My wife and I wanted a little getaway from the Dallas Metroplex and chose the Crystal River Inn from viewing their website. As a result of our experience I write this review, listing the pros and cons as honestly as I know:
Cons:
- The room we originally stayed in (San Marco) was hot.
Pros:
-All the folks we interfaced with were very nice.
-The first night we stayed in a room that was too hot for us. The next day we told the staff, and they quickly moved us into another room (Medina). They were very accommodating and apologetic regarding the air conditioning issue with the first room. The second room was very, very comfortable.
-Both rooms we stayed in were charming - It brought back lots of fond memories for one raised in the "Old South".
-The breakfast for each morning was both different and delicious - We had "Carrot Cake" pancakes one morning and a wonderful spinach quiche on another morning. The cook / baker is very gifted!
- I met one of the owners one evening, though he didn't introduce himself as an owner. He was very personable and was heavily involved with a hands-on upgrade project in one of the rooms. I sensed a good deal of TLC from this encounter regarding the owner's relationship with the property.
Overall, I would strongly recommend this B & B to anyone wanting to visit the area, or just to have some private time to themselves away from home. My caveatt is that this is a legitimate, historical property, and along with the antiquity and charm comes authenticity that is sometimes apparent through the inevitable mishaps that are associated with age - If one understands this going in, and realizes that the staff are very reactive to any unforeseen mishap when it is brought to their attention, then one can thoroughly enjoy the experience without the burden of unrealistic expectations that are often fostered in our plastic, modern culture.
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