Exclusive Cabin, Lake View, Lakeside | Water view

Reviews of Renfro's Lakeside Retreat - Cabin's and R.V. Park

3 out of 5

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 70 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 88 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Beautiful place away from it all. Gary was a helpful host. We enjoyed every minute we were there.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Gary on 5 Oct 2023
I am so pleased you enjoyed every minute you were here! Thank you for taking the time to write a review and adding a picture!

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great place to reset. Would go back.
Beautiful area. Quaint cabins. Super clean. Gary was a wonderful host Wi-Fi does not exist in the cabins but is available at the check in cabin. Would not have been a big deal on vacation but a little challenging when traveling for business. Remote area so no TV.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Gary on 5 Oct 2023
Thank you for the wonderful review of The Retreat! I appreciate your comments and informative narrative on the WiFi. I am glad you had a wonderful stay and look forward to your return. The added pictures are great!

8/10 Good

Nadezda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Cute and cozy cabin
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Gary on 24 Sept 2023
Thank you for the review!

10/10 Excellent

Justine

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed in a lakeside cabin with an absolutely stunning view. Every little detail couldn’t have been any better! The lack of Wi-Fi and tv at the cabin was a plus. The grounds were immaculate and the location was amazing! About 20 minutes from Seward. We’re here for four nites at it was very relaxing. Gary is a great host!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Gary on 23 Sept 2023
Justine, Many thanks for your review of The Retreat and the lakeside cabins! That view is spectacular- nothing better! I appreciate you noticing how clean the grounds were as we take great pride in a clean environment. Thanks again for the accolades!

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Extremely clean and cozy one night stay! The owners and workers are as kind as they come even offering us a free ride into Seward if we needed. Would absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from Gary on 20 Aug 2023
Ryan, Thank you for the review! Much appreciated! Best of luck on your future for the two of you and enjoy the rest of this adventure! Congratulations!

8/10 Good

Yanbo

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
有独立小厨房洗手间的小木屋,周边环境很原始,但外面很多蚊子,房间里没有微波炉,整个没有信号跟wifi, 适合去完全修身养性的人!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from Gary on 13 Aug 2023
Yanbo, Thank you for your review of cabin #8 here at The Retreat. Yes, your cabin is rustic and shows so on the description along with no microwave in the amenities. Sorry you felt we had a lot of mosquitos during a rainy part of our Summer. You are in rural Alaska so your expectation of cell service or WiFi at the cabin is a little unrealistic even though you were advised of this ahead of time. You did spend a good portion of your time on the WiFi here at the lodge, so it must have been important to you. In the future, please review the description of your lodging choice so your expectations are met and you are happier with your stay. Thank you again for staying with us!

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from Gary on 21 Sept 2023
Thank you for your review!

10/10 Excellent

Wharton

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful Lakeside views. Beautiful Lakeside views
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from Gary on 6 Aug 2023
Wharton,Thank you for your review of the beautiful lakeside views!

10/10 Excellent

Pia

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great place to stay for a Alaska nature retreat with the lake right in front of your cabin door! The cabins are brand new and very clean. We would have loved to stay longer.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Response from Gary on 28 July 2023
Pia, Thank you for your review! Although the cabins look brand new, they were built in 1998 and remodeled in the Winter 2015/2016. I appreciate you noticing how clean they were. I wished you could have stayed longer also. Until next time- Thank you!

6/10 Okay

Dolores

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness
The cabin we stayed in was fine - just know it is very basic and rustic - no insulation.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Gary on 4 July 2023
Hi Delores, Thank you for your review! It is a rustic cabin, you are correct. The cabin does have insulation. After further researching your noise complaint, it was determined that the critter(s) are bats. I am sorry you had to experience the noise. Thank you again for staying with us!

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Gary on 4 July 2023
Karen, Thank you for your review! I appreciate it!

6/10 Okay

serena

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Pros: Secluded and quiet. Near the lake. A hike down the railroad tracks leads to the river. Welcoming. Heater works great. The grounds are kept very nice and clean. Cons: No wifi in cabin. No regular coffee pot. No phone signal. Staff leaves for the whole day without having an emergency contact. You are on your own if something goes wrong like getting locked out of your cabin - which we did. No paper towels. No microwave.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Gary on 24 June 2023
Serena,Thank you for your review of cabin #8. I am glad you found certain amenities on and near The Retreat to your liking. Please ensure you review what you are booking in the future as it is stated there is no cell service, no WiFi (only common areas), no microwave and we have a Keurig coffee maker (with a dispenser for your own coffee if wanted). You were notified ahead of time for the staff offsite and given specific instructions to follow if you had an emergency. You did not follow those instructions instead sending me an email and calling the business line (where I am not at). I actually have a procedure for the situation you were in and could have got you back into the cabin if you would have followed the procedures for the emergency contact. I followed up with you via phone calls to two numbers, your email, checked the entry to the cabin and left you a note on your door and personally talked to your husband. He said it was fine that you got back in. I am sorry you had such a difficult time with the offsite.

8/10 Good

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Inconvenience due to road work
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from Gary on 24 June 2023
Danielle, Thank you for your review of The Retreat. I am sorry but I do not control road work just like the rest of us. If I could make it not be here I would. Thanks again for staying with us!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great place to stay
Wonderful getaway on a great property about 20 minutes from Skagway. Cabin was thoughtfully designed and well appointed; there were electric outlets in all the right places. Bed was comfortable; parking right next to cabin. All the amenities you could can imagine right down to pods for Keurig. Laundry close and convenient. Very pleased with our stay and all the communication before and during.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Gary on 14 June 2023
I appreciate your review of The Retreat. It takes time and effort to put down your thoughts about your stay here. I am glad you found the cabin and amenities to your standards and the facilities and surrounding area easy to access. Thank you again!

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Response from Gary on 25 Sept 2022
Steven, Thank you for the rating!

10/10 Excellent

Paca

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Charming cabin and location
Great place to launch hikes, visits to downtown Seward and fjord/whale tours from. Lovely view of the lake from the kitchen and loft. It was so quiet and tranquil. A perfect place for a couple's or family getaway. The cabin was well stocked and had a modern interior. The host was very communicative and accommodating. I would definitely visit again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Response from Gary on 2 Nov 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write a review and give insight to others that may want to stay here. I appreciate your feedback and count it as valuable in my businesses success. Many thanks for the compliments!

10/10 Excellent

TRACE

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Cute little cabin!! Gary was very helpful and appreciate his recommendations. Very clean, very secluded.. will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Gary on 24 Aug 2022
Trace, Thank you so much for the review of The Retreat! Your feedback is important and we do hope to see the two of you again!

10/10 Excellent

Eli

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
great spot-little cottage was very cozy
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Gary on 17 Aug 2022
Thank you Eli for your review! Much Appreciated!

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Vary nice cabin.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Stephanie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Average stay in beautiful location
The cabin was very quiet and in a beautiful area. The lake is gorgeous.somehow my reservation was messed up so instead of 3 adults, a child and an infant, it remade it to 2 adults. So when i called to book a wildlife cruise it was then it was caught. What bothered me is he mentioned it would be an extra fee per day because of extra people. I said ok... but when a hotel room says "room for 4" they dont charge you extra for person 3 or 4. The room rate is the same. So i thought ok, maybe because of the infant its "over capacity" so i get that. But i was also charged per day for the infant. So my 3 day stay essentially cost me 4. And ive never had anyone charge for an infant. No cruise, airline, hotel etc. So that left a bad taste to me. But i had paid the deposit and hoped for the best. I was excited for the bathtub. But the tub drain couldnt be closed. So that sucked for me and the kiddos. Also, my sister was walking up the stairs and one of the stairs literally broke under her and her leg fell all the way through. Luckily i waz underneath to help her. They did come repair it the same day while we were out in town. It was nice they have a small playground for the kids to play. Each cabin had a hammock outside it which was a nice addition as well. It was a nice expereince just left me a little bummed as well. I always want to support small buisnesses. But i also want to be honest about my experience. It also would have been great to have a microwave in the cabin.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Gary on 8 July 2022
Thank you for your review Stephanie! Your reservation was made for two people, yet you had five people in your party. You are charged an extra $20.00/person/night over the initial two. If you go back and read the information on Hotels.com, it states this. This is a standard practice in the lodging industry. You never mentioned the bathtub drain and I will take a look at it. Yes, I am also glad she did not get hurt and I am glad I was able to fix it in a short amount of time. The best thing to support small businesses is to do your research and book with them so you save them money along with yourself. Thanks again for the review!

8/10 Good

Kristin

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Very clean! Cabin 7 newly updated. It was quiet. I wish we had stayed a little closer to Seward but the drive wasn’t too bad. Overall had everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 8 July 2022
Kristen, Thank you for your feedback! I appreciate you taking the time to write a review.

10/10 Excellent

Peggy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the Kenai Lake, cute cabin .
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Gary on 4 July 2022
Peggy, I am glad you enjoyed it!

4/10 Poor

TJ

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The setting is beautiful. The only problem we had was once we booked it and arrived there was an additional cost. When booking online it won't let you add your children but once you get there you are charged extra for them.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 17 Aug 2022
TJ, I appreciate your review of The Retreat. I am glad you found the setting beautiful. Looking back at your reservation, I was able to determine that you or someone in your party (you told me it was your spouse) made the reservation through Expedia for two people. Of course you can add the number of people in your party - this is part of your booking process. You received a confirmation from expedia for two people and you also received a confirmation from me that it was for two people. You had from December until June when you arrived to correct the reservation - you did not do so. You showed up with six people for a cabin that sleeps up to four. Your reservation was for three nights. According to your thought process with the six people that would be $31.75/person per night. I assume that you looked at the number of beds and how many it slept since you have such a large family - maybe you looked at the pictures and determined it would be fine. I am not sure but I do know that I requested you pay the appropriate amount for the number of individuals you had in your party instead of turning you away to find lodging elsewhere. It is a great reminder to all of us to ensure our details are correct when making lodging as it could have been worse.

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I don't normally write reviews but i feel that this spot is deserving of one. I really couldn't have asked for more. The cabin was super clean and in excellent condition. The kitchen was fitted out with all the essentials. The bed was nice and comfortable. The shower had excellent water pressure and temp. It had a modern heater/air conditioner that worked well and was quite. The view of the lake and mountains from the porch is unmatched. The staff were very friendly and helpful as well. It's only a 20 minute scenic drive from Seward and if visiting the area i wouldn't even consider staying anywhere else.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 2 July 2022
Matthew, Many thanks for the glowing review! I very much appreciate it along with your documented story of your stay with us. I am glad we were able to exceed your expectations! Please come again!

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was amazing. Gary and his team pay attention to every detail which results in sn unbelievable experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 1 July 2022
Thank you Mary for the feedback! I appreciate your contributions!

8/10 Good

Donna

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 28 June 2022
Thank you Donna!

10/10 Excellent

Lorrie

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alexis

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
The cabin we stayed in was truly amazing! Very clean, cozy, and had everything you needed! No WiFi, but it made it better to enjoy family and beautiful Alaska! The view is breath taking as well! Gary was a wonderful host! Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 17 June 2022
Alexis, Thank you for the review! I am glad everything was as expected. Please come back when you can. Thanks again for staying with us!

8/10 Good

Shreyas

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is very nice, comfortable and clean. Had a great experience in the forest setting cabin.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Gary on 10 June 2022
Shreyas, I appreciate you taking the time to write a review in our busy world! Thank you for the feedback!

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We liked everything about Renfro's Lakeside Retreat! It was a spectacular location in the woods next Kenai Lake about 20 minutes north of Seward, AK. Cozy cabin that was very clean and had everything that we needed to relax each day after our adventures in and around Seward. Plus we could walk for 3-5 minutes through the woods and arrive at beautiful Kenai Lake! It is a large, pristine glacial lake with clear water surrounded by mountains in every direction. We were able to have a great campfire in a nice fire pit dedicated to our cabin. Overall, a great place to stay and feel connected to the outdoors!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from Gary on 24 May 2022
Neil, Thank you for your well thought out review of The Retreat. Your details give others a great overview of shat is it like to experience The Retreat. I appreciate the time and effort you placed in your review. Thanks again, Gary

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful getaway, beautiful cabin, great people. Overall a 5/5, will stay again. Talk to Gary, you won't be disappointed.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Response from Gary on 17 May 2022
Nathan, Thank you for your feedback - much appreciated!

10/10 Excellent

LaShinda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The view of the mountains are spectacular and only a 2 minute walk from the cabin!!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from Gary on 10 May 2022
Thank you LaShinda! It was great having you two here.

10/10 Excellent

AJ

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is super gorgeous and i loved every second of the five day four night stay and I actually used the property to get engaged!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Gary on 24 Sept 2021
AJ, Thank you for the review and for taking the time to do so! Also, congratulations on your engagement!

4/10 Poor

Marjana

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Looks better than it is
Owner was not friendly at check in. We had bunk beds in one of the cabins that no one could have even fit on the top bunk because it's so close to the ceiling. Bathroom door doesn't close, and the door handle was broken. When I returned to the check in to tell them about the issues the owner informed me that swelling is why the door doesn't close, but the door is actually not cut right for the door frame. We were told to remove our shoes when entering which is pretty difficult when you are trying to unload luggage and the doorway has metal grating right in front of it. The second cabin had no microwave and the beds could barely be called a bed they were so uncomfortable. You are also expecting to sweep the cabin before leaving, which is really ridiculous considering that should be part of the cleaning of the cabin after we check out.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Gary on 23 Sept 2021
Marjana, Based on your review it sounds like you didn't have a pleasant stay. I apologize if you felt I was not friendly at check-in. What did I do to make you feel that way? Your cabin (#7 Classic Cabin) was recently remodeled and an email was sent to you advising you of this along with the description of the beds and you were asked if that was not going to work for you to let me know. You never let me know that it wasn't going to work for you. The bunk bed is standard height and so is the ceiling. The door handle was not broken - the set screw was loose and it was fixed when you brought it to my attention. Unless you are a carpenter or contractor that knows better than my carpenter then you should have given me advice on how to fix it. The joints of the door have swollen because of the moisture in the air and it simple needs clamped and glued back together. We ask all guests to remove their shoes as it is customary in Alaska. Your cabin was never advertised as having a microwave - please look at the amenities provided. Since you were in a remodeled cabin you got an upgrade with the microwave. The beds are brand new this year and I have received many complements on them. Do you think that we don't sweep and vacuum the cabin when we clean? Overall you had a bad experience. I hope your other stays were more pleasant.

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great stay in the woods!
Good location north of Seward and next to the lake. The pedal boat is nice to have also. Cabin is nicely tucked in the woods and relatively close to some hiking trails too. Overall great stay in cabin 7 with the bunk beds!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Gary on 17 Sept 2021
Thank you Christopher for taking the time to write a review of The Retreat and the newly remodeled cabin #7. I appreciate your insight and thoughts! Please come see us again!

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andriy, Brooklyn

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
No WiFi in cabin(
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021
Response from Gary on 7 Sept 2021
Thank you for your review! I am glad you found no WiFi in the cabin a positive!

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Renfro's A+
Gary is an excellent host; super friendly and a great sourse for info on hiking, touring, etc. The cabin was charming, and the location beautiful and restful. Keni Lake is beautiful, and many of the hikes and touring around Seward is right down the road. A+
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021
Response from Gary on 2 Sept 2021
Thank you Thomas for the kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to write a review on your experience. Please come again!

8/10 Good

Tom

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Cute Cabin
Very remote. No WiFi or cell service and no TV. But beautiful area and very quaint. We were in our honeymoon so definitely a great choice for us to spend quality time together. Wish we would have had the chance to use the kayaks but too windy when we where there. Recommend this place for sure!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021
Response from Gary on 15 Aug 2021
Tom, Thank you for the recent review of The Retreat! I appreciate your comments! I like the picture also!

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Thank you Gary, at renfro's lakeside cabins fantastic location and exceeded my expectations exclamation
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Response from Gary on 11 Aug 2021
Thank you Edward! I appreciate your review and comments!

8/10 Good

Madison

Liked: Room comfort
Cozy and comfortable cabin
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Gary on 28 July 2021
Thank you Madison or your review of the property!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome time at Renfro's!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021
Response from Gary on 28 June 2021
Thank you for your review of The Retreat!

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great place… repeatable!!
Loved this place!! Gary at front desk was phenomenal and the kitchen was fully stocked (even keurig pods) Water pressure in the shower was wonderful! We will return!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Response from Gary on 22 June 2021
Thank you for the great review Susan! It is much appreciated! Thank you for coming back!

10/10 Excellent

Yulia

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Response from Gary on 18 June 2021
Thank you for the review!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay, the kayaks offered without additional charges makes the stay even better.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Response from Gary on 29 May 2021
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! I appreciate your feedback! Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
So glad to find this place
Quiet secluded, near lake. Newly refurbished. Families would love the lakeside cabins. Great place for those needing peace and quiet. Wish there were more places like this. Owners thought through everything. Well worth staying here and driving into town each day for major activities.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pamela

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Gary on 29 Sept 2020
Thank you Pamela! I appreciate that!

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Cozy Quiet Cabins in a Spectacular Location
The views around the lake were amazing, and the location was great. Just 15 minutes from Seward. There was no hassle when we checked in and out. The site and cabin were clean and felt like a home away from home. We will definitely be staying here again, next time for longer. Hopefully the weather will be better for our next visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Gary on 19 Sept 2020
Hi Jonathan, Thank you for taking the time to review the property and cabin. I appreciate your insight and would enjoy having you as a guest again. Many thanks for the complements!

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
BREATHTAKING VIEWS
It was like staying with a friend. The owner is so friendly and helpful. We couldn’t have enjoyed our stay more if we tried!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
BEAUTIFUL LOCATION
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2020
Response from Gary on 12 Sept 2020
Thank you Scott! I appreciate the review!