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#13178 - 12/16/04 01:51 PM
Solvang Resort Review
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CSTUCKY
Administrator/Forum Host
Registered: 02/11/04
Posts: 1683
Loc: Kirkland, WA, USA
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Have you stayed at Solvang? Here's your chance to tell other WorldMark owners what it's really like. How big is the pool? How hot is the hot tub? What do you wish you had known before you left home?
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#13179 - 12/30/05 05:05 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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mtngal
Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 1186
Loc: Frazier Park, CA
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We stayed at the new Solvang resort for 2 nights between Christmas and New Years. We had a great time! I've posted a link to my pictures under the photo album section.
The resort is on a relatively small lot and they did a wonderful job of maximizing use of the available space. The pool isn't huge but it is big enough for a quick dip. I never did explore the public areas (exercise room, internet access in lobby, etc.) because we didn't have time.
Parking is extremely limited. We had a 2 bedroom unit that we were sharing with another couple and we could only park one car in the parking lot. It wasn't a problem because there was available parking on the side street next to the resort, a dead-end and a quiet, safe street. We felt very safe walking around the town of Solvang after dark (we certainly weren't the only ones!).
The units are smaller than the ones in Las Vegas, but bigger than Marina Dunes or Reno. They seemed plenty big enough for the 4 of us. The unit had the usual WorldMark amenities with full kitchen (which we didn't use - too many interesting places to eat in and around Solvang).
We spent the full day wandering around the area, and didn't get to see all that we wanted to. This is definitely a place to go back to!
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#13180 - 01/01/06 03:49 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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mtngal
Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 1186
Loc: Frazier Park, CA
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One last thing - there are no Murphy beds - there isn't enough wall space for them. I didn't look that closely at the sleeper-sofa to tell what kind it was.
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#13181 - 01/03/06 07:01 PM
Solvang Resort Review
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3Js
Registered: 04/15/04
Posts: 36
Loc: CA
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Lovely resort and town! The pool was heated and my family enjoyed swimming every day even under the rain.
Staff was responsive though they had a problem with my paperwork--they made me sign 3x because they couldn't find my record. But I guess it's because they're still learning the ropes--the resort had only been open about a week and a half.
Recreation area is open from 7-11 and is located in the check-in bldg and right next to the pool.
We were there during the heavy rains and a lot of water came in through the side door, soaking a big portion of the carpet. Maintenance staff tried to block the water with towels but the carpet was still soaked.
But we still enjoyed our stay very much.
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#13182 - 01/07/06 06:30 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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travelfamily
Registered: 01/07/06
Posts: 1
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Our family just returned from the new Solvang resort! We stayed 3 nights in the special needs 3 bedroom (our family of 5 plus my parents), and stayed for 3 nights.
Check in was smooth--as smooth as can be expected for a brand new resort! Staff were all very nice, courteous, and responsive to our needs (we had a light bulb go out in our unit and had someone from maintenance there, with bulb in hand, within minutes)! The 3 bedroom special needs was located in building 6, right next to the main building, and directly across from the pool. The view out the patio was of the tree filled park across the street, and the mountains beyond that. Beautiful view! The unit was nice, but definantly smaller, and we really noticed the lack of space. WM's decision to do away with Murphy beds also did away with a larger living area. With 7 people, we were at many time tripping over one another, which has never happened in Windsor, for example. Probably the biggest problem in the unit was the dining area. A 3 bedroom has a capacity of 8, but there was no way to get 8 people around that small dining table. Just getting 6 people around it was cramped, and trying to walk around to get to the back chairs was near impossible. Moving it out to the living area wasn't an option because that was already so small. But really, that's my only complaint.
The pool and hot tub were wonderful, and well used since it was nearly 80 when we were there-- IN JANUARY!!! My kids were in heaven, being able to swim!!! The game area was nice, and there's also a large "living room" area in the main building with couches, chairs and tables, and a large TV. Oh, and a very large selection of movies to borrow!
The town of Solvang was nice for strolling, shopping and such. We had lunch at the Red Viking restaurant, which had a wonderful Smorgasbord for those wishing to try authentic Danish food. Delicious! Rasmussen's is a wonderful shop, and for those ladies interested there's a great yarn and fabric store upstairs! Oh, and Edelweiss!!! My daughter and I could have spent hours snooping around this darling shop, but alas we had to hit the road. Next time we'll know to hit this store on the first day of our trip! With the exception of very few (Red Viking restaurant and Edelweiss), we found the shopkeepers to be somewhat, well, rude. I'm sorry to have to say that, but I do have to be honest. Not sure why...perhaps they're overwhelmed by a town with so many tourists (we saw several tour buses pull in and unload for the day!), but then hey, don't own a retail shop in a tourist town, right???
We spent another day at the beach. We actually hit all 3 beaches on the Worldmark check in/activity paper thingy. They were Gaviota, Refugio, and El Capitan. All nice beaches, especially considering it was 75 on the beach in January! We were roasting in jeans and T's, but boy was it nice! El Capitan is a rock beach, so no toes in the sand there, but their picnic spot is the best I think. A nice grassy area with plenty of picnic tables right up from the water. The other 2 beaches had enough sand to go beach combing and play tag with the surf!
Hope this has helped those planning to head to Solvang!
