Staying at Couples Resort is EXACTLY What You Need!
Tucked away near the shores of Galeairy Lake near Algonquin Park is a romantic haven where couples visit to be at one with nature and one another. Whether you’ve been married for years like us or if you have a new and budding relationship, a stay at Couples Resort is EXACTLY what you need!
I’ve always been a firm believer that the more you invest in your marriage or partnership, the more valuable it becomes. That’s why Darasak and I always make it a point to get away for a few days, without the kids, free of guilt and take the time to enjoy each other.
What I love about Couples Resorts in Algonquin is that not only does it provide a romantic atmosphere in picturesque Ontario but, it provides everything you need to strengthen your bond as a couple.
Why Stay Here?
With the busy bustle of life and work, it’s easy to forget to devote time to one another. Parents often forget that they were best friends with mutual interests before they had kids. Couples without kids are just as busy with many things on the go. That’s why a stay at the Couples Resort is essential. A place to reconnect, indulge, go on an adventure and work together as a pair.
Algonquin is an incredibly beautiful place, I hate to admit that even though I live in Ontario, I haven’t made it up to here as often as I’d like. Growing up in Southwestern Ontario, coming up to Algonquin is definitely a treat. There are many things that we just don’t see further down South. The resort is located 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto and about 3 hours west of Ottawa.
We had the chance to experience a couples-only, all-inclusive stay at Couples Resort in a Jr. Suite. I’ve heard great reviews about this resort and I was very excited to try it out and share it with Darasak. We love family travel but, we love traveling as a couple too. Read on for the 9 reason why a stay at Couples Resort may just be what your relationship needs!
1. Luxurious Accommodations
Couples Resort is a rustic, 5-star boutique luxury resort. It’s actually one of the things that we look for when we get away as a couple. Boutique hotels and resorts offer a unique stay, every time and Couples Resort doesn’t disappoint. Each room and cottage are designed individually. The styles vary between Opulent Old European to Boutique Algonquin Style. As soon as you arrive, you’ll notice the resort grounds are well-kept and gorgeous.
Our Jr. Suite on the top floor was gorgeous in all of its rustic splendour. It is styled with real cedar wood, marble and granite bathroom and features a King-sized bed by designer Marshall Mattress. A sweet bonus is a large double in-room Jacuzzi, outdoor hot tub on a private balcony and, a 50-inch flat screen equipped with Netflix. Yes, you can binge-watch your shows with no interruptions, y’all.
While these cabins are considered the “Best-Value” at the resort, they include almost everything the other accommodations do.
One of the most appealing features of the room is the wood-burning fireplace. While it was a bit warm to use this time around, during the Fall and the winter months, this would be amazing and incredibly romantic.
Time to relax.
Being a parent is one of the best roles that I’ve ever had the privilege to hold but, being able to enjoy a hot-tub, jacuzzi, a long, hot shower and Netflix uninterrupted was amazing. It was nice to just be able to relax, read, journal, have a little screen time and not have a worry in the world. The rooms are made for pure relaxation and relax we did.
I love that it had an in-room Keurig, mini-fridge and table to enjoy a meal or morning coffee. A nice touch was having bug spray in the rooms so that you can enjoy the resort and its amenities outdoors without pesky mosquitos. Needless to say, they’ve thought of everything when it comes to helping you celebrate or re-connect and these luxurious digs certainly help.
2. All-Inclusive, Couples Only & BYOW
Staying at an all-inclusive resort is worth it. Couples Resort has 46 accommodations and 75, lovely staff to help make your stay memorable. It’s nice not having to worry about anything and if they haven’t already thought about it, you can always ask. There are various packages to choose from and each one has the couple in mind. Whether you are looking for a Relaxing Indulgence, Romance Getaway, Spa Pampering or Activities and Sports, there’s a package that can suit everyone. See all the packages, here.
Since it is a 4-season resort, you can come any time of the year and enjoy what each season offers. I would love to return when the trees start changing or experience winter here too. I can only imagine that it is incredible!
A unique aspect of this resort is that you are able to bring your own wine and beverages. If you have a preference for a certain kind, you can enjoy it with your meals and you are not charged a corkage fee.
PRICES INCLUDE the following (In ALL 4 Packages):
A) Private Outdoor Hot Tub and In-room Double Jacuzzi
1) BYOW – NO WINE CORKAGE FEE for Evening Dinner
2) 5 Course Gourmet Dinner OR Free Dinner Room Service
3) Gourmet Breakfast OR Free Breakfast in bed service
4) Algonquin Park Pass (see office)
5) Gym with Sauna, Billiard Tables, Darts, Shuffleboard.
