Highlights: Williamsburg Inn

•The Williamsburg Inn is an historic property with ties to American presidents and foreign dignitaries

•Epicenter location for unique sites and attractions throughout Virginia’s Historic Triangle region

•Elegant Colonial design featured in guest rooms and suites

•Formal dining and afternoon teas served in cozy settings

•Conference center able to host corporate retreats or conferences

•Proceeds from the Williamsburg Inn supports preservation of historic properties and educational outreach of not-for-profit Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Amenities: Williamsburg Inn

• 110 rooms, 2 story. Pets accepted; fee. Complimentary full breakfast. Check-in 4pm, check-out 11am. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room, fitness classes available. Two outdoor pools, children's pool. Golf, 45 holes. Tennis. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Williamsburg Inn

Arrival along the Williamsburg Inn’s circular driveway in Williamsburg, Virginia suggests an approach to a stately manor or estate. Located two blocks from the center of Colonial Williamsburg’s restored historic area, the luxury and quiet elegance of this 1937 inn with 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century décor, heritage, and amenities emerges as its distinctive white brick facade comes into view. The gracious manners and immaculate appearance of the doorman and the bellstaff announce the hotel’s dedication to the best of traditional hospitality.

A large collection of original paintings and fresh floral arrangements set the main lobby stage of the hotel, which is decorated in a 19th century English Regency style. Most of the artwork hanging above oversized upholstered furnishings are portraits, and that carries the residential theme. Luxurious draperies adorn floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the property, some of which overlook the renowned Golden Horseshoe golf course. Many intimate seating areas promote contemplation and conversation.

One of the Williamsburg Inn’s most outstanding architectural features is a large wooden spiral staircase in the foyer of the East Building that is famous because Queen Elizabeth once posed for a photo on it when she was a guest. She is not the only famous person who has stayed here. Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton are among other notables who’ve experienced the inn.

This flagship Colonial Williamsburg Inn is perfect for a couples’ getaway, because its elegance and charm promotes romance. The rooms are spacious, the bathrooms exceptionally large and the public spaces offer guests many intimate spots to stop and enjoy a private view or an intimate conversation.

The hotel also takes care of business travelers with guest rooms that offer a conducive work environment and enough function space to host corporate conferences or retreats.

The inn and its staff welcome family travelers with children. Its close proximity to Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area, as well as theme parks and Virginia’s Historic Triangle, makes this a good vacation location for family members of all ages.

(+) Excellent location and caters to all types of travelers

Guest Services: Williamsburg Inn

The staff, overall, was friendly and helpful throughout my visit. I felt my arrival was anticipated, especially as the front desk recognized my name from a message received earlier that morning. The front desk staff tried to make a good impression by providing a lengthy explanation of how to get into Colonial Williamsburg, buying admission tickets, and show/demonstration schedules. I appreciated her thoroughness, but felt this could have been done at the concierge desk instead of adding on time during the check-in process.

The concierge was engaging when I asked about restaurants, and even recommended several interesting routes to the suggested location.

My room was clean, and there was a nice personal touch with a note card left on my pillow with a quote from Patrick Henry: “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.” I was disappointed that housekeeping wasn’t always consistently thorough with taking care of my room. My clothing wasn’t handled or neatly arranged, not all my wastebaskets were emptied, and my toiletries in the bathroom weren’t always replenished.

(+) Front desk staff and concierge are personable and helpful
(-) Housekeeping was inconsistent

Guest Rooms: Williamsburg Inn

The Williamsburg Inn’s large 62 guest rooms and suites in the main building feature an elegant Colonial design with a cozy atmosphere favorable for rest and relaxation. An additional 43 rooms are in the Providence Hall wings.