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#13183 - 03/06/06 11:12 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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JulieH
Registered: 03/18/04
Posts: 357
Loc: Oregon
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A friend just asked me to tell her about our trip to Solvang. After writing this up finally, I might as well post it here too...about 2 months late:
We went to Solvang, for the first week in January, when it was unseasonably warm -- around 80 every single day. Coming home to the miserable grey Northwest winter after that was tough! Anyway, Solvang: there were things I didn't and things I did like. The town itself was not so interesting to me, but it was near things that we enjoyed very much. I don't really know what I was expecting. I was surprised to see that it was an overtly touristy place, which is kind of annoying at first blush, but it grows on you.
Stores: I'm not a shopper. It is a Danish village, a la Leavenworth being a Bavarian Village. Danish people really DID settle this place, and to that extent, the architecture and history is more real. With Leavenworth it was a deliberate marketing event. Anyway, there are 4 amazing Danish bakeries scattered throughout the town. The best one I thought was just a block away from WorldMark. My daughter and I went and got a pastry each morning for breakfast. (I recommend the apricot/cheese but everything was good). On the corner across the street was a nice espresso place called Dangerish -- and between the 2 of us over the course of a whole week, we managed to fill their whole frequent buyer card and get a free latte on the last day. The tall gal who worked most mornings in there was my official tourguide to the area. Very nice! Those are the 2 places in town that got my regular business, the Solvang Bakery and Dangerish.
There are LOTS of stores to poke your nose into on every street as well. Like I said, that kind of shopping has about zero appeal to me. But if you're looking for a gift, you won't lack for local possibilities. I admit I thought the bookstore was interesting and came away with a perfect hiking map and a few unusually nice greeting cards. But that's all I can recommend personally. Stuff closed up early in the winter, so if we'd wanted to wander into shops after dinner, mostly they were closed. Saved me a lot of money.
Restaurants: Unlike shopping I DO like to eat! The very best restaurant we ate in (and Tom Cruise was in there earlier in the week, noted the WM front desk) was in the town up the road called Santa Ynez. An exceptionally lovely, classy fresh food Italian place that wasn't especially cheap, but was a clear cut above everything else in quality, and worth it for one nice night out. Called Grappalo, I believe. Excellent food, service, wine, and charming atmosphere. We also had a nice meal at Cafe Angelica in Solvang later in the week, also Italian, come to think of it. We had a coupon for buy one/get one entree free for the Angelica place from the town Visitors' Center. I can recommend it. It's not in the same league as Grappalo, but it's also less expensive and still very nice. One night we went to a tiny little sushi place that was fresh and decent. Not fancy. Prices are better in Oregon than SoCal (always), so there's always an adjustment when going out, of expectations based on price. I guess I'd say it was perfectly good food, kinda funky atmosphere, (possibly with plastic plates even?) and a bit over-priced for what it was. But so was the take-out Mexican restaurant with styrofoam containers (overpriced but decent food).
Groceries: We made do at the nearest grocery store down the road at the corner of Alamo Pintado Dr., Nielson's Market. It was fine and convenient, just not especially interesting. But there was an AMAZING grocery store about 2 miles further down the road, just past the casino going due east towards Santa Ynez: El Rancho Market! It wasn't a huge store and it wasn't an over-priced, overly-precious store (a la Whole Foods). It had a wonderful collection of ethnic foods; home-made sauces and stuff perfect for taking to a condo; terrific pizza (and they deliver to the resort); an excellent selection of organic produce; old time sodas and other foods from my youth that have disappeared from normal grocery store shelves, and more. It was the kind of grocery store I don't see often in travels that made me wish I'd packed an extra suitcase. Too bad I found it so late in the trip. They carried my favorite Twinings tea that I can no longer find in Portland. Next time I'd go there on day #1 for all upcoming picnic, beach, and general food needs.
Santa Barbara: Driving either way (through the mountain pass or along the coast route 101), it takes about 35 minutes to get down to the interesting part of the city, and either route is a phenomenally gorgeous drive that you won't mind doing several days in a row. Unlike my other southern California travel experiences, there was never a traffic problem in either direction. This is NOT like getting to San Diego or Disneyland from Oceanside; it was easy at all times of day, including 5:30 p.m. We LOVED all the stuff we did in SB: we rented bikes at the Wharf and rode to a bird sanctuary in one direction, and then turned around and went back (north?) as far as the bike paths would take us past the yacht club and a beach full of parasailers. Pretty, pretty, pretty. We also ate in the best natural foods restaurant ever (twice -- we had to go back the next day) called The Natural Cafe. The Santa Barbara Art Museum we saved for the very last day, even though it was free on Sunday. We wanted a restful day to hang around the resort and read and play board games by the time Sunday came around. This was a stupid choice, because our last day was Monday, and THAT would be the day the museum is closed! So I missed it entirely and regret it very much. We went to a movie instead. And to a terrific used book store across the street from the side of the art museum. (Lotta parking all around the museum on Monday, which didn't even make us suspicious until we got up all the front steps to the very front door. Dumb!) Parking in Santa Barbara is a big pain in the butt, by the way, and you might as well head right for the paid structures, because there's no place on the street where you can stay more than 90 minutes, AND all the structures give you the same first 90 minutes free as well. So, it's either pay to park and forget about it, or constantly be moving your car to other places that don't seem to exist and THEN end up paying to park like you should have in the first place if you hadn't been a cheapskate :-). That's the only thing we disliked about Santa Barbara. We cut our bike riding afternoon short because of the parking problem (and came to find out later that the bike rental place has its own parking behind their building! Use it. We didn't.)
