Sundara Inn and Spa

Just got back from a quick trip. We were at Sundara for about 24 hours and had a very relaxing time.
We arrived about 11:30am. Could not get our room until later but that was expected as check in is 4:00pm. Our overnight bag was checked in at the front desk and we were given a locker for our clothes in the changing area and also given robes and sandals at that time.
Once in out swim suits and robes, we got the tour of the «Spiritual Bath» area which took about 10 minutes. Then we relaxed in that area with its showers and hot tub and steam room before our scheduled massage.
We scheduled the «Signature Massage» as a couple and it was magnificent! Very professional and very relaxing. It lasted 50 minutes and I had wished I scheduled a longer massage. One of the unexpected parts of the massage were on the feet, arms, hands and scalp, which all felt great. Thank you Carmen and Stephanie. My wife later had a facial done by Jennifer which was equally enjoyable.
We had a late lunch which consisted of a couple of the appetizers on the menu. We ordered the crab cakes and the chicken quesadilla. Both were very delicious but the crab cakes may have been the best we have ever had. They had some kind of delicious sauce on the plate with an outstanding cole slaw.
We opted for an «Exclusive» room which is a step up from the basic «Premier» room. The Exclusive room includes a large two person jetted tub complete with rubber duckie as well as the 7 or 8 head shower and fireplace. The bed and bedding are extremely comfortable.
We both highly recommend Sundara for a one or two day stay. If you go remember that this is a small boutique hotel with a small number of rooms. The emphasis is on spa services and tranquility and comfort. While they serve some good food, they really do not have a proper restaurant setting.
It takes about 15 minutes or so to get use to walking around in a robe and sandals, but if I did it anyone can.
Go for a peaceful, tranquil stay. No electronics allowed outside of your room. This means your cell phone, tablet etc. No smoking on the property. And you must adhere to being quiet in the designated «Quiet Areas».

Hi–
I wanted to take a moment to let you know of my not so great experience.
I came to the spa with my mother in law to treat her to a massage and she’s never had one. We were going bc my husband was treating us to the day there. My kids were back at the resort hotel with my husband and father in law, so it was a nice getaway for a few hours.
At checking out, I informed the cashier that I would be using my husbands card, she told me that it would have to have my name on it or be a co-​signer. Well, needless to say I was neither bc this was a separate account my husband had. I was disappointed that I could not use it and I understand they have to have ID etc, but I did have other proof he was my husband such as social security card and other cards matching the name, aswell as my husbands mom being with me.
So, even though I wanted to treat my mother in law she ended up having to be the one that paid and made me feel very embarrassed. It was intended as a day to getaway from the kids while the men watched the kiddo and my husband sending us to be relaxed, so I was not very relaxed after leaving and being treated the way I was.
Your not telling me that I’m the first women to walk in there using a husbands credit card.
So, needless to say everything else was nice, but at checkout I was not relaxed and left very unhappy and embarrassed!

Great getaway place for a weekend, esp in winter, with the pool and the whirlpool outdoors. However, keep a few things in mind to avoid being disappointed:
1. It’s more of a «spa experience» than a spa. Think Velveeta as compared to real cheese. It’s still really good, but it’s not actual cheese.
2. It’s the Dells, be prepared for horribly overpriced rooms, food, services, etc.
3. It’s the Dells, be prepared to have fun and relax with the other guests (the drunken herd of cackling bachelorette sows, etc).
4. Don’t expect some kind of «spiritual reawakening.» If you need one of those, go to church.
Bottom line, leave your uppity entitlement at home, put your swim trunks on, and have some drinks by the pool with your new friends.

Stayed for 2 nights. The pool and hot tub were very nice. Everything was well kept. Breakfast was good, they even offered to make gluten free pancakes. We LOVED Ricard, he is absolutely wonderful to talk to, so hospitable and goes above and beyond. Would love to come back and visit in the winter. Cons were two younger (European?) males that were bartending and too many quiet zones

I’m sure what they do is great but I haven’t actually experienced it. They require two services if you’re going on a Saturday which just doesn’t work for us being we just wanted to give a massage as a gift. I guess I’ll have to give my $ 200 massage to somewhere else.

