Kohler, Wisconsin
Located about 1 hour north of Milwaukee and 2.5 hours north of Chicago, the Village of Kohler is a small enclave not far from Lake Michigan. Founded by the Kohler family of bathroom/kitchen fixture fame, this small village is a luxe respite comprised of two hotels, a top-notch spa, two championship golf courses, quality restaurants and more. Looking to enjoy a weekend away with friends, my spouse and I headed north to experience what Kohler had to offer.
We had settled on the Relax INN Kohler weekend package, which included a 2-night stay at the Inn at Woodlake, continental breakfast each day, 3-course meal at the Horse and Plow, discounted spa rates, and complimentary admission to the athletic club. A number of additional activities were also offered for a nominal fee, including kitchen demonstrations/cooking events, winter sports activities, and tours of the Kohler factory.
The rooms at the Inn at Woodlake are large, comfortable, and well-appointed. Our king room had a spacious desk (triangle-shaped, but plenty large enough for a laptop and paperwork) with a comfortable desk chair, pull out couch, two small benches flanking the dresser (over which hung the large flat-screen TV), wet bar, and ample closet space. The room was decorated in dark woods with crisp, white Frette linens, and the sink for the wet bar was crimson and provided a pop of color. The room was also designed for the techno-geek of today with a docking station for an iPad/iPod/laptop that would both connect to the TV and play through the surround sound speakers in the room.
As you would expect being part of a bathroom empire, the bathrooms were large and luxurious. Our bathroom did not have a tub, just a large shower with two shower heads and body sprays (and a seat!), a large vanity area surrounding the sink, and the toilet. This room was also white with a slate shower, and included the nice touch of a speaker in the room that would play either the TV sound or docked media device. An odd omission was the lack of bathrobes for guests to use. For a brand known for spa luxury, it was somewhat expected to have robes and a bathtub in the guest rooms.
The Lakeside Rooms in which we stayed have a small patio with two chairs that overlook the lake and private beach. Due to a recent blizzard, the snow pack and cold temps made using the patio impossible, but it is a nice feature and provides a quaint view for guests. During our stay, ice skating was available on the lake, and skates were available complimentary from the front desk.
The Inn itself is decorated in an Arts and Crafts style with mission furniture and slate floors in the common areas. A large, double-sided fireplace is located in the area where breakfast is served. Tables and comfortable chairs add to the cozy environment. The room is available all day to read, play cards, or enjoy a cup of complimentary tea or coffee. The breakfast offered was a standard continental, however I did find the selection somewhat limited. While there was a different hot option each day (eggs/sausage for breakfast sandwiches one day, French toast the next), the breads, pastries and cereal options were few. There was no waffle maker, and oatmeal was out of a packet. While the Inn at Woodlake is the more value-oriented of the two properties (the other being The American Club), I was still surprised that these items were missing considering that they are standard at most chain hotels in the US.
Front desk staff is polite and helpful, providing recommendations to restaurants in Kohler or nearby Sheboygan, answering questions about activities inside the village, or calling the complimentary shuttle service to take you wherever you need to go within the village. The attendant at breakfast was also prompt in refreshing breakfast items and making sure the tables were bussed if needed. The rooms were well cleaned and small details were attended to, including mints left bedside.
Pros:
Friendly & helpful staff
Luxurious bathrooms and comfortable beds
Large guest rooms
Convenient to village offerings (walking or shuttle)
Cons:
Continental breakfast options limited
No robes in rooms
No tub in room
No thermostats in the room, only small window units for climate control (made room temp control difficult)
Overall rating for the Inn at Woodlake and the Village of Kohler, 3.75 out of 5 stars.