The beaches were pretty and the warm breezy weather couldn't have been more perfect. I would like to explore more of the beaches between Solvang and Santa Barbara; we went to a few right downtown, but that's it.
Non-Santa Barbara excursions:
-One day we took a short drive down the road from the resort and did a little (quarter-mile?) hike up to Nojoqui Falls, which is in a county park with the same name. Nice. Nice short drive to get there, especially. Maybe 15 minutes at the most. When you live a half-hour from the Columbia River Gorge, it's hard to be impressed with someone else's lone 75-foot waterfall, of course, but we enjoyed it. We saw tons of enchanting cows along the way, extremely interested in watching the tourists go by. I liked that.
-We also drove to Cachuma Lake and Dam, which has some hiking and gentle walking trails. We had seen it from our real hike way up in the mountains the day before. It frankly looked better from a distance than up close, I thought.
-We hiked in the Los Padres National Forest, which has something approaching 2 million acres up high in the mountains that are the backdrop for the valley that Solvang is nestled in (Santa Ynez). For a passenger who doesn't get carsick, it's an amazing ride up to the hiking trails. For me, the driver, it was a total white-knuckle experience! Sometimes there was just narrow road with STEEP drop-offs on BOTH sides for quite a long way. It was amazingly beautiful but I have to admit, I didn't have the courage to go back and do it a second time, even though I'd bought a terrific map of all sorts of trails we'd neglected to explore after only one day.
-Going up to the forest we had to drive through the wine tasting town of Los Olivos, which comes right after Solvang. If I hadn't been with my teenage daughter and no one else, it would have been a fun place to explore. We took a picture of the one place in town that had a sandwich board sign out front that proclaimed, "Not seen in the motion picture Sideways!" and got a chuckle out of that.
-Other things we didn't do included an interesting-looking Solvang community theater (closed for the winter). So I'd like to go back and do that, the art museum, more beaches, and definitely have a nice night out to dinner at Grappalo's. There's an Indian casino that didn't interest me to check out, but you might feel differently. And I didn't get to see anything off of Highway 101 that's north of Buellton/Solvang. Anyone know what's up there? I have no clue, but would be happy to go back and find out. (Like pea soup? Buellton is the pea soup capital of the world or something like that. We didn't indulge.) So I left plenty undone to warrant a return trip and would be happy to go at any time -- preferably when the weather especially stinks in Portland.
The resort itself: It had only been open a week. The computers (2) for the lobby arrived mid-week, and there's a printer too, which was good for printing our boarding passes, although a note about the Santa Barbara airport: It couldn't be much smaller or easier to navigate around. Going out to the "gate" is literally an outside walk to a big gate in a tall fence around the runway edges. The luggage comes to a shed outside where you can claim it, right next to "The Gate." Great photo op.
Back to the resort: My 4th floor unit on the top of building 7 was extremely spacious. The unit's livingroom window faced the swimming pool and parking lot surrounding it, all behind the main check-in building (#1).The living room had wall space big enough to easily accommodate TWO wall beds, so all this malarky about how there's no room for even one didn't ring true. Perhaps we had an unusually large unit. Dunno; it's the only one I saw. The brand new, never-been-slept-on-yet sofa bed is not comfortable. It's a sofa bed, folks. Fine for kids but no thank you for my back. Neither are the 2 chairs in the livingroom comfortable to sit in: I felt like a chick trying to claw my way out of an eggshell as I sat in these high back things that curved all around me when I needed to stand up, if you can picture that. It was a stiff angle to sit in, and far too high-backed for a 5'4" person to use the "arm" rests or otherwise get comfortable. Thumbs down on the livingroom chairs! So the two of us would race for the sofa, which we'd end up sharing. I would have expected interesting Danish furnishings in this particular resort. Not sure what they were thinking. One other decor complaint: You can't get the bedroom dark through the cheap metal mini blinds provided. The resort was 2 weeks old and already some of these blinds were bent just enough to be a problem. There was an enormous round lit clock directly outside the window that lit up the room. VERY peculiar choice of window coverings considering that architectural feature decorating the outside.
The people who worked there were very friendly and helpful, especially Nancy. Her job seemed to be to schedule people to talk to the upgrades/"what Cendant is doing for you" department. That was a waste of my time, but not 100% unpleasant.
I had a good time. It was two months ago and I should have written this up right away because I'm sure I've forgotten a lot. I think the best surprise was how it was NOT a chore to take off for Santa Barbara a few days in a row. I didn't feel like a commuter; the drive itself was so enjoyable that it wasn't a problem. The town of Solvang isn't SO interesting to me, but it's not obnoxious or anything, and I didn't feel that this vacation would have been so much more wonderful if we'd just gone to Santa Barbara. I liked the trip and would do it again. (There are nonstop flights from here to SB at good times of day that make the whole event pretty easy. For me it doesn't take a lot longer than traveling to Depoe Bay. It just costs more :-).
I hope this is helpful.
_________________________
Julie, in Portland, Ore.
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#13184 - 03/17/06 12:06 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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LACoFD
Registered: 03/29/04
Posts: 2
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We are here now 3/15 - 3/17 for two nights Bonus time. I must say being familiar with Solvang and Worldmark we really were looking forward to our stay. I think they did a good job of building within the theme of the town, but we think they tried to hard to build two many units.
