Sir Sam's Inn

First and foremost, celebrate your staff because they are outstanding! The service was wonderful. The massage — WOW! The food — also WOW! And the friendliness, helpfulness and genuine hospitality of the staff deserve a huge BRAVO. They were absolutely a highlight of our stay. The location itself is beautiful, and you can look around this property and immediately think, “OMG, this place must have been something incredible in its day.” There is so much potential here. Unfortunately, that is also where the disappointment begins. The property simply does not live up to what is being advertised or to what we expected from a $1,400 couples getaway. The large hot-tub area must have been quite something in its day, but it is now in dire need of repairs and updating. The ceilings are damaged and crumbling, as are areas around the towers, and during our stay the water level was so low that some of the jets were actually spurting at the surface. My husband was also disappointed because the advertisement we saw seemed to imply there was a hot tub in the room. That was part of what attracted us to the package, so discovering that wasn’t the case was a significant letdown. Then there was the room. The carpet looked like it came straight from the 1970s and was grungy, the walls needed repairs, and the television hardware and wiring were visibly hanging down. Something as simple as properly routing the wires behind covers would at least provide a more finished and aesthetically pleasing appearance. And for something marketed as a couples getaway, one stained armchair for two people simply doesn’t work. We actually brought the plastic lawn chair in from outside so that we could both sit down. That really sums up the problem. At $1,400, I don’t expect absolute luxury or perfection, but I also don’t expect accommodations that feel closer to a basic highway motel. As a personal point of comparison, I can spend around $2,000 for seven days at an all-inclusive Caribbean resort, and that is the gauge I use when considering value for money. It makes it very difficult to reconcile the price of this getaway with the condition of the room and facilities we received. There is a beautiful property here. The setting is gorgeous, the food is excellent, the massage was fantastic, and you have staff who genuinely know how to make guests feel welcome. They are doing their part. The physical property now needs to catch up with them — and with the price being charged. With some serious attention to maintenance, updating, and ensuring the advertising accurately reflects what guests will actually receive, this could once again be the spectacular couples destination that the location and staff deserve.

We spent five nights at this inn last week and had a wonderfully relaxing stay. It was exactly what we imagine a Muskoka inn should be. The staff were friendly, accommodating, and always happy to chat. We were looking for a getaway where we could enjoy spa treatments while also taking advantage of the pool, sauna, hot tub, and, most importantly, the lake. We especially appreciated the adults-only atmosphere, which made it easy to relax and connect with other guests. Some told us they had been returning to this inn for more than 10 years. The spa services were excellent, and I left feeling completely refreshed. We stayed in the Glen Eagle Room, whose charming wood ceiling gave it a cozy cottage feel. The beds and pillows were very comfortable, and we slept soundly each night. We also enjoyed having our morning coffee on the back deck. We dined at the inn twice during our stay and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. On other evenings, we either ate out or brought food back to enjoy quiet dinners by the lake. This historic property is well maintained and full of character. We noticed ongoing upkeep throughout our visit, which reflected the care taken to preserve it. We are already looking forward to booking our next getaway.

We have stayed at Sir Sam's at least a dozen times and it still has its charm. We have stayed at places like Marriott Rosseau and much prefer staying here by the water's edge. This is the ultimate cottage experience but with fine dining. The lake was clean and warm, great to just dive off the dock or go kayaking. Staff go above and beyond. Rooms are spacious, comfortable, with a real cottage feel and ours was so close to the water that you could hear the waves lap. No air conditioning during a heat wave was not a problem as our room was ground floor, in the shade and had a fan. Every morning a doe and 2 fawns were grazing outside our door. Only suggestion for improvement would be a ladder on the dock. Adult only resort, very low key and a perfect place to relax and recharge.