Smugglers' Notch Resort

We've been there in both the Summer and winter months, and had a great time. Would love to make it back some time for leaf peeping season. The kids love the camps and pools, I love the fishing and kayaking, and my wife loves the small town feel of the place. We now own Christmas week and will be returning frequently. If you have kids between 4-13, do yourself a favor and plan a vacation at Smuggs.

There are a lot of different people with different experiences. This is no staff member writing. I bought a week at Smuggs some 20 years ago and it was the best purchase of my life. Yes, if you paid a million to stay for a week and had minor problems, I could see a negative review, but if this isn't the best place in New England, for kids and adults, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter - I'll eat my ski helmet. This is like Disney but real.

We have gone 2 years in a row (last week in January). This year we decided to buy and we are just finalizing that process :)

We have 3 young children (5,3,2) and they LOVE Smuggs. The kids programs are amazing. Our oldest took ski lessons last year and snowboard this year. They have a great mini kids race on Thursday afternoon. All the participants get a cookie at the end. It is great seeing a hundred or so parents out with their camera's. Everyone is laughing and commenting on the cutest little people coming down the hill.

There are some nice restaurants. They are a bit pricey. We have not done the nicer ones yet since we have the kids with us. The resort does offer babysitting but a snow storm caused a problem there for us.

The daycare on site is amazing. The staff has been the same both years we have been there which gives us more confidence. They are mature (older :) and know how to deal with babies and the little ones. They have a little outdoor area for the kids to play in the snow and they have a neat snow table they fill up and bring inside for the kids to play with. The rooms are vary large and have lots of open space. The little crafts the kids do are great.

Both times we went we rented from the resort and the accommodations we OK. Owners that we talk to insist the owners units are nicer.

We love it and have made some great family memories. We look forward to going back for many years. ___________________________

edit 2/1/2010 We have since bought at the resort. The owner units are very nice compaired to the units we rented. Rent from owners if you can (instead of the resort) ... plus that saves you money :)

This is a great family resort!

We came here last year for a weekend and liked it so much that we then bought a week. The resort goes really out of its way to make sure that the entire family is happy. My kids (5 and 8) absoultely love the ski school and the teachers. The pools are great and so is every other activity offered. Also, for some reason even in week 7 or 8 in the hight of the ski vactaion the lines are only a few minutes. Highly recommended.

Let me start out by saying this is a great resort. Why the low rating? When we arrived we were put in the oldest building on the property. Stains on the floors, food wrappers on the sofa, coffee pot did not work, and smell in the resort was very bad. Due to the late night arrival, we had to stay til morning. My wife went to take a shower and the door fell off and almost hit her head. The big bath tub was nice, but the stopper did not work properly and you could not fill up the tub.

When I exchange in here I was told that once your unit is reserved, it could not be changed. So I checked with unit we had and I said I was ok with that. When we arrived, the manager at the desk changed our reservation. We then got the room from hell.

I went out the next morning looking for a Motel Six, so we could stay the rest of the week, as we had flown in from California, for the fall leaves. Staff was useless.

The next day a day manager did contact us after five calls that night about being more than disappointed. It took her about one hour to move us to a room that was more like what someone that has traveled a little would say was four star.

It was the fact that this room was available, but we were put into something less, hoping we would not complain. I write this review so that others will know that, this resort is nice only if you get the right room, and that is a big if. Like others have said, there are alot of little things that are extra charges, just be careful when you go to this resort, have all your paperwork with you, and don't let them get away with service less than standard with timeshare.