Yes, more units mean better chance of staying here -- the trade off is seven buildings of three stories each and six of them serviced by one elevator and it is away from parking area and any unloading area. Be prepared to climb stairs and walk some distance to your room also you will have a walk to the elevator and then a walk to your connected building.
As posted earlier, there is a small pool and the parking area is poorly placed. You are only allowed to park one vehicle on the property and at the time of our stay there was a small trailer using one of the close stalls to the back buildings. Our unit shows signs of wear already. The carpet is frayed at the entrance and the carpet in the bathroom has paint on it. The use of the sleeper sofa over the Murphy bed is a shame -- we would rethink having any adult guest come with the intention of using it for sleeping.
We only hope this isn't a look into the future for new properties. I would vote for one less building to improve parking access to units and bring back the Murphy beds, lets not forget the need for elevator access for two story and higher buildings, were not all 30 somethings.
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#13185 - 04/14/06 04:22 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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debnrob
Registered: 03/26/04
Posts: 35
Loc: Escalon, California
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We just got back from a 3 night (April 9-11) stay at the Solvang resort and found it to be very nice. The overall appearance and ammenity level of the resort was what we have come to expect of Worldmark resorts. The resort is in a good location for walking to the downtown shopping area and it's about 1 block away from the golf course. We went down for some relaxation time with the kids so we didn't go out to do a lot of "things." My wife did not like the fact that everything, from spices to detergents, comes in those individual packets. Also, the sofa bed instead of a Murphy bed was a huge mistake. We compensated by bringing a queen size air mattress and laying it on the sofa bed. That air mattress made a big difference in the comfort level. As for the parking situation I didn't find it that bad and we had our Suburban. You just have to be careful when parking or backing (this should apply everywhere and all of the time.) The front desk and maintenance personnel were very polite and attentive. Overall I would give this new resort a very good rating but, just like anything else, if you want to look hard enough...
Rob
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#13186 - 04/17/06 09:45 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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dm153
Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 1
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Just returned from Solvang (4-8 / 4-14). We caught some rain, but there was so much to do it didn’t hinder our stay.
The property is impressive and well planned, for the most part. What I didn’t like was the fold out couch and the living room furniture, very uncomfortable. The fold out couch would be ok for young kids, but would be a miserable night’s sleep for an adult or teenager. Being a fold out it is also very uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time, and the chairs are not much better. We pulled in the patio chairs to use while watching TV.
The layout is otherwise excellent and the patio is great for relaxing and BBQ’ing. On that note, if you have a choice get a patio with a view, preferably of the hills to the south as the scenery is excellent. The property is also close enough to town for an easy walk, but far enough away to avoid any crowds.
What we enjoyed:
*We hit the casino; smaller than Vegas style casinos, but adequate and the employees are extremely friendly and helpful. It’s just a couple miles down the road and there is plenty of parking and I understand they have a shuttle with regular hours if you don’t want to drive.
*We made the drive to Hurst Castle as we have never been, and enjoyed the drive and the tour. I was prepared to be under-whelmed with the tour, but was very pleasantly surprised.
*The waterfall was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon especially if it is warm. An easy 10 minute walk is well worth the effort.
*The WorldMark employees were great and helpful, always smiling and friendly. We had a rude awakening when a contractor started working with power tools at 7:30 in the morning on the unit directly below our bedroom, but the staff dealt effectively with him.
*Restaurants were great and plentiful. I would recommend AJ Spurs. It is not as famous as the Hitching Post, but the food is excellent and it’s not quite as busy. Plenty of theme restaurants; some were really good and others so-so. If you are so inclined, BBQ’ing is excellent option with all the fresh produce available.
*The pool is really nice, and if you want a more relaxing soak, the separate spa behind building #7 is a good alternative as it was seldom used during our stay.
*My wife enjoyed the shopping; we walked the entire town a couple times.
*Wine tasting is abundant. Take care though, as we were stopped in a DUI check point driving away from a wine tasting event. Have a designated driver, or sign up for a guided tour if you plan on more than a couple sips.
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#13187 - 04/19/06 04:40 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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edwinmcgee
Registered: 04/19/06
Posts: 3
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We just got back from Solvang. We stated in a 3 bedroom penthouse, specifically 3201. (Building 3 room 201)
First the good news: It was just what I needed. Got to listen to some early Coltrane on my IPod and do some reading. Great walks in the morning…make sure you head toward the mission in Solvang.
It’s easy to walk downtown, do some window shopping, pick up some coffee.
In the evening we are tv watchers. There was a tv in every room. Great tvs with pictures better than home. (May be because we were in the penthouse)
The staff was nice and helpful, but I didn’t need them much.
Now, the bad news:
The penthouse 3 bedroom is listed for 8 people. That’s a joke. As has already been pointed out the table doesn’t hold 8 people. (There were only 3 of us!) With 8 you would be tripping over each other very soon.
We are strong healthy people so the room placement was no big deal. For others, there is no parking by building 3. You have to walk past the long side of another unit before you get to it.
Also, that building has no elevator to the second floor, so you have to schlep your bags up the one flight. (In our case.)
The Master Bath had a very nice Jacuzzi tub. However, in order to fit it in the rest of the room is cramped. To not be to indelicate….the toilet paper roll is where your hip should be, so you’ll be ridding side-saddle.
