Our Stay At The Omni Homestead

Considering booking a stay at the Omni Homestead? Read my honest review before you plan your trip.

Ever since we moved to the DMV area, people have raved about heading out to Hot Springs and checking out the Omni Homestead. Touted as a 5-star property and America’s oldest resort, we knew we wanted to check it out, so when friends offered to meet us there this spring, we jumped at the chance. There is a lot to love about the Omni Homestead, but also some things that are important to take note of before you go. Our experience was genuinely memorable, but it also didn’t quite land as a seamless 5-star stay across the board.

Our Stay At The Omni Homestead

I’ll start with what was wonderful: the staff. Everyone at this property is incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the resort and its history. That shows up everywhere, but it really stood out during a history tour we took with a gentleman who was basically a walking encyclopedia of the Homestead. He made the entire hour-long tour one of the highlights of our trip, packed with fun facts, stories, and a clear love for the property that made the storied history come alive. I think all 4 of us in our group would agree this was hands-down a highlight of the weekend.

The property itself is huge and beautiful, and simply walking around it is relaxing. There’s something calming about how expansive it is and it’s easy to just grab a coffee and wander the grounds. The Omni Homestead is one of those places where you end up walking more just because you want to, not because you have to (though it IS easy to get lost getting to your room – more on that in a minute). 

We also really enjoyed the daily birthday celebration at 2:50 honoring America’s 250th, complete with cake, tea, and lemonade. It’s a charming touch for sure and I’m not sure if they will continue it after this year (2026), but worth checking out at least once while you’re visiting. The warm springs experiences were also a highlight—absolutely worth doing—but it’s important to note that they are not free and do require an advanced reservation, which isn’t immediately obvious until you’re already trying to plan your day.

It’s also worth checking out the evening movie experience. The architecture, in general, is stunning at every turn (think grand without feeling cold), and it is highlighted in the theater.

That said, there are a few areas that really need work to make this feel like a true 5-star experience.

The Old Course is beautiful, but there are no concessions available – not on the course or even at the end – and there wasn’t any warning about this ahead of time. In 90-degree heat, 18 holes quickly becomes a bit of an endurance challenge, especially without access to water or anything else along the way. We also had a confusing experience at the spa pool. At the time, the main pool wasn’t open yet for the season, so we went to the spa pool where we found chairs available and ordered food. No one mentioned anything about restrictions or pricing until after we had already settled in, at which point we were told it was $75 per person. We stayed because we were already there, but it felt like something that should have been clearly posted upfront, especially since it was the only pool option open at the time.

Service in the restaurants was also painfully slow, which added up over the course of the stay. The rooms, while comfortable, felt pretty dated overall. In our room, there was even noticeable caked-on dust in the bathroom air vent, which was disappointing for a property of this caliber. We also had issues with the elevators in the South wing not working properly during our stay, which made getting around more frustrating than it needed to be, and made getting to/from the room a pain in the ass. Also worth noting, there were two huge events while we were there (a wedding and a corporate event) and it definitely changes the vibe of the entire property.

None of these issues were catastrophic on their own, but together they made the experience feel less polished than expected for a resort of this reputation. The weekend was enjoyable for us, because we were visiting the property with friends and we got to hang out and spend time together. It’s a place that has the bones of a truly exceptional stay, even if the execution doesn’t always fully match the setting, but would I go back? Probably not. 

If you are looking for your next vacation destination you might consider Rosewood Miramar Beach