Living Stone Golf Resort: A Real Guest Review
Are you planning a getaway to Collingwood, Ontario, and you’ve been checking out the Living Stone Golf Resort as a potential place to stay? Located just minutes from the shores of Georgian Bay and the slopes in Blue Mountain, this property promises a mix of comfort, convenience, and outdoor adventure.
But does it actually deliver on that promise? After my recent 1 week stay at the Living Stone Resort, I’m sharing my real guest review. The good, the not-so-great, and everything in between. Whether you’re visiting Collingwood for a golf weekend, family getaway, or a quiet retreat, hopefully my honest review will help you decide if the Living Stone Golf Resort is the right fit for your Collingwood escape.
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The Living Stone Golf Resort is 180 room hotel which is conveniently located at 19 Keith Avenue, in the town of Collingwood. There are additional rooms which are currently being renovated and converted into retirement living. It’s a short walk to the Georgian Bay Waterfront, or a short drive to nearby attractions.
During my stay, my goal was to explore the town of Collingwood, since I had been to Blue Mountain multiple times before. Although I had to drive to the majority of the attractions, I still found the location to be convenient and the drive to the historic downtown is approximately 5 minutes – so not too far.
My Personal Experience At Living Stone Golf Resort
I have to begin by stating that I did not pay for my 1 week stay, but this is not a sponsored post. A friend had purchased a coupon which she wasn’t able to use which she gifted to me. Would I choose this resort if I had to pay? Maybe yes – maybe no. It would depend on the purpose of my visit. Since I was travelling solo and focused on exploring Collingwood during this visit, I would definitely have paid to stay at this resort.
Check-In
I arrived in Collingwood early on the day of check-in. I went directly to the resort on the off-chance that my room was ready and I could check-in. It was!
The check-in process was extremely easy and quick. I was given a $10.00 voucher for a meal in the upscale dining room at the sister resort, Living Waters, as well as a $10.00 voucher for the Living Shore Spa, located at Living Waters.
I was given 2 keys which came in handy. The room lights operate via key card, so I was able to leave one card in the socket during the entire trip. I was also given the wifi password, which came in handy since I had to work throughout my stay.
My Room: Premium 2 Queen Beds
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to choose my preferred room when I booked, but I wouldn’t hesitate in booking the premium 2 queen beds room if I had a choice. The room was spotlessly clean! In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in such a clean room.
Full Kitchen
The first thing I noticed upon entering was that the room was much larger than a typical hotel room. It was plenty large enough for a family of 4. It also had a well-stocked kitchen, with a stove-top burner, massive microvave, and a larger than normal size hotel refrigerator. This was ideal for my 1 week stay. It meant that I didn’t have to eat all of my meals at restaurants – although I have to admit that Collingwood has some amazing places to eat!
Bathroom
In addition to a full kitchen, the bathroom was fully stocked with plenty of towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hairdryer. The room also had a iron and ironing board. The room definitely had all of the amenities I needed in order to feel at home for the week.
Balcony
Another bonus was that the room had a balcony with a gorgeous view. This would have been beneficial if I was visiting in the Summer. Since I visited in the fall, I wasn’t able to sit out on the balcony, but I did have a gorgeous view of the changing leaves.
Room Types: In addition to the Premium 2 Queen Beds, there are other room categories available, such as:
- Standard Room 2 Queen Beds which is pet-friendly
- Standard Room 1 King Bed with double sofabed which is pet-friendly
- Premium Room 2 Queen Beds, higher floor, not pet-friendly (this is the category I stayed in)
- Premium Roomm 1 King Bed with double sofabed, higher floor, not pet-friendly
⭐⭐⭐ Book Your Stay at the Living Stone Golf Resort
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Book Your Stay at the Living Water Resort & Spa
Amenities At The Living Stone Resort
Unlike Living Stone’s sister resort, Living Water, there are minimal amenities. There is a large indoor pool and a very large indoor hot tub. During my week at the resort, I never saw anyone use either – but I did use the hot tub and it was lovely. There is also an outdoor pool, but as expected, it isn’t open during the early spring, fall, and winter.
Each floor (all 6) had ice machines which came in handy to keep my wine cold 🙂 . There is 1 vending machine with snacks which can be found at the main entrance of the hotel portion of the hotel.
There is also a very small gym which has limited equipment. It’s sufficient if you’re looking to do a quick workout, but for a full body workout, you might be disappointed.
Guests staying at the Living Stone Resort also have access to the facilities at its sister resort, Living Water Resort. Living Water Resort offers a gym which is fully equipped, an indoor and outdoor pool, onsite restaurant, hydrotherapy, and a full service spa. It’s a 10 minute walk or a 3 minute drive to reach the facilities.
What I Liked about Living Stone Resort
Even though there were limited amenities at Living Stone, there were many things that I liked about my stay at Living Stone:
- the convenient location of the resort
- ease of check-in
- size of room
- fully stocked and full kitchen
- free wifi
- hotel cleanliness
- ample parking
- balcony in room
What To Watch Out For
There really wasn’t much that I didn’t like about the hotel, with the exception that it didn’t have a restaurant on site for breakfast. This wasn’t really an issue as my room had a full kitchen and I was able to cook my own breakfast, and there were so many great restaurants close by.
As mentioned earlier, there is currently construction at the resort which could be problematic. My room was located on the upper level so I wasn’t able to hear any construction noise, but this is something you might want to take into consideration when deciding if this is the resort for you.
The biggest, and only downfall to my room was that there wasn’t a proper desk. I found this to be quite disappointing as I needed a spot to work. It did have a small coffee table that I was able to work on, but by the end of the week, my back was telling me that it didn’t like working on the coffee table.
Tips For Booking Your Stay
Living Stone Resort is considered to be reasonably priced for this tourist area of Collingwood, but there are some things to look for if you plan on booking this resort:
- consider booking off-peak season for the best prices (Spring and Fall)
- ask specifically which room you’re booking (I recommend either 5th or 6th floor) and if the on-going construction will affect your stay
- confirm what amenities will be available throughout your stay (indoor/outdoor pool, golf course, etc.)
- if travelling with your fur buddies, get any additional fees up-front
Living Stone Resort: A Personal Review
To summarise, this is a very good choice for a relaxed getaway in Collingwood, especially if you value location, access to outdoor activities (golf, waterfront), and are travelling with a pet or family. The staff and basic comfort level are strong points. However, if you plan on spending the majority of your time in Blue Mountain, then I recommend staying right in the village.
If you choose to book at Living Stone, have realistic expectations. The resort is undergoing updates, so some rooms or amenities may not feel brand-new. If you’re looking for luxury or flawless facilities, this may not be the resort for you. You might want to consider the sister resort, Living Water Resort. But if you’re looking for solid comfort at a good value, then go for it. I did, and I wasn’t disappointed. For this specific visit to Collingwood, the Living Stone Golf Resort was perfect for what I needed. I hope my personal review helps you to deterimine if Living Stone is the right resort for you.
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PIN LIVING STONE GOLF RESORT, COLLINGWOOD, ONTARIO