The pool is not that large, but ok. There is a second Jacuzzi that was outside of our building that was out of order the entire time. Oh well, no big deal.
Overall, I think you’ll enjoy a stay there, as long as you don’t try to put 8 people in the 8 person room.
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#13188 - 04/20/06 10:26 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
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shoreline
Registered: 09/13/04
Posts: 51
Loc: Santa Barbara
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We stayed in the same exact room a few weeks ago and thought similar of it. It actually made me wonder what the 1 & 2 BD's must be like if the 3bd Penthouse was that small. The 2nd bathroom was much nicer than the configuration of the master BR. Other things that were not my favorite in the unit were the miniature drawers on each side of the stove. I could not imagine what they could be used for. Toothpicks? No big deal, but they were really only there to keep up the cabinet style, not for actual usage, I'm sure. I also couldn't believe how dark it was in the master BR if the door was closed. As explained in your post, to accomodate the neat spa tub, the toilet area is made for toddlers. Because they have used just one frosted, low-watt light, it's difficult to well, "see where to pee." (OK- overexageration but it is really noticably dark with the door shut). I even thought the vanity area outside the bathroom was small. Plan on getting ready one at a time. That sounds bizzare for a penthouse.
Otherwise, it served it's purpose of being a relaxing, fun place to enjoy as a family. It was especially nice to have that spa (which was working when we were there) right outside and downstairs.
One thing about the grounds that I wasn't fond of is that there is not really a designated place for the luggage carts. Each day that we were there, they were just rolled somewhere and left. (Randomly strewn about) I would have also liked a more convienient place to throw away our trash but it wasn't the end of the world.
I loved the game room/ recreation room. It was well thought out and inviting. Great for family fun.
The staff, while very nice, had no alue about things to do with families with kids and I heard them on more than one occasion unable to offer helpful suggestions to families looking for something to do. I felt bad for them and brought a copy of the info that I had gathered for families for the month of April. Their suggestions were really weak- I'd take their info with a grain of salt.
WG
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#24538 - 11/05/06 05:26 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: shoreline]
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ZoSo59
Registered: 01/29/05
Posts: 13
Loc: Costa Mesa, CA
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I just returned from Solvang. My Mom wanted to go there, so....
I reread the previous posts, and I agree with many of the comments. We spent a total of four nights in Building 7, third floor for two nights, and second floor for two nights (we went to Pismo inbetween). Very spacious and just fine for us. My mom was impressed! Close to the spa, which we definitely enjoyed. Only when I was on the second floor, I could hear it's pump running a lot at night, sounded like a vacuum cleaner! My mom also mentioned that the light from the clock bothered her on the second floor too. So I would say definitely the top floor is the best, better views and less annoyances. I agree that the living room furniture wasn't very comfortable, we ended up watching TV in the master bedroom. But overall, it was a great stay and as others have said, you can always find something to complain about if you look hard enough.
Our activities: shopping (loved the Talowick Candle Shop and Edelweiss), raiding the bakeries (like Danish Mill Bakery best), hiked to Nojoqui Falls (my mom is 75 and has COPD, but she managed it by just going slowly and resting every so often), saw the Mission Santa Ines, Clairmont Lavender Farm, walked through the Antique Center (wonderful stuff but way too expensive). We ate once at Red Viking, my mom had the grilled salmon, which was fabulous! Also ate at the New Danish Inn, really great food but on the high end dollar-wise. We went to Nielsen's Market a couple of times too.
I was kind of pissed that the "Owner Update" that Nancy (the gal at the resort host desk who was very nice and helpful in many ways) scheduled me for was truly nothing but the ol' sales pitch to buy more credits. This was the first time I was solicited while at a resort. I hope they're not building these sales offices in all the new resorts! Oh well, I got a $50 gift card for Macy's in payment for the hour I spent resisting the salesman. I really didn't dig that.... 
The luggage carts are kept in the courtyard between Buildings 4 & 7. They have signs on them, but I observed someone just leaving one out in the parking lot. The carts are definitely helpful, better than making four trips to carry everything the necessary distance. Anyway, as I said, we had a good visit and did enjoy ourselves.
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#25163 - 12/06/06 03:09 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: ZoSo59]
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lmldtr
Registered: 12/06/06
Posts: 2
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I have found that you always get invited to an owner update no matter which resort you stay at as long as it is a WM owned resort. I have been through this several times and it is always a sales pitch to buy more credits.
I stayed at Solvang in Sept. and the resort was nice, but the city closes down at 5:00 pm which I thought sucked because I was there to drink wine. The resort was pretty nice, but as usual, was at the edge of town so it was a long walk to everything. I don't mind walking but for some people it may be a turn off. The people at the desk were helpful and printed out mapquest directions for us to go to some wineries outside town. All in all the resort was awesome, but it is NOT a party town!
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#25325 - 12/26/06 03:26 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: ZoSo59]
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wendys542
Registered: 08/09/06
Posts: 9
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This has been my experience as of late...the "owner update" is AKA the "pressure you into buying more credits" timeshare nightmare. It's a good thing I have been an owner for so long because the first time this happened to me (in San Francisco), it ticked me off enough that if I had been new, I might have not used my points any more and possibly sold my ownership. I specifically asked if it had anything to do with sales and was told no. I didn't received a SINGLE update...only the sales pitch.
