Prior to our trip, which was booked back in December, I read the reviews on this website and was shocked. I then called the hotel directly and spoke with the manager on duty and asked the validity of the reviews. She stated the extent of the construction and was very accurate upon our arrival. Although there is a major construction going on at the hotel, the hotel staff could not be more accomodating. We did have to be rerouted several times throughout our stay but it wasn't out of the way. Luckily the weather was nice when rerouted outside of the building. The ammenities are beautiful. The pool, spa, and locker areas are clean, and I thought, appropriately staffed given that the hotel is not very busy. Although this trip only included my husband and I, I felt that the guidelines/pool times regarding children were appropriate. I will certainly bring my children back the next time I come. The restaurants are all open, as well as the lobby. The only food we ate at the hotel was breakfast with a buffet or a la carte menu offered. Our meals were delicious. Our room accomodations were perfect. We were given a beautiful newly renovated room on the third floor. To reach the third floor we did have to travel by way of the first floor which was under a major renovation. A bit obrusive at times, but we managed. Although not the perfect situation, we enjoyed our time spent at The Equinox and will plan to visit again with our children this summer.
I can't wait to see how it all turns out!!

We just returned from our stay at the Equinox...a complete disaster. We booked our reservation through the hotel's website. The website is completely and totally deceptive. First and foremost, the website did not inform us that the hotel was in the midst of a major renovation. The historic Marsh Tavern is closed. The main building has largely been gutted. To reach one's room. you must wade through ongoing construction. Look down the vacant corridors and picture the child on his Big Wheel from "The Shining." Don't plan on sleeping in, because the construction equipment starts banging away no later than 7 a.m. The amenities described on the website are illusory. Example one: tennis is not available at the hotel...book time through off-site company. More alarmingly, we were told that the room we had confirmed on-line was "unavailable". We were shunted to a "townhouse" that had not been updated since the Nixon Administration. Reagan was President when the bathrooms were last cleaned. No sooner had my family departed for the pool when I discovered my keycard would not unlock the door to the "townhouse". A housekeeper tried her key to no avail. She called for a maintenance man, who showed up 1/2 hr. later with the wrong tools. The hotel shifted us to a newly renovated room on the 4th floor of the main building. The lighting in the bath does not allow for a close shave. We awoke in the morning to discover there was no heat...temp in the room 63 degrees. The staff slid a note under the door to inform us that there would be no water from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to shower in the spa, where children are not permitted. The spa-pool: Children under 16 are not allowed in the gym or spa; that's fine. Just make it clear on the website. Children under 16 in the pool; restricted hours. Again, fine. Just let your prospective guests know in advance. The pool itself is superior. Although the pool and spa were amply staffed, the personnel were less than helpful. Walk in, you immediately have the feeling of a college freshman being hazed. No one welcomes you or offers to explain what services are available. We were told immediately and firmly that our teen-age daughter was not permitted to even walk down the hallway leading to the gym. Get a locker key, schedule a massage, figure it out yourself. We personally observed a number of other guests voicing complaints and checking out early. When checking out, I was not asked the standard questions about how I enjoyed my stay. I had to raise the issue myself. If you go, go with eyes open.

I've been meaning to write this review for awhile because it just has to be said.....I don't get why everyone loves this place. You tell people you're staying at the Equinox and they rave but maybe they just haven't been there in awhile. We visited the Equinox when we were looking for places to have our wedding. If you're not familiar with Manchester, the town is very cute even though it is basically an outlet mall. The Equinox is beautiful and charming from the outside and even walking around the lobby is quite nice. Do note that if you don't valet park, parking can be quite a distance from the back entrance so be prepared if it is cold or snowing. Also, it is a large hotel so if you have trouble walking, you should make that known as it could be a long walk from entrance to your room and there are more staircases than elevators.

The first room we stayed in was a larger corner room but there was a constant humming noise that drove us crazy so we had to move. They were nice enough to let us choose from a few replacement rooms so I can say that the room we ended up in was pretty typical. As someone reported, the acousitcs were terrible- you could hear everything in the hallway and outside but worst you could hear your neighbors and people walking around upstairs from you. The decor was a bit dinged up, the some of hte furniture looked like it came from IKEA, and the linens, towel, and shower curtain were definitely not what I expected for the price we were paying. It just really needed a remodel/upgrade. Overall, room was not bad (as long as you don't mind noise) but given the price and the reputation I just expected more.

As for the wedding- if you're looking in the Manchester area, definitely check out Hildene just down the road!

I have gone to this hotel three times in three years --always in February. Before it was fine --not perfect, but, fine. ˇThis time it was extraordinarily bad.
We stayed in the 1811 house which is lovely, I had a working fireplace in my room but there was no staff in the house, No one to help me with my bags on a cold icy Friday night from the parking lot -- and when I finally got someone - he did not have my key. the service was non-existent. The really final blow was that on Friday when I arrived there was a chocolate on my bedside table and I did not eat it -- so the next night-- it was gone with no replacement.
We went there for the spa -- so on Saturday afternoon we went to the spa after a long day of hiking and shopping, and in the spa things have definitely gone downhill, the locker room was dirty and there was not a single attendant to pick things up. The floors are really slippery -- dangerously so, and in the main hotel, there was no concierge when we needed one, When we tried to make reservations for 8pm in the tavern for dinner we could find no one to help us at 4 pm, Eventually we got a dinner reservation in the Tavern that night but the food was appallling -- frozen salmon with half cooked vegs, I was starving and ate everything so I did not say anything at the time but it was BAD. And there was construction going on the entire weekend. The prices are the same in spite of the construction (high) but the services suck and the spa was terrible-- kids in the pool, no lifeguard, kids in the hot tub no parents, and finally no one to express these concerns to. The only good thing that weekend was the masseuse -- Bruce who is AMAZING. The Equinox sucks at this point -- maybe they'll get their act together -- but we were ripped off. For these prices - a guest should get some service and we got NONE.