The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte

We live in Charlotte & while I have not stayed here, I have attended events here. The property is stunning & exactly what one would expect from a Marriott Luxury Collection property (franchised by Northwood Hospitality). We are long time, very loyal Marriott customers so we are well acquainted with their standards for excellence. We selected The Ballantyne for our daughter's Afternoon Tea bridal shower after attending their Afternoon Tea service one weekend. We could not have been more disappointed in the experience. We had to search out staff to fix things that were set up incorrectly or to replace dirty "clean" dishes, there was no communication or organization around the service & overall communication was significantly lacking. They forgot to serve until we asked about it near the end of the event. When they finally brought it out, it was served barely chilled & many did not want to drink that close to the end of the event as they would be driving soon. While the staff we did encounter were very nice & apologetic, it doesn't take away the disappointing experience that was obvious to our guests on such a special day. When I reached out to the salesperson with whom I coordinated the event, the best they would offer is to remove the champagne off the bill we pre-paid for. They kept the 24% automatic gratuity/service charge & I have yet to hear from this person's leader as requested. So, while the property IS beautiful, their ability to execute a small bridal shower was beyond disappointing - especially for what they charge. If they can't pull that off, I can't imagine the chaos a large wedding or busy event would be.

We traveled to Charlotte to take our kids for a holiday experience and stayed at The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, for one night — and what we experienced was exactly what hospitality should look like. From the moment we arrived, the managers and staff went out of their way to ensure our kids had the most memorable experience possible. This wasn’t just good service — it was thoughtful, proactive, and genuinely kind. Without being asked, the team took it upon themselves to make our kids feel special, welcomed, and celebrated, which meant everything to us as parents. The front desk staff were warm, attentive, and incredibly engaging, setting the tone immediately. You could feel that they truly cared, not just about us as guests, but about creating a meaningful experience for our family. Food and room service were outstanding — timely, delicious, and delivered with care and attention to detail. Even in such a short stay, every interaction felt polished yet personal, which is rare and deeply appreciated. The room itself was immaculate, comfortable, and calming — the perfect place to unwind after an exciting day for the kids. What truly sets The Ballantyne apart is the heart behind the service. The staff and management didn’t just provide a place to stay — they created a memory for our family. That level of hospitality leaves a lasting impression, and it’s why this hotel stands out as a true luxury experience. We will absolutely be back.

The Ballantyne in Charlotte could not be more stunning! We had a wonderful one night stay and didn’t want to leave. All staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. Our lunch at Top Golf was delicious and the morning complimentary coffee was also amazing! The grounds, pool, hot tub and gym did not disappoint! I hope to be back sooner rather than later!

Wonderful stay! The hotel was beautifully decorated for the Holidays! Staff goes above and beyond as always. Special thanks to Blake at the front desk who went the extra mile when our room was not ready to accommodate our luggage and made us comfortable while we waited. Olivia at the Gallery Restaurant was amazing! We appreciate you all and will be back! Highly recommend this hotel if ever needing a place to stay in Charlotte!

Great location to all the food, shopping anything you can think of. Staff was very kind. It is for sure the quietest hotel we've ever stayed in!!!!! Thats huge. Rooms were accommodating and comfortable. Very clean. The best too was that we stayed two nights for only $209. We will certainly be back.

So disappointed in this hotel stay. The shower was clogged and almost created a small flood. The place was grossly understaffed. You had to wait for everything. There was a queue of about 4-5 cars behind me trying to get out of the parking area because no one would answer the phone when my key card didn't work. Dining experience was so slow in part because they were understaffed. You want a luxury experience and you get a Fairfield experience. Very disappointed.

While I appreciate the staff squeezing in a last-minute two-top, that’s the only part of this experience that deserves any credit. Everything else unraveled quickly. We attempted to call ahead to reserve and were repeatedly sent straight to voicemail—no returned calls, no follow-up. After three attempts just to reach a human, it was already clear communication was not a priority. Our server, Ashley, took her time even acknowledging we existed. She checked on us a total of two times, and this was *before* any large parties arrived, so there was no excuse. The dining room was calm; the service was not. The lack of attention felt deliberate rather than situational. For context, my husband and I have 15 years combined in the culinary and hospitality industry. This visit was for a birthday that we intentionally did **not** disclose—we weren’t looking for special treatment, just the experience we were paying for. What we received didn’t meet even the most basic expectations. The food itself was equally uninspired: premade, lifeless desserts and tea sandwiches that tasted like they had been sitting far too long. Nothing was explained, nothing felt thoughtful, and the cost of the experience wasn’t communicated until the check arrived—an unpleasant surprise that only highlighted how little care went into the entire service. Then there was the automatic gratuity—for a two-top. Automatic gratuity is traditionally reserved for large parties, not used as a safety net for subpar hospitality. Given the level of service, it felt unjustified and frankly insulting. I do not recommend the afternoon tea at The Ballantyne. If you’re looking for overpriced photo ops and surface-level aesthetics, this may be your place. If you expect quality, transparency, or genuine hospitality, look elsewhere. To make matters worse, on our way out my husband and I had the pleasure of walking past a staff member set up at a makeshift “office”—a fold-out table in the corner of the hallway—openly speaking on the phone in a rude, unprofessional manner about a guest. Whether that conversation was about the concerns my husband raised or someone else entirely is irrelevant. There is absolutely no reason for that kind of conversation to take place in a public hallway rather than a private office. It was sloppy, unprofessional, and embarrassing for an establishment that clearly wants to present itself as upscale.

From the moment we arrived, this hotel exceeded every expectation. The front desk team was efficient and genuinely welcoming. Every question was handled with ease and every request felt like a priority. The room itself was spotless, and you can tell housekeeping takes real pride in their work everything was clean and beautifully maintained throughout our stay. The cleaning staff was so kind always greeting us with a smile. A special shoutout to Marlos at the front door who was absolutely amazing helping us with our bags and guiding us to our room on arrival. The amenities across the property were just as impressive. They were well kept and truly luxurious. Everywhere we went the staff was attentive and consistently made us feel taken care of. Overall this is one of the best hotel experiences we’ve ever had and we can’t wait to return!

It's a Marriott property so don't expect true luxury. They did a good job with decorating the property with historical materials and "luxury" touches like a modern lobby, a cozy bar, nice wallpaper in rooms, comfortable beds. The service was excellent. I no longer have status (Marriott expires your points..) and they initially put me in a room literally right next to the elevator and vending when I specifically asked for a quiet room. They moved me no problem and were able to consolidate reservations so I didn't have to move rooms (it was a sold out weekend) Things that could use improvement - the pools are sad - the outdoor pool seemed like an afterthought being tucked between concrete walls. The outdoor pool was mainly used by kids. Outdoor bar was closed. Indoor pool is a joke, just take a bath in your room. The gym was large but a bit dated. The restaurant selection is extremely limited and very expensive. Rooms are comfortable but what was weird was not having a mirror outside of the bathroom. Parking is free. WiFi is free.

This is the worst luxury collection hotel I have ever stayed at. This was bad from check in to check out. Arrived to no valet. Finally went in after waiting for 10 minutes. The problem is their 1 valet is also their 1 bellman. We did arrive early but as a frequent Traveller with Marriott status, I have never waited four and a half hours for a room. Unbelievable. Worse was they told us we could wait at the pool bar and have a drink. I am in jeans and a polo shirt. They failed to tell us that on the second floor there is ample seating areas which would have been nice to know. These people think they are the Ritz-Carlton when they are more like an off brand of a ritz cracker. The rooms are mediocre at best. They seem to be from a dated hotel that hasn't had any bathroom updates. Something I wouldn't normally mention but the amenities in the shower pump out so little soap you have to hit it over 20 times to get a decent amount of soap. My wife had scheduled afternoon tea, which was laughable in regard to the good, but the staff was very attentive and courteous. The only saving grace of this trip. I also asked for a late checkout and for the first time in my history at Marriott I was told I would have to ask on my checkout day and they would let me know then. What? I know late checkout is not guaranteed but I have never encountered this. It is like your Marriott status doesn't even matter here. When we did finally get checked in, they told us our bags would be in our room. Guess what? No bags. This is where things just get out of hand. When you dial guest services from the phone, have a seat because it rings and rings and rings. I had dialed guest 3 times and the outcome was the same each time. Phone just rings and rings. One time it actually disconnected because it rang for so long. Went to the pool and it wasn't even crowded but still took 45 minutes before one of the servers bothered to come down to ask if we wanted anything. Common to this place is a lack of customer service. Worse, every chair at the pool looks like it has all the sweat and oil from previous guests and the occasional bird poop on every chair. Make sure you double up on towels. I will leave a separate review of their restaurant, but much the same. This place should be ashamed of itself. Overpriced, under delivered, not even close to luxury. A Courtyard could not have been worse. Worst Marriott experience yet. Ruined an otherwise fun trip.

Hotel location and grounds were perfect right outside of the city. The hotel staff was great. Weather was bad while I was visiting so I didn't get to enjoy the outside seating and the pond as much as I wanted to. Next time I miss Charlotte, I will definitely revisit this Hotel. Location 5/5 Staff 5/5 Service 5/5 Housekeeping 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Restaurant 5/5 Return Factor 5/5

Stay at this hotel was outstanding. From the room, to the parking, to the soap and towels the bed, window view etc.... Every was easy and at top notch quality. Many surrounding food options are a short drive or even a decent walk away.

The property is pretty good. Clean, nice and big. There were some highlights and lowlights. Highlights: 1. Property is very nice and well maintained overall 2. The Sunday tea was great. I really appreciated Eric squeezing us in and Morgan took out a few minutes to chat about the food even though there was so much happening. And the room service staff was very pleasant. 3. Pre checkin services were nice, I requested them to do up the room and they did up the room in a romantic way for my us. Lowlights: 1. Food: Honestly, the food at the Gallery wasnt that great. With my dairy allergy, I was pretty limited with food items. And a lot of things felt frozen and reheated, such as the crab cakes. The new pasta on the menu with truffles, it tasted really bad without the cream sauces, very gritty, like there was debris in it. 2. Spa: My massage therapist said that she could do a deep tissue, halfway through the massage! When I share this with the manager later, they reduced the price to a normal massage, which was $13 cheaper or less than 5%. Very insulting and I shared that with them. They eventually changed it to 15%, but that's still not worth getting a bad massage. 3. Staff: In general the staff was nice. However, one of the housekeepers kept knocking on our door every morning even when we had the privacy sign up. Also, after I left a review on the hotel website, they immediately contacted me and asked for more details. However, when I share the details, no one responded. ‍

I am impressed. The hotel is beautiful and it is beautifully decorated for the holidays. I just called down for room service and the kindest man with excellent customer service named Julian, was the voice on the other end. I am big on customer service and he won that medal with me! When we arrived, we were immediately approached for help with our luggage and free valet parking. I did hit one glitch at the front desk when there was only one person at the check in desk and the person in front of us was having some issues with locating their reservation and the attendant couldn't find it either then they spent several minutes discussing American Express... I was in a rush so this was more noticeable than normal for me. Other than that, I am loving this experience and will add more after checkout! Oh my... Good morning it is!! *Best Room Service Breakfast Experience Ever!!! **Ordering to Grand Finale... Julian (taking the order) and Kevin (delivering the order), a perfect delivery. Grandover has been my favorite luxury hotel since I married there in 2007 but I think I might have a new fave!!!

I invited a friend to celebrate her birthday by enjoying a Sunday afternoon tea. The tea, service, and food were fine. However, when I was handed the check, the cost of the tea and the gratuity were confusingly printed twice, leading me to believe that the total was double the amount that I had expected. My friend noticed my incredulous expression and quickly offered to split the bill. I declined her kind offer, then saw that the total was actually correct despite the duplicate charges. Confusing? Yes, very. And not a pleasant or gracious way to end a lovely afternoon.

Ana from Columbia who served us Tea is amazing and akin with your desk staff just made the stay even better . Always a great stay

If I'm ever in Charlotte this is the hotel I go out-of-the-way to stay at. The staff is so friendly in the spa is quite luxurious. I enjoyed the restaurant and the beautiful views. One of my favorite hotels!

Had afternoon tea here to celebrate my birthday. We were offered a special "birthday blend" of tea which was yummy. The sandwich selection was so-so - strawberries and cream cheese on wheat bread could have been left off the menu. The sweets were good - and the service was attentive but not obtrusive. I'd go back again - it's a great place to celebrate!!

I absolutely love this hotel. This is our second stay and it's been an excellent staycation both times. The staff is fantastic, the hotel is lovely and during Christmas they decorate everything so nicely, including ginger bread lane with loads of decorated ginger bread houses. The room service delicious and came within 30 minutes. The drinks at the bar are delicious and they offer complimentary coffee every morning from 6-11am and there are apples all around the hotel which the kids loved. The spa was fantastic and my masseuse was amazing. The ONLY complaint I have is the indoor pool is 100% not warm. It states it is 80degrees but that was not the case this year or last year. Other than that I can't wait to go back again

Took a weekend trip down to Charolette for my wife's birthday and we stayed at the Ballantyne in the presidential suite up on the top floor and we have to say WOW this place was very beautiful! We were very impressed with the overall space and holiday decorations and the overall hotel was beautifully designed and it just offers so much! My wife did enjoy herself in the Spa and got a nice deep tissue massage and she said it was amazing and it was easy to book at the hotel. We enjoyed staying in such a big suite we had so much space to do a lot of thing like relax in two different room and enjoy a nice fireplace, the balcony view was lovely and the representatives at the desk were super helpful throughout our stay! The location is conveniently near the interstate and will get you any where you need to go like going downtown in about 30-35 minutes. This place is a must when visiting Charolette!

It's kind of an odd set-up: this is a resort hotel that is not in a resort location. It's just a semi-upscale commercial area right off the interstate. It has most of the resort bells and whistles -- serves afternoon tea, has an upscale restaurant, offers golf, and has a spa. It's just that the hotel itself would have to be the attraction, because there isn't anything of any real interest nearby. At any rate, there is free self-parking onsite in a large lot, so it's nice that they don't nickel and dime you there. The lobby and public areas are attractive and look refreshed, if they are a bit generic upscale conference hotel in nature. The staff are all very pleasant and there weren't any service snafus at all over my three-day weekend. The rooms are a decent size and have nice bathrooms with separate shower and soaking tub. The chair is comfortable for reading. The colors are mostly in the gray family, but good quality and there are some nice picture collages on the walls to give a little more visual interest. Views are a little tricky. I paid extra for what the website referred to as a "park view;" however, I believe the "park" has been torn down in preparation for some kind of new construction because there is just a lot of bare earth behind the hotel currently. There is a small water feature with fountains and lighting at night to look at, though. The other side of the hotel faces the parking lot, so take your pick. Unless you're allergic to looking at mini-vans, I don't think I would pay the extra for a park view. The restaurant, Gallery, is worth checking out. It's quite a hike from the lobby and rooms (all the way on the back corner of the property), but there are some really good dishes on the menu and the service is polished and warm. Alternatively, Juniper in one of the neighboring shopping clusters is also very good and worth the short drive for sure.

Check in was speedy. Rooms were clean. Lobby was decorated for Christmas so it was a very nice decor. This is an annual trip with daughter, nephew, and sister. Room service was phenomenal as always. Didn't give 5 stars because this is the 2nd year in a row that the pool is FREEZING!!!

This was probably our 3rd or 4th stay here and I must say I'm so impressed EVERY time. The staff, service, cleanliness, food, rooms, everything about The Ballantyne is CLASSY. I've stayed at Ritz hotels and Gaylord & many others that could learn from a visit to this property. While Ritz & Gaylord's are overpriced & have slipped below the expected standards....The Ballantyne is worth every penny of the higher room rate! Although the golf course is gone, they are building a beautiful park behind the hotel....it looks like there might be an amphitheater or concert area going in? On nights with concerts this could potentially be a noise issue if your room is on the back side/park view. But my hope is that this spot remains a class-act and doesn't slide in its luxury accommodations & service! Room service is stellar. Rooms are luxurious with comfy beds & marble-floor bathrooms. Most rooms to my knowledge have a glass shower AND a garden tub. Everything very clean. Hotel is quiet, but if there are events you may want to ask to be further from the ballrooms/restaurant end of the hotel. Our room was not far from the lobby & I heard NO noise from it at all. Highly recommend reserving 'afternoon tea' as there's nowhere I've encountered that does it as well as they do here! Dress up or go casual, but dressing up (add your fashionable or hat!) for this $55/person event is SO much fun (we even went once as the Mad Hatter Tea Party). The Gallery Restaurant is very good, although I've had some 'so-so' dishes here, it's hit or miss - but the ambiance, service & professionalism always makes up for any food mediocrity. Dinner tends to be solidly high quality, while breakfast/brunch is very average food (this is the only so-do food I've had, dinner is always fabulous). The spa can be wonderful, but on prior occasions with massage & pedicure it's been just ok. I was very sadly disappointed at the service in this particular area, as they seem very snotty and condescending. A $55 pedi across the street is phenomenal compared to a $65 one here. And the other prices here are so high, when there are top-notch spas (multiple) nearby with much better service & quality (Urbana & Natures Spa and Wellness are both first-class establishments). A great Starbucks is across the street & don't miss 'Smallcakes Cupcakery' right next to it - stupendous! Lots nearby for eating!

We did a last-minute stay on Valentine's Day weekend for a little family getaway. I had always heard about the Ballantyne and was curious to see what this luxurious resort was like. Check-in was easy and the staff was courteous. The parking lot is open and is a bit dark at night. The lobby was bustling with Galentine's Tea and they had music and all kinds of guests dressed up. It looked like a really fun event. Rooms: We had a basic double room. The rooms have a shower and a bathtub. The bath products are from Molton Brown. A light in our bathroom was out and the shampoo dispenser on the shower was not working properly so there isn't really a check on some of these housekeeping items. We also found an empty water bottle on the side of the bed that was not ours. The beds are comfortable and the towels are thick and soft. Mini bar: There are sensors in the room so if you need to use a refrigerator for personal use, you will need to call the front desk and ask for a fridge to be delivered. We asked and then followed up in the app for our request. Coffee/tea: There is no coffee or tea machine in the room and instead there is coffee and tea offered in the bar starting at 6am. People just put on robes and went down in their pajamas to get coffee and tea. Pool area: There is a larger pool and a few whirlpools. The spa is on on the other side and the gym is next to the pool area and locker rooms. The pictures on the site make the pool look a lot bigger than it is. There is currently construction going on so you have a view of a construction site as you enter the hotel and out the back. The lobby area was my favorite part with nicely appointed decor and fresh flowers. We enjoyed our stay yet I would say this is a 4 star and not sure what makes this a "luxury" hotel/resort.

This was my first afternoon tea experience and it was lovely. The staff managing this operation are kind and represent countries across the globe. It gave me a sort of Disney feeling. Afternoon tea is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and the teas are imported from the UK and a company directly associated with Queen Elizabeth herself. Fancy! I recommend the English Chamomile. You can enjoy an assortment of small sandwiches, cookies