I have been coming to Sundara about 1−2X a year for the past 4 years. I usually get a massage and a mani/​pedi. This past Sunday I had the seasonal mani/​pedi with Irina, she was wonderful, as usual. I love that this spa is so peaceful in the fall, spring & winter, but this was my first visit during the summer & my experience at the bar was less than stellar. Food took over an hour to come out, staff was clearly busy, but was kind of rude, tossing my card at me, slamming my number on the bar, running back & forth & making snotty, sarcastic comments to each other. It really ruined my calm. I think I’m going to stick to off-​season visits in the future when the staff won’t be so over taxed and the pool won’t be so crowded, either.
Oh, one last note, I really don’t like that they banned ALL electronic devices. I like to read on my Kindle, it’s much more convenient than lugging heavy books around. I really don’t see why pure e-​readers aren’t allowed, i think it’s a very stupid rule.

First time at a spa, I was a little nervous and out of my element. The staff were great and explained everything. I settled in and enjoyed my afternoon. The massage, facial, and manicure were all great. Jaggery tea, is amazing! The prices are expensive but it’s a nice treat. There are no electronic devices allowed so bring a book or magazine and enjoy.

We came to the Wisconsin dells expecting the Vegas of the west and everything to be as gaudy as the mt Olympus park but we were overwhelmed with the beauty of this spa! Everyone took great care of us and the services are great! The only downside is that they are very vigilant about no cell phones anywhere on the premises. I would not mind coming back to the dells if every trip included a visit to this spa!

After many of my friends talk so highly of this place, my wife and I spent two days there. I believe the computers were down because it took nearly 2 hours for us to get our food out by the pool. They also had some inconsistent rules. Maybe you can read on an iPad to read and maybe you cannot. Maybe you can use headphones and maybe you cannot. It all depends on who was working.
Had a talk with the manager and they did their best to make it right. Comped our food and beverage purchases over the two days as well as gave a promise to take 25% off of our next trip there.
As far as relaxation goes, they are top notch. Was more relaxed after 30 minutes there than I normally am after a couple days of vacation.
All in all, it was a really good trip and we will definitely be back. Hopefully, by then, they will have sorted out some of the inconsistencies.

Highly overpriced for a manicure and pedicure but it was nice, clean, and relaxing. Make sure you bring you swimsuit as you will need it to enjoy the pools.

Came here for a minimoon after our wedding and we really enjoyed it!
Yes it is expensive, very expensive… but it is very very nice.
Our room was around $ 300 per night (plush suite).
The pool area is awesome with the heated pool, heated floors, outdoor firepit and outdoor bar.
The bath ritual is «free» with your stay and very cool! We did it once per day.
Extra Kudos to Attendant Michael as he was always very friendly, professional, and helpful!
Note — this place is ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO RELAX.
You cannot use your cell phone or computer or tablet in public spaces, just your room.
No kids either!
We did not purchase any spa treatments as they are easily double the cost of any non «tourist» spot, but if you have the cash to spend, go for it!

We didn’t want to leave! My boyfriend and I enjoyed the spa package any many services we received. The bath soak was amazing! We were really impressed by the bath ritual and liked lounging by the pool and fire pit. The entire staff was accommodating, and we especially liked Richard who was so kind and added to our experience at Sundara! The breakfast was tasty, but our lunch and dinner were fantastic! Looking forward to planning another escape.

I like this place because it is close to Madison and I always book my service with Eva M. to be sure I get my money’s worth. She is phenomenal! That being said, is it the BEST spa? No, that would be Kohler, but it is always a fun day. A couple of tips:
— Do NOT go on a weekend, they overbook and it gets very crowded
— Stick to traditional services since some of the others you end up feeling they were not worth the money
— Get there early and stay late. Again, you will feel like you got your money’s worth
It is always very relaxing, but over the years they have designated more and more areas as silent areas. We have actually been shushed by attendants for trying to whisper in these areas. I think there should be silent areas for those that want them, but the majority of people are there as a girl’s day or couples day and I find it hard to believe they don’t want to chat!
It also can get very crowded, and hard to find a place to sit. The outside area is open all year, but in the winter it is not really possible to spend all day sitting out there. The dressing room gets very congested also as it is tiny, with only 3 showers. I have removed wet towels from them in order to use them before an attendant can get to it.
They always have plenty of towels, water, granola, fruit, teas and coffee available throughout the day when we have been there. We usually refrain from ordering food and just eat a nice dinner on the way home. Food and drink are pricey and 18% added to each order. There are times it is hard to find an attendant to order.
The facility is kept clean and I love spending time in the hot tubs (indoor and outdoor), steam room and outdoor pool with conversation pods with jets.
I think the check-​in procedure could be updated. There are two people that staff the desk. When you check in the have you complete a health history form. While you are doing this others are waiting behind you to check-​in or out. I would think they could have the form online to complete, or an area to do so after checking in. There is also an automatic 20% gratuity added to your service, which you can adjust up or down at checkout. I always have a problem saying «take it down to 15%» so I don’t and I assume most people don’t. Eva is worth 20% but I have others that were not.
The attendants are friendly and helpful for the most part. There just seems to be times when they all go missing at once and you can’t find anyone to save your soul.
Bottom line — go on a week day, be prepared to shell out some cash, secure a spot you can have conversation in, book a traditional service or two and have a relaxing day!

So committed to the experience!
I had another wonderful day at Sundara recently. I thought this story speaks to how dedicated Sundara is to giving clients a wonderful experience: the door between the quiet room and less-​quiet «bath ritual» room broke and started slamming loudly. They had a maintenance employee there almost right away. He pretty immediately determined the closer would need to be replaced, but that can’t be done quietly, so he worked for, literally, hours trying to get that door to close quietly at least for the rest of the day. In the process he made no noise and was super-​respectful of all of us relaxed robe-​wearing spa folk who continually had to pass through this door. Pretty cool.

I stayed here with my husband for our babymoon and would say it is an OK place to go-​Not amazing, not terrible. It’s a bit awkward in that it is more spa than an actual hotel/​resort. It feels a little cult-​like seeing everyone walk around in their white robes.
That said, the rooms do have a great jacuzzi and shower (although one shower head was broken) as well as screened sitting area. Overall, I think this place misses the mark in special touches for guests that stay the night. For instance, many bed and breakfasts have homemade chocolate chip cookies at night, popcorn, and a much higher quality breakfast. Even simple things like a microwave in the room or a fridge that fits anything bigger than a few sodas should be expected for the price of these rooms. Also, I would not recommend facing the front pool as you can hear people there pretty clearly.
If you are looking for an adult only place to stay with a great in room whirlpool and screened porch, give it a whirl… But don’t expect 4 or 5 star quality.

I was not very happy the last time I went here. My shower had dirt in it. The manager didn’t believe me and went upstairs and made some excuse about it being Grout. Ummm, no I was able to easily wipe it off with my hand. Nothing was done to make up for this. Also, I asked several times if any holds would be put on my card. I was told 5, yes 5 times that would not happen. I looked at my bank info and guess what? a $ 100 hold on my account. Needless to say I was not happy. Again the front desk did nothing to make up for this. Other hotels would have offered a free drink or a discounted service, but I barely got a sorry. For how expensive Sundara is, I really do think they should make a better effort on service and making up when they are wrong. I am not sure if I will stay here again, as I don’t feel valued as a return customer.

Services were ok. 35 min shoulder massage for 90 dollars? Not worth it. 40 dollars for a 20 min foot massage? It was only ok. I went on a Saturday and that was a mistake. They asked us to share lockers upon arrival. That was not ok. There was no where to sit in the meditation/​reading room when I was waiting for my two services. (Mind you they weren’t back to back services either. They were two hours apart). I went up three different times to get tea and all three times there was no hot water and no room attendants to tell.
We were suppose to have lunch reservations but they didn’t honor them. We waited over TWO hours for lunch. They offered us to sit by the pool for lunch. That sounds amazing in 20 degree weather! I actually had to leave lunch bc I was going to be late for my next service, so they had to box it up. Not cool. The explanation as to why it was so delayed? We have a couple really big bachelorette parties here today. No apologies-​it was the bachelorettes parties fault. No trying to make up for it at all.
All in all-​I was expecting great things for the price of the place. I was expecting amazing customer service and facilities. Neither was worth it in my opinion. They way over booked the facility that day. Not only did I leave feeling not refreshed, but I’m sure that the others in my small group felt the same. Next time I’ll try Kohler Spa or The Abby in Lake Geneva.

I do not have that much experience or knowledge of spas, but I can say that this was one of the most relaxing and magical nights of my life… and same goes to the other 9 people in my group!!!
We weren’t staying at the resort, so can’t comment on that, though I heard only great things and will definitely come back for one or two nights! But in order to get into the spa, you need to book a service. All the girls went for 30 minute facials while the guys went for the massages. The only thing i can say is that I had a really bad migraine all day — nothing helped (pills, food, or nature) but as soon as my facial started, my pain drastically decreased. It was so relaxing that I wanted to cry when Anna had finished up my 30 minute slot…
The spa itself is out of this world — with many amenities to choose from. Each guest is given a body polish and then is «required» to go through the Purifying Bath Ritual in the following steps.
Rainfall Shower and Exfoliation
Soothing Body Mist
Aroma Steam
Cooling Rainfall Shower
Hot Pool
Cool Plunge Pool
Relaxation Lounge
There is a very quiet room with drinks and tea available for guests that overlooks the outside warm pool, jacuzzi, and fire pit. In the winter months, I definitely recommend to jump into the snow and then get into the jacuzzi as quickly as possible… awesome experience!
Sundara is great place for everyone and for every occasion… girls weekend, romantic getaway, or just because. Cannot wait to come back here, hopefully sooner than later!

I have gone here the past two years with some friends and I have loved it. I have gone on both the weekend and weekday and I prefer the weekday because it is less busy with people coming in to have a service and staying for the ritual.
We drive in from the Twin Cities and this is for sure a relaxing place to be. I have not gotten a service because I love the ritual so much.
I have not had the experience of really loud guests. I can see where that would be annoying.
Have a drink or two at the pool, they are great. Oh, and ask for a cold wheat grass shot. They used to be on the menu. They have the ingredients, you just have to ask for it. The pineapple mojito is awesome, try it!

I was skeptical at first because of the reviews, but the reviews are all true. I could see them having these different extreme experiences. Anyways… I’ll break this all down.
I’m a pretty fair reviewer, so if you’re really considering staying at this hotel, you should read it. I’m very familiar with the hotel and spa industry as well so again, I’m pretty fair.
To begin with… I came here on the 4^th of July weekend using a promotional package. The place is very beautiful, but here are some pros and cons.
PROS:
Very clean hotel and spa, big bathroom, nice shower, great spa, quiet and romantic ambiance (I would totally come here for a honeymoon if money was an issue), there’s just fruit and drinks everywhere (you can’t go hungry), the dinner was good (except the lamb was chewy), the pool is warm, there is a refrigerator in the room, there’s free body scrubs everywhere, they supply (in the women’s lounge)… the shampoo and conditioner, lotion, mouthwash, hair ties, combs, blow dryers, curling irons, hair spray, and face wash. Service in the women’s lounge is wonderful and I saw that they have newer DVDs for you to borrow since there’s a DVD player in the rooms. The rooms also have a fireplace and nice blankets. I appreciated the extra blanket they left on the leather chair.
When it comes to eating in your hotel rooms, it’s wonderful that the trays are big enough that you can eat on the bed without any worries.
For the firework show, it didn’t cost us anything. They held a get together for their guests on the golf course and had free cheese, meats, good wines, beers, and bottled waters. It was great!
— — — — — — — — — — — — –
CONS:
Breakfast is only until 10am?! It should be at least until 11am. What if I wanted to sleep in?
The pillows are way too soft and the robes feel like blankets. It should be thinner for the summer. There are couple massages too and most places (at least in Chicago) don’t accommodate couple massages. Their massage rooms were very cold… and they charge you 20% gratuity automatically. Weird. It’s not like I brought a bridal party.
They also never told me about these DVDs! It would have been wonderful to lay in bed watching TV by the fire place late at night and especially early in the morning since we woke up at 6am with not much to do.
It’s hard to switch appointment times. If you want to change a time of your service you have to receive your service the next time the technician is available. Isn’t that crazy? I’ve never been to a spa that pays their technicians ahead of time and I’ve been to a handful of high end Chicago spas. I should be able to change technicians as I wish.
Also, they’re very unorganized. It seems like only the front desk knows the right information. If I speak to anyone else that’s not at the front desk, something always goes wrong. It’d be understandable if it was like a mom and pop shop.
I called to order our dinner and mentioned that we were on a package deal with 45 credits per person an there were two of us, but the guy on the phone said, «Ok, go ahead and just order.» THEN when we checked out, we found out that we were supposed to order separately since we were on separate bills.
When we called about the fireworks picnic, the woman had no idea why we were calling and thought we were weird. I had to inform them that was what I was told… to call and confirm that we were going.
Funny part — when I was leaving Chicago, I knew I was going to be late for our pedicure appointments. I called to tell them that and wasn’t sure what was going to happen. The woman on the phone said she would just note it down. So when we still didn’t arrive, I got a funny voice mail. I couldn’t delete it because it was too funny that a high end spa staff member called me and left a message that sounded like a toddler saying, «Hi Liiiiiinh… Well… It is 2 alreadyyyyy… and I don’t seeeee youuuuuu… Where are youuuuu???»
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Now will I come again? Yes, until I find out that there are other get away spas just as nice and organized better (staff members) in Wisconsin Dells.
Would I recommend this place to a friend? Yes, but I would write them a handbook about what to expect, tips, and what to watch out for. All in all, I really liked this place. It’d be easier to come back the 2^nd time since I’ll know who to speak to and what exactly to ask for.
I would recommend that this organization should have regular staff meetings.