I needed to stay were booked online, but talking to a person who was alert and nice at 2a.m. Chicago time was great. Had to split the hotel stay with a more low key motel since it was a busy weekend, but that made staying here a little more luxurious in comparison.
2. The photos were pretty spot on for what you get. I asked specifically for a room that was away from all the noise and was offered the farthest room in the building #6 away from any pools. Sweet! no kids in the pool wake up call, I can be hung over in private.
3. Be aware that they do not serve food to your room after 11 p.m. After the wedding we went to a town or two away, we were craving some snacks, but to no avail. The closest options are McD's or Burger King. . hopefully, you had some food stashed in the fridge, else you're outta luck.
4. There is a BP station near by and they sell wine openers and fried chicken. And it's not half bad! Closes early, so stock up on snacks before hand.
5. I mention the wine opener in #4 because you'd think that asking the hotel for a wine opener is free of charge, but it's NOT. It will cost you $3 and you don't get to keep it. Also, some of the wine on the menu are pretty expensive compared to buying it at a store (duh), BUT I can't pay $40 for a wine I know to be $6 in value. Pay for the wine opener , or bring one and BYO-vino!
6. The in-room food service is better than the on-site restaurant, I think. We ordered room service: a big spinach salad with dried cherries, walnut dressing and a big cheese burger with steak fries, pepsi (not a Coke establishment) and some glasses of ice for our white wine (screw top from the gas station). Alternatively, we had a weird "margerita" with bad tomatoes and pesto sauce, a dry cobb salad with no dressing. . saving grace was a blue cheese burger with fries, which, we could have in our own room. Beer selection on tap was pretty much Coors inspired with only one or two more "local" options. My advice, go across the street for a brew and the same food but better ambience and support the smaller local establishments.
7. you need to keep your room key if you want to use the business center to print out your boarding pass. It's tricky to find, ask concierge, if they aren't busy rearranging stuff on their shelves.
8. Understand that there is really nothing available in the areas surrounding Fontana for people to do for work. Yes, you will get young, inexperienced staff at the Abbey, but be realistic, it's hard to entice top of the line waitstaff to this area, so with that HUGE caveat, be forewarned. With that in mind, ABBEY RESORT PEOPLE** I'm suggesting that you reduce your rates or call your place an INN because "RESORT" implies a higher degree and expectation of service.. . AHEM. I am finished with the rant.
9. check in is pretty late: 4pm, but you can ask if there are earlier openings so you can take advantage of getting relaxed before dinner / check out is at noon, which is nice and leisurely.
10. I am more of a micro-hotel / modern type of person, so the wide array of B&B's on the Lake scare me. Really, I'm not into them. The decor here is tasteful and nautical without being that annoying East Coast blue and white - dried sea animals aesthetic. I was pleasantly surprised, enjoyed my sleep on their big confy beds and enjoyed the nice, clean, and big shower heads. I like taking showers and find most bathrooms sub-par. I felt that the remodel took into account customers need to be happy with an elevated bathroom with good fixtures that don't drip and work well. For that, I am a fan.
11. I felt that I had to keep the windows drawn because I was afraid someone would walk by the room and look in. You can't help but see in, so why not partition the balconies so you have a bit more privacy? I'd love to have opened my window curtains.
Overall, I would enjoy staying here again because it is a big step up from regular motels or creepy b&b themed rooms as it offers a few nice options for things to do, view of the lake, spa and is away from the over-crowded and super tourist feeling of the South East Lake Geneva area. -
Review from Sean K.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011
Bedding is great. Good spot for families. Young but friendly staff. Food was pretty good, all-you-can-eat could have been better. I'd rate the meals B-. Pool was clean, plenty of towels. Arcade was OK, some machines not working but free tokens make up for that. Quiet and not loud at night.
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Review from Chris B.
Indianapolis, IN
7/14/2011
I have never written a review before, however I feel compelled to share my experience because of the horrible treatment I received. I had a great meal at the Fontana Grill and decided to go downstairs for a drink at the Waterfront bar. The bouncer refused to let me in the bar because he was convinced that my I.d. was fake. I am 24 years old and my I.d. was certainly not fake. I asked if I could show some additional I.d. and he refused. The manager came down and looked at my I.d. for 15 minutes and then proceeded to tell my that my I.d. was fake. By this time I was getting angry because no customer should ever be treated this way. After some argument the manager Lori kicked me out of the resort due to and I quote my "flipping attitude." I have been to many resorts fine dining establishments having lived in Chicago for 5 years and I have never experienced a more unprofessional and classless environment in my entire life. Avoid the Abbey at all costs unless you would like to be treated like a child.
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Review from Nick W.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
This was my first time at the resort and didn't know what to expect. Overall I was very impressed. The resort had an excellent location on Lake Geneva and was so big! They had everything you needed or wanted. We needed a night away to relax and forget about everything work related and etc. we got just that up until the night. Our room was great and had a nice view of the pool. They were very spacious and comfortable. The downside was I went ahead and got their date night package that included some wine, chocolates and a movie. Everything was fine up until we went to watch the movie. Our TV had lines all over and we couldn't even see what movie we were actually picking. Once we decided on a movie that we could somewhat see the name of it we ordered it thinking maybe it will be fine.....well it wasn't. We still couldn't even make out the picture. So we called the front desk they were nice and sent a repair person up. He couldn't fix it but got it to work for the time being. After about 30 minutes into the movie the lines came back. We ended our date night short. In the morning during checkout I told the front desk about it and found out the repair person didn't say anything. Then, obviously letting the staff know how it really ruined their date package they said thanks for letting us know the TV wasn't working properly and they will get someone to take a look at it......That really doesn't do anything for ME. We paid for the extra package and didn't receive the full treatment. No care in the world. Up until the TV issues everything was perfect.
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Review from Patty V.
10/28/2006
Have not been there since they remodeled,but was in need of a face lift. Nice quickie getaway. Rooms are decent,nothing fancy.Terrific Sunday brunch-worth staying for! Drive to William's Bay and have dinner at Chef's Corner Bistro. Not sure of address, ask at the desk,they should be able to help. This is a great place to have a wonderful meal. Make reservations,or you might not get seated.
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Review from J M.
Hinsdale, IL
7/28/2010
Very disappointed but what can you expect from a hotel bought and sold and now run by young untrained help. Families and kids are now the focus at the Abbey. Big change from last time we were there.
Food was prepared OK but nothing special. Service was terrible. Long waits for tables although restaurant was half empty. Tables unbused tell the story. Waitresses occasionally busing a table. No wonder service was poor. HIRE A BUS BOY! Inconsistent policies (Front desk says restaurants do not take reservations, restaurant asks for one.)
Insufficient parking. Erratic internet service. Unnecessary resort charge on top of $250/night. Pool lights on all night, impeding sleep.
We won't be staying here again. -
Review from Kimberly W.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2007
The services at the Abbey Resort are nice, but the atmosphere isn't particularly chic. If you are just looking for great services and a place to relax, this is a great place. But if you want the full package, which includes awesome ambiance and good food, I wouldn't highly recommend it. The food wasn't so great. Don't recall the service being so great in the restaurants. The spa services are marvelous and the pool is great though. Just depends on what's important to you. I heard Kohler was magnificent though. Might want to check out Kohler instead. I think it's more expensive though. Good luck!
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Review from Chris D.
7/30/2007
Lovely hotel, but can't believe the toiletries weren't replenished after the first night. They also took away the washclothes after cleaning my room without replacing them - weird! Pools are fun. The entire bridal party for a nearby wedding had our hair and makeup done here. They do a great job. My room had a balcony, refrigerator and microwave, which was great.
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Review from Laura O.
Seattle, WA
8/14/2007
Beautiful resort. My sister, friend, and I took advantage of the spa and we wish we could spend more time there. I also had my hair and make-up done for the wedding and the woman who worked on me did a fabulous job! The rooms were small but comfortable. I think they need to work on communicating better with the wedding guests during reservation time.
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Review from Kat L.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2008
We just stayed here this weekend. The rooms were wonderful, the most comfortable beds, a plasma TV, great bathroom, and a nice walkout towards the marina.
They have an adult only pool and a kid/family pool - which was great for both. They also have an indoor pool and an additioanl adult only indoor poll in the spa. The spa was under construction so I don't have much feed back there.
They had a ton of activities, live bands, sports equipment, and shuttles to nearby attractions.
My only negative is that the waitstaff seemed new and was not the best. It is the beginning of the summer, and it looks like most are college students, so I'm sure they've only been on the job a few weeks.
It's a great place to go for a nearby weekend getaway from the city. If you go drive to the other side of the lake for sunset, it is gorgeous. -
Review from Gregory H.
Racine, WI
8/12/2007
Very Clean, and a great getaway for the week or weekend. We had a 2 day family reunion/birthday, and the staff was very accomodating. When we checked in, with our 2 1/2 yr old, they ran out of baby cribs, so they went and purchased us one at a nearby walmart so my Son would have a place to sleep...no charge to us. The Resort just recently completed a 40 million dollar renovation. Everything is brand new. The Beds, the rooms,even flat wide screen TV's in the rooms mounted on the wall. We stayed downstairs in room 1509. Great access to the pool. There is a very nice kiddie pool, probably 50 feet wide and only 6 inches deep...but there are shallower parts also. Very nice for kids and parents. There is an adult pool and a jacuzzi just 20 feet away. It was very nice and clean.
Restaurant had good food, and live piano music. Casual dress. Also had a Lounge, and a coffee bar for the morning with pastries and bagels.
They of course have a spa. They have a workout room that is free through the indoor pool locker rooms, it is small and cramped with a tv. If you opt to pay $20 you can work out in a state of the art gym in the spa. I did the free workout. I wish I had paid the $20.
Upon Checkout..I left my Son's baby pillow in the room. Upon arriving home I discovered we had left it in the room. One call to the front desk to coordinate with the hotel cleaning staff, and the baby pillow was found and is being sent to us here at home via DHL.
That's great service and a great hotel.
We will be returning this summer for a couple getaway. I highly recommend it.
See it from above at Google Earth.
"The Abbey, Fontana, WI"-The picture was taken before the renovation. Good Luck. Here are some of the amenities:
Each of our 334 guestrooms feature
Vaulted, beamed ceilings
Custom distressed maple wood credenzas and leather-bound lamps
Cushy pillow-topped mattresses with custom sheets, comforters and down blankets
Outdoor patios or balconies with lush views of Lake Geneva
Completely renovated marble stone bathrooms
Wall-mounted flat-screen LCD televisions
High-speed internet connection and cordless phones
Microwaves, beverage refrigerators, coffee/tea maker, CD clock radio
In-room safes
Nautical-themed artwork.
Have a great stay !
