Founders Inn and Spa – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Mike and I decided to take a mini trip to Virginia Beach from Massachusetts as the long winter had us craving a bit of sunshine. The drive was super long (over 10 hours) and we were exhausted when we arrived, but we had several days to relax and most amenities were conveniently located on-site. The Founders Inn and Spa is a 3 and a half star resort and spa located about 20 minutes from the touristy beach area so a great low-key choice. I think it is a wonderful choice for couples seeking something a bit more relaxed. As we were coming from the super congested Boston area, this is exactly what we were seeking.
This resort offers fantastic rates and packages, especially during the off seasons. We booked 3 nights for $150 under a buy 2 nights get 1 free special. If you are looking for a budget friendly and quiet property, you won’t find a better choice in this region.
The gorgeous gardens
The highlight of this resort is the beautifully landscaped gardens. Located adjacent to Regent University, the grounds feature scenic manicured English gardens. There is a small lake and jogging trail, tennis courts, and a seasonal pool. The grounds are lit up at night, allowing for a romantic night stroll around the lake.
I thought the setting was a bit strange being located on a University and the resort does somewhat resemble a college campus. However, the serenity and beautiful gardens are definitely a bonus for the nature lover. It was so nice to enjoy some early spring greenery (the trees are still so barren in Massachusetts) after a long New England winter that seems to never end.
Enjoy a few pictures of the manicured grounds. Obviously, this resort will look the best during the lush spring and summer season. The trees in the Boston area don’t see the leaves return until mid May (or even later) so we loved walking around and relaxing amongst all the green trees.
Convenient on-site dining options
There are 2 restaurants on site – Swan Terrace and The Hunt Club. Swan Terrace features outdoor dining on their patio. Swan Terrace offers a breakfast buffet and also serves lunch. We tried out the breakfast buffet twice. The dining room is situated in an elegant setting and the servers are very professional, although we felt that the breakfast buffet was a bit overpriced. The Hunt Club features American dishes and seafood. The food at this restaurant was decent, although extremely pricey. UPDATE: The Hunt Club is closed. A new contemporary restaurant called The Commonplace took its’ place.
Hotel rooms & amenities
The rooms were much more basic than I was anticipating. After walking into the elegant lobby, I was expecting more. For one, I thought that the rooms would have a balcony overlooking the grounds. The decor is pretty simple and there weren’t many room amenities besides a basic coffee maker, fridge, and flat screen TV. The pool and hot tub area could also be improved (the decor was dull and hot tub was very small).
The pool was just okay – nothing to really write home about. I always appreciate a soak in the hot tub, so that was nice. Nothing fancy, just a place to relax for a bit. There is a nice looking outdoor pool and waterslide, but it wasn’t open yet during our visit. I prefer swimming outside, but I guess we were just a bit too early.
Flowering Almond Spa
The biggest downside to this resort was the Flowering Almond Spa. I expected the amenities to be much nicer for a spa resort. Also, when we got to the resort they did not have any availability for spa appointments until the day we checked out. It was a bit of an inconvenience and took away from our vacation experience to have to wait to the last day for spa treatments.
I ordered a 3 hour half day spa package – but unfortunately my treatment only lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. Also, my manicure was messed up as result of a new employee who could use a few more hours of training. After talking to the friendly spa manager, I was comped for the manicure and was offered a gift card to come back.
Nice staff, but they should really make sure that they have experienced staff working at a resort! I highly appreciated the timely response from the management. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to come back anytime soon although it is the gesture that counts.
Overall, our experience at this resort was okay, but not extraordinary as I had hoped. For under $500 we enjoyed 3 nights, a half day spa treatment, and several breakfast and dinners on-site. Service was always friendly and professional. The beautiful grounds and spring weather made for the perfect relaxing atmosphere.
I would say this resort is catered more towards an older crowd – quiet, restaurants close early, not much to do on site besides dining at the restaurants. However, it can also be the perfect option for those looking for a quiet getaway.
How far away is the beach?
The major downfall for me was the spa and distance to the beach. Unfortunately, you do not realize how far the beach is until you make the 20 minute drive through heavy traffic! I would only stay here again if I was looking for a vacation completely off the beach – it just isn’t worth driving back and forth.
If you do decide to plan a daytrip to the beach, definitely take a bike ride along the gorgeous boardwalk. The path is just 3 miles long, and thus, perfect for a leisurely vacation ride. Then again, if you do not want to waste money on a bike rental, you can always walk and enjoy the marvelous scenery for free!
If it’s too hot, I recommend taking a stroll around the gorgeous aquarium. This is a really big place and they have a lot of awesome exhibits including a 300,000 gallon, 2 story shark tank exhibit.
Additional details
Location: 5641 Indian River Rd.
For more info on the property and to book a room, visit the resort website.