6) Firewood
7) Free Streaming Wifi
8) 2 In-Room Bottled Water, Coffee and Tea
9) Coffees, Teas, Sodas, Juices, Water at the Dining Room and Bar
10) 2 EXTRA Sides for breakfast.
3. Delicious Food & 5-Course Dining Experience
The food is definitely one of the top reasons to stay here. Executive Chef, Ronnie Coppens leads the Culinary Team and they not only focus on 1st class service but, providing the freshest and the highest quality products. The best part is that they offer Ontario produced products too.
We enjoyed a delicious chicken Panini with herbed Havarti, greens and tomato and chipotle aioli for lunch. Served with a yummy salad with house dressing. It is something that we still talk about since it was so good. The dining room is gorgeous and is surrounded by large windows. They let in natural light during the day and it was a treat to sit by the window with the lake as our view. The only meal that is not covered under the all-inclusive price is lunch but, you can come in and enjoy a meal a la carte. You can see the menu, here.
Dinner is quite the affair. It is a chance to get dolled-up and enjoy an incredible meal with great service, amazing conversation and live entertainment. Dinner service has a dress code and it is quite popular with resort guests. I know that I don’t often get to get dressed up as often as I’d like. The gents wear semi-formal and the ladies wear cocktail attire.
But, here’s the kicker…
The beauty of the all-inclusive meals is that you can enjoy your meals in the comfort of your own room. Soft, satiny robes et al. We decided to have breakfast and dinner in our room. Eating a delectable french toast stuffed with berries and cream cheese whilst sitting on our patio balcony early in the morning was everything.
Then for dinner, we stayed in, wore our robes, enjoyed a 5-course meal and then hopped into the hot tub outside with drinks. Our food was incredible, our steak cooked just right and dessert was impeccable. You can see what we enjoyed but, you can see the full menus, here.
4. The Grounds
The first thing we did after getting settled into our room was to explore the resort grounds. There are plenty of places that you can get an incredible view of Galeairy Lake. We walked out near the fire pits in front of the dining room, walked out on onto the boat dock, sat hand in hand and took in nature.
The air is fresher, the water bluer and the silence–beautiful. We sat in silence for a little while and it was a moment we will always remember. I say that Algonquin has a little piece of my heart now and experiencing the still moments that it offers, it’s no surprise people yearn to come back.
5. Hot Tubs, Jacuzzi & the Pool
As I mentioned, you have your very own, private and in-room hot tub and jacuzzi. These are two elements that we used a lot during our stay. It’s nice to not have to share a hot tub with other resort guests, while it’s great to mingle, it’s pretty awesome to have one of your own. Especially on the balcony and you can use it whenever you want. The jacuzzi is great to have during the cold months. Just picture relaxing in the tub with a fire going?
Perfection.
The outdoor pool is shared of course and it has a beautiful view of Galeairy Lake. It is a salt-water pool that is 20 feet X 40 feet, it opens on the May Long weekend and stays open until Labour Day weekend. You don’t have to worry about the temperature as it is 82’F & 28’C. You can take a dip between 10AM and 7PM. Plus, you can enjoy food and drinks served by the staff at the lakeside patio.
If you want to bring your own drinks and snacks, there’s a self-service patio with three areas overlooking Galeairy Lake. One area is the double fire-pit patio, if you’re a smoker, you can do it here. The other two areas are non-smoking and it is the pool patio and the Couples Chaise lounges patio. It’s safe to say, there’s a place to enjoy for everyone. At night, you can enjoy sitting around the fire pits too.
6. The Spa
Getting away with your partner for a romantic getaway in a gorgeous place goes hand in hand with relaxation. That often includes spa treatments that are good for your body and soul. Luckily, Couples Resort has an on-site spa that has 6 rooms, is 100% natural, organic and solar-powered. So, whether you came here simply for the spa treatments or to get out in nature, your body will thank you for giving it a bit of R&R.
We didn’t get a chance to book a treatment since our days were pretty packed. But, when we come back–we definitely will. Services provided are massages, hot stones, body molding, head massage, manicures, pedicures, footicals, scrubs, wraps, facials and even waxing. To find out more about treatments and how to book them on your visit, go here.
7. On-Site Activities
The first thing we did in the morning after a good night’s sleep was head to the Sports Centre. We wanted to see if we could get out on the lake since it was a gorgeous day. The centre has everything you need to enjoy the outdoors in spring, summer, winter or fall. They also have a wide array of all-weather clothing, outerwear, footwear, hats and accessories & apparel in case you forgot something at home.
During the summer, they offer a wide array of activities. From horseback riding, biking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boating and they have row boats or motor boats to use as well. You can get onto Galeairy Lake and take the 4-hour trip and visit one of their waterfalls. What I loved about getting into a canoe was that you can go at your own pace. You can stop along the way or you can go as fast as you’d like. The best part is that it is so peaceful and tranquil. We’d stop for a bit and just take in the breeze and the sights.
It was amazing!
After our lake adventure, we decided to go to the Algonquin Lookout, a 1 km trail to see Algonquin from the top! We also stopped at other trails along the way.
If being indoors is more your jam, Couples Resort has a rec room that you’ll love. You’ll find 3 slate billiard tables, 1 ping-pong table, 1 foosball table, 1 shuffleboard table, 2 dart boards, and 2 seating areas. You can also get your game on and use their 2 regulation-size tennis courts with all the racquets and balls provided. Plus, there’s a regulation-size badminton court with all the racquets and birdies provided too.
8. Off-Site Activities
The perk of staying at Couples Resort is the close proximity to Algonquin Park. If you are unfamiliar with Algonquin, you can literally spend an entire day there doing so many things. Like hiking, kayaking, bird watching–you name it. Algonquin Park contains numerous historical and archaeological resources and has inspired more than 40 books, 1,800 scientific papers, a dozen films, a symphony, and the art of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven.
Algonquin Park, the first provincial park in Ontario, protected from the noise and rush of civilization, this world-renowned park in Ontario is a sanctuary for the rugged beauty of the maple, pine, moose, and wolves. A Provincial Park since 1893, the 7500 square kilometers (3500 square miles) of Algonquin Park are home to a diverse and unblemished eco-system that can be found nowhere else on earth.
Other things you can enjoy at Algonquin are:
- 17 Hiking trails from casual to ambitious
- Canoeing from paddle to portage
- Wildlife spotting from loon to moose
- Visitor Centre information and activities
- Art Centre and Logging Museum
- Algonquin Art Gallery
9 The Scenic Drive, Hikes & Outlooks
The drive to Couples Resort and Algonquin are incredibly scenic. For a city girl who doesn’t get to see much nature, it was an amazing drive. There are various outlook points where you can stop and take in picturesque landscapes. Small little stores and diners that you can indulge in and stands where you can buy fresh and local produce. Not to mention, depending on the time you visit or just pure luck, you may see wildlife you have never seen before in the wild.
We saw 4 bears on our day out at Algonquin and it was something I will never forget. You can also see moose depending on the time of year and this time, they were a bit elusive and we didn’t get a chance to see them. We also stopped at the Visitor Centre and you can learn a lot about the park before you head out and enjoy it.
Plan Your Trip!
Our stay at Couples Resort was a memorable one. The ability to do everything or nothing at all is beautiful and amidst all the chaos of life, it was exactly what we needed. I am lucky to be married to my best friend and we spend a lot of time together. But, there is nothing like being able to completely dedicate your time to your partner. Even if it is for a couple of days, you are each other’s universe.
One thing is for sure, I found that in all the activities we did and enjoyed together, involved team work. A simple thing as taking a canoe out onto a lake had us working together and helped us strengthen our bond and create memories for a lifetime. We can’t wait to return to the Couples Resort and no matter which point you are in your relationship, this is a great place to discover one another all over again.
Be Social!
For more information about booking your stay, visit the Couples Resort website. They have various types of accommodations to choose from, so whatever your style is, you’re covered. For their latest updates, follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
How often do you make time out for just you and your partner?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
Couples Resort
139 Galeairy Lake Rd,(End of)
Whitney – Algonquin Park, On, K0J 2M0.
Toll Free:+1 866 202-1179
FAX:+1 613 637 2615
E-mail: info@couplesresort.ca
Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist and editor of lifestyle blog Whispered Inspirations. A social media junkie, a travel-lover with insatiable wanderlust and an aficionado for fun gadgets, good eats, and entertainment. You can find her on Instagram and everywhere else under @WhispersInspire.
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