My room in the main building featured light brown furniture, including a king-size bed with matching nightstands and a TV armoire. The room décor was formal with luxurious fabrics and detail, and six points of light around my room made it comfortable and bright. The carpet was beige with a two-tone brown fleur-de-lis pattern, which highlighted the colors and pattern in the wallpaper. Five windows in the bedroom and two in the bathroom extended from the chair rail molding to the ceiling molding, and were decorated with honey-colored silk draperies. My king-size bed had elegant bedcovers in a rich light brown and gold fabric. Off to the side was a small seating area with a green velvet armchair, near a desk with a desk chair with matching green velvet cushion. The bathroom was exceptionally large, and the double countertops were of rose-colored marble with heavyweight fixtures.

The 43 rooms in the Providence Hall Wings that are adjacent to the main hotel are less formal and decorated with contemporary style and Asian accents. They overlook the tennis courts, a pond, and a tranquil wooded area.

(+) Décor is elegant and inviting, and the environment is quiet and relaxing

Facilities & Activities: Williamsburg Inn

Williamsburg Inn is next to three challenging golf courses: the Golden Horseshoe Gold Course (par 71 championship, 18-hole), Spotswood (par 31, nine-hole, executive course), and the newer Golden Horseshoe Green Course (par 72, 18-hole). A practice range and two clubhouses serve golfers. Light meals and beverages are available in the Clubhouse Grill. Eight tennis courts (six clay, two hard surface) are also on the grounds. Lawn bowling, croquet, jogging, and swimming are also among the activities available to guests.

A fitness center with an indoor lap pool, exercise rooms, steam, sauna, and whirlpool are located across the street in the Williamsburg Lodge, as is a full-service spa.

The inn is steps from 40 boutiques and shops, and affords its guests a great location to enjoy Virginia’s Historic Triangle area. With its 301-acre, 18th-century living history attractions, Williamsburg is one corner on the triangle that depicts America’s earliest history. Other points are Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement that was founded in 1607, and Yorktown, where the British surrendered and ended America’s struggle for independence.

The sprawling Williamsburg Pottery Factory and multiple outlet malls are among the shopping options in the town of Williamsburg.

Museums and theme parks also add to visitor enjoyment. Busch Gardens Europe and Water Country USA are major seasonal family attractions, and the Virginia Living Museum offers a native wildlife park, aquarium, planetarium, and observatory to please visitors of any age.

(+) The inn offers guests access to myriad recreation, cultural, and heritage experiences.

Dining & Lounge: Williamsburg Inn

Food and beverage services range from formal dining in the Regency Dining Room (men must wear coats and ties after 6 pm) to afternoon tea in the Terrace Room Thursday through Saturday.

The Regency Dining Room is beautifully decorated with elegant silk draperies and murals of garden scenes. Fresh flowers add to the ambiance, and formally uniformed staff heighten the dining experience with excellent service. The menu features classic American cuisine and an award winning wine list. Food selections include choices such as tomato-rosemary ravioli with smoked duck confit, Chateaubriand, and the famous Williamsburg Inn crab cake. My server was well-informed about the wine menu and was able to answer my questions about vintages and complexities.

Restoration Bar is a pleasant place to enjoy evening cocktails and light fare. Tea service includes an array of exclusive tea choices and edibles such as finger sandwiches, scones, English teacakes, and cookies.

During my stay, I took advantage of the in-room dining service. I was disappointed that the order-taker was abrupt when answering my questions, the menu choices were limited, and the presentation was lacking. Despite these missteps, the service was prompt and the order-taker called me to announce delivery right before it arrived, which was a nice touch.

(+) Service and food quality are excellent in main dining areas
(-) Room service presentation and service needs a little polishing compared to other venues

Business Services: Williamsburg Inn

Williamsburg Inn is appropriate for business travelers, as guest rooms are spacious and conducive to work. High-speed Internet access is available in rooms. Minimal copy and fax requests are handled at the inn’s front desk. Although the inn doesn’t have an on-site business center, there is one available across the street at Williamsburg Lodge.

The Lodge also has a new conference center with 45,000 square feet of meeting space and contemporary audiovisual and Internet connectivity services.

(+) Business travelers are well-served at the inn, both in guest rooms and meeting spaces
(-) No on-site business center, but guests can use the facility at the Williamsburg Lodge across the street