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#25335 - 12/27/06 01:58 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: travelfamily]
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maamaww
Registered: 12/27/06
Posts: 1
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I happen to know that the reason there are no murphy beds in Solvang is because the city of Solvang would not allow them for who knows why. When they were doing the frame ins the city inspectors said no murphy beds, so WM put in fold out couches.
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#26562 - 03/27/07 07:28 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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raidergurl65
Registered: 04/11/06
Posts: 11
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Just got back from Solvang! Loved it. Thanks WM, this resort has the best views, best location and is very clean. We are definitely impressed. The staff at the front desk, Daniel and the lady at the activities desk (sorry I cant remember her name but it began with "K"), were great.
The rec room was well equipped and if we would have ck'd the site before leaving, there is wireless Inet hookup in a spacious rec center.
We stayed in the one bedroom and found this very spacious and comfortable. We stayed on the second floor in bldg 4. We had a great view for days of the meadows behind the us from the balcony.
The only thing I would have to say was a small and I mean small drawback, they could have put an extra roll of TP in the bathroom.
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#26735 - 04/06/07 11:07 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: raidergurl65]
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Campmommie
Registered: 03/29/04
Posts: 4
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We were in Solvang in mid-March. We normally get a one-bedroom for the two of us, but this time we had to take a Studio. I don't know if this is normal - but if you had the Murphy bed down, you covered the couch up. Wierd. But the bed was very comfortable. I was surprised how big the kitchen was, even though there was no oven (we knew the studio wouldn't have an oven so it was OK). It would have been NICER if the kitchen were slightly smaller, which would have made room for a Murphy bed that wouldn't impose on the couch.
We liked the pool area. It was clean, and both the pool and the spa were at the right temperatures.
As for the town - we really liked the bookstore. I couldn't resist buying several books and cards. The Farmers' Market was fun too. Great produce and cheese. We toured the mission, which we found interesting, even though we've been to many of the other missions, and this one, too, although several years ago. I learned, for example, that Abe Lincoln returned the missions to the Church after they had been taken over by the gov't years before. There is a nice clock shop in town, too.
We were at the tail end of a driving vacation, and so didn't leave town, but we enjoyed the relaxing pool area, grilling on the patio, and just hanging out in our room.
The staff was great. Very helpful and responsive.
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#27014 - 04/28/07 05:23 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: Campmommie]
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platinum
Registered: 04/30/04
Posts: 88
Loc: SF Bay Area
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We are on a California (WM-style) roadtrip currently, staying at several resorts, so it's interesting to compare them as the days go by.
We spent 4 nights in Solvang earlier this week. We had room #4303, a one-bedroom with the beautiful view of the hills in the back. Since there aren't many one-bedrooms, it occurred to me that we probably got the best one on site. As others have said, the resort is made up of 7 buildings (both two and three stories, with elevator access ONLY to the three story buildings - 2 elevators on site) and the footprint is tight, as opposed to spread out. Because we had such a private view, we spend time out on our deck relaxing and grilling most evenings. Not sure I'd want to do that if we were hanging over the pool or parking lot. Our view made for good people-watching also, as dog owners walked in the open space each evening. We walked that open-space trail also, and met some nice WM owners, plus some locals.
We loved the resort and we love Solvang. I'd been visiting the town off-and-on since 1972 but hadn't been back for over 10 years. It's a great place to relax, without feeling you have to be busy all the time. Walking almost anywhere in town is easy from the resort. We liked the fact that it was near the post office (we mailed gifts to some family), near several great bakeries (for coffee and cheese Danish in the morning and tubs of cookies for folks back at work) and close to the Elberhoj Museum (fascinating history of the town and Danish immigration, with a gallery exhibit area; there was a famous Western artist in exhibit, while we were there).
Because we live right south of the Napa Valley, we passed on all the wine tasting (which seems to be flourishing in the town and the area, since I was last there) and just focused on relaxing. Pea Soup Andersen's (family tradition as we hit town) has a nice historical set-up, which reflects on 20th-century California travel history and we enjoyed the downtown Farmers Market on Wednesday and the miniature horses at Quicksilver, plus just driving through the countryside.
For us, the resort/location was fantastic. I think my expectations were low based on reading other reviews. Everything was new and spotless and the kitchen in the one-bedroom is 50% bigger than the one I'm in now in Angels Camp. Since there were only two of us, we liked having no Murphy bed, as the dining room table was there and we set it up as the computer center. My only problem with our room is that the counter in the bathroom is teensy so there isn't room for two people to have all their bathroom stuff out.
Staff was friendly but we didn't ask them for help, having been there before. I actually went through an Owner Update (AKA: sales pitch) which turned out to be a positive experience for once. The sales guy was new so wasn't jaded and had just been through his training so there was actually some "update" of information.
We didn't use the pool/spas as it was windy during the day and chilly at night, but there was plenty of use of the main (small) pool going on - mostly families with children, so it would have been hard for us to use it, as two adults - due to the small size.
Since I'm on a "recycling at the resorts" kick now, I spoke to the manager about the need for recycling at the resort or at least notifying guests of what is available. There are FOUR huge City of Solvang dumpsters behind Neilsen's Market, so if folks are used to separating out their recyclables (as most of us California city folk are), don't forget to take your paper/plastic/glass/aluminum to the dumpsters while you're using your 5% off coupon for Neilsen's (available in the computer area of the resort).
Also, for activities, if anyone is coming in on Sunday, make sure to get there by 4pm as there is a complimentary orientation/wine tasting at the resort. We didn't know about it in advance so showed up at 6pm right after it was over. Darn.
_________________________
Lynne
Owner since 1993
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#27658 - 06/08/07 11:02 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: platinum]
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ERingue
Registered: 02/27/05
Posts: 5
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We just got back from a 3 night stay in unit 1304 a 2 BR penthouse. The resort in Solvang is close enough to town that driving was never considered execpt one morning to pick up a Kringle at Mortensens. We tried all the bakeries and found, while a bit more, Mortensens was the best, with Olsens being a close second. The Butter Ring is also to die for. While we enjoyed our stay at the resort, I would not recommend spending the extra credits for a Penthouse. The unit is no bigger than most standard 2BR and the upgraded Syracuse dishes (thats not china!) and heavier silver are not worth it (although the better cutlery was nice and should be standard in all resorts). Worst of all however was there was no way you could sleep 6 adults or even 4 adults and two teenagers(the sleeper sofa just doesn't cut it). The Bistro table given to dine at would not even fit 4 of the placemats provided let alone 4 adults. Eating dinner was very cramped (i.e. legs hitting table) and detracted from our enjoyment. We like to play games in the evening and unfortunately there was just not enough room to do so at this table. We ended up one evening going downstairs to the game room and playing on those wonderful tables. We brought down our coffee maker and desert and played our vicious game of Hand and Foot till the early morning. Since we were there in June fresh Blueberries were available to pick right down Highway 101 about 8 miles away. WOW we probably ate as many as we bought and that was quite a few, don't miss this if you are there between May-July. Our stroll at Gaviota beach was less than pleasant as just covered in sand were oil deposits that just about ruined our shoes, be careful. I will also second the big thumbs up to El Rancho Market. Local olive oils, Harris ranch beef, Mexican white prawns ($9.99) and all kind of other wonderful goodies at fair prices. All in all a great stay.
_________________________
Educate yourself for the upcoming elections. Google "Worldmark Owners" and decide for yourself.
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#27697 - 06/10/07 07:23 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: ERingue]
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avopower
Registered: 06/10/07
Posts: 5
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We visited Solvang about a year ago. The resort is small, but that wasn't too bad. Solvang is darling but they really do roll up the town about 5 PM. We came into town about 9 PM and there was only one restaurant open, it was expensive and not very good. Things improved after that. We enjoyed visiting the waterfall, Los Olivos and the mission. The bakeries of course are the best anywhere
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#27836 - 06/17/07 11:20 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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dreamtravelers
Registered: 07/14/06
Posts: 5
Loc: California, USA
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It was so worth it! We decided to get the 3 bedroom Penthouse and were so glad we did. The space was more than we expected and with 2 pre-teens and 3 adults we did not feel cramped! We stayed at the Solvang Resort May 1-4 2007.
It was our first time there.
We spent our days shopping, visiting the Santa Ines Mission(which was an experience in its self as my daughter had just been studying about it in school), we took a short car ride to the miniture horse ranch(lots of baby's being born while we were there, talk about nature at its best!)trip to the lavender farm( where we stocked up on dryed lavender and oils, soaps ect...) The Farmers Market is something you can't miss, we brought back to our room so many flowers it looked like a florist shop, they even made it back home with us after a 5 hours car trip! The fresh fruits and veggies were great and the size of the artichocks were out of this world(one fed three of us). We even took a hike up to the falls which turned out to be another experience of a different kind...there was no water and it is not an easy walk to get there... although there are benches along the way to rest which gives you the hint that its a climb! On the way back a tree root reached out and grabed my leg and down I went rolling over and over and when I came to stop I had injured my leg and shoulder all the way down to my elbow. So please be careful if you decided to go up there. The Han's Christian Anderson Museum was interesting as were many of the other shops and Museums.
Dinners out included the famous "AJ Spurs" Now that was a long, relaxing and fulfilling meal, Great service too!
There is a bakery within walking distance from the Resort, the pastries were freshly made and it was so hard to choose a favorite so everyone got a different one and we all shared. We even tried the Pea soup at Andersen's Rest.
The room we had was in the back near an open field and so it was very private and quiet. There is a spa at the bottom of the stairs which was very private. The kids loved the game room and I saw several ladies using the room to do knitting and needle work as they visited with each other. I really liked the large jetted tub in the master bedroom ( which came in handy for soaking my injured body after the "Great Fall")and the beds were really comfortable. There was a king bed in two of the rooms and two twins in the third room. Every thing was very clean and tiddy. The staff in the front office was friendly and helpful and we were not approched with the owners update meeting/marketing like alot of people have said. I was able to use the computers in the office area to check on my business email.
Over all our trip to Solvang and the Resort was wonderful! We would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, go at your own pace vacation. There is something to do for everyone you just have to want to have fun and you'll find it. Enjoy!!
Edited by dreamtravelers (06/17/07 11:30 PM)
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#28091 - 07/03/07 06:35 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: avopower]
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Debbi Morgan
Registered: 06/09/07
Posts: 12
Loc: San Diego
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My boyfriend and I live in San Diego and booked a weekend in solvang just to get away. I haven't seen good reviews. Only staying 2 nights. Hoping for the best. Sounds like the food is the strong point. How far to Hearst castle from Solvang? We will make the best of our time their but would like the avoid the bad spots. Any suggestions? In reading the reviews,,,,not so favorable. Most of the postings are quite old. Wondering if the complaints are looked at by "Worldmark" and considered worth fixing?
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#28157 - 07/07/07 10:08 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: Debbi Morgan]
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roadsister
Registered: 03/18/04
Posts: 1430
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HI Debbi,
This should be a great place for just getting away and relaxing....
You might want to rent the movie "Sideways" and then visit the spots you see in the movie.....it was filmed in that area and there are some signs posted in places that say "as seen in the movie Sideways"....there is a minature horse farm along the road leading to Los Olivis where the dining part was shot. There is a heather farm out a couple miles from the resort. Also a nice casino is close by. The town is very fun to shop around in....they also have a play house there and may have something going on there. Hearst Castle is about an hour away I think....you might also thing about driving to Santa Barbara too.
The rooms are a bit smaller than some resorts, larger that others so sometimes eveyone isn't pleased due to one thing or another. We loved it there.
_________________________
Worldmark Owners helping Worldmark Owners!
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#28177 - 07/08/07 08:56 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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jgsandiego
Registered: 04/28/07
Posts: 3
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I read about the small dining area in the 3 bedroom special needs unit. I wonder if a regular 3 bedroom unit has the same small dining space? My husband and I have a 3 bedroom unit booked and are taking along 2 friends or more. I wonder if it would be too cramped if there were 6 of us?
Any advice?
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#28342 - 07/18/07 09:18 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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ronbo49
Registered: 04/04/06
Posts: 29
Loc: Reno, Nv.
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recently returned from all 3 wine countries in California
1. Angels Camp (Calaveras County)
2. Windsor (Sonoma County and the Napa area)
3. Solvang(Santa Ynez County - where they filmed "Sideways")
These were return trips to Angels Camp and Windsor, but Solvang was new to me......and I loved it!!
Solvang is a great little town to relax in and take it easy and just visit all the shops (and the bakeries, of course).
The Resort was comfortable and well appointed and although maybe a tad smaller than some other worldmarks, I really didn't seem to notice it that much (actually it seemed like the living room just wasn't as long). We were in a 2 bedroom and the kitchen area only sat 4 (btw - to the previous post, I don't know if the 3 bedroom seats more for dining - I would recommend calling the staff there and ask).
Great location, easy to find, just a couple of blocks from the main part of town, and lots to do and see all around the area. and if you like live theatre, don't miss the PCPA Theatre Fest (top notch production company in an outdoor theatre) and just 3 blocks from the resort.
Nice rec room at Worldmark, good staff, great lounge area. the pool was a little small, but was never crowded at all (on a holiday weekend too).
all in all, a wonderful worldmark property and I will return!!!!
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#28345 - 07/18/07 11:58 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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KathyG
Registered: 01/26/05
Posts: 5
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We had a very positive experience with our short stay in Solvang. The staff was wonderful. The front desk staff was very helpful and they do have copies of Sideways, the movie that took place in the area. There is even a map of the scenes from the movie. We were upstairs and they offered assitance to schlep our luggage up the stairs. It was quiet and although we didn't avail ourselves of the pool and game room, etc. they were being used each time we'd pass through. The quaint town of Solvang is well within walking distance and lots of stores if so inclined, restaurants too. The Farmer's market right in town is truly about the local growers and had wonderful produce.
I would definitely stay here again. Thanks for a great stay and the exemplary hospitality.
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#28346 - 07/19/07 12:05 AM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: Debbi Morgan]
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KathyG
Registered: 01/26/05
Posts: 5
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Hi Debbi,
I say, just go and enjoy. It's a great locale and lots of stuff for a couple to do. We went with no specific plans and just ran out of time, but relaxed and laughed and really enjoyed ourselves. There are always some who will complain. Our two bedroom unit was great! No seating issues, comfortable and upstairs(no elevator). Someone just helped us carry our stuff upstairs and the staff very gracious. Hope you have/had a great time!
Kathy
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#28389 - 07/22/07 04:56 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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bethers
Registered: 03/06/07
Posts: 7
Loc: California, US
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Anyone stay in the Studio at Solvang?
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#28574 - 08/02/07 11:04 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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emy
Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 2
Loc: Sunny Southern California
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My husband and I and our four kids just got back from a 2 night stay in a 3 bedroom in Solvang. We had the best time. The shops are within walking distance and there was plenty to do. The weather was absolutely beautiful!! The sky was so blue. We rented a Surrey in the town...my kids loved it...my husband and I hated it. We needed to buy my daughter a new bathing suit so I asked the front desk where the closest Target or Walmart would be...The closest Walmart was 20 miles away!! But it didn't matter because the scenery was so beautiful!!! We will definitely be going back.
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#28843 - 08/21/07 05:04 PM
Re: Solvang Resort Review
[Re: CSTUCKY]
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pshero
Registered: 04/05/07
Posts: 7
Loc: AZ, formerly Truckee
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Haven't been able to get onto forum for awhile (anti-virus(DUH!) Anyway Loved Solvang. We went in May for 4 nights. Recommend the Motorcycle Museum if your into that. Im not sure if they haave any regular hours, but we called & they opened it for us. We also did a Limo for the wine tasting tour & had a ball. Got to pick the winers + driver was very familiar with the area. Loved it. Wouldn't have minded a few more days to check out the rest of the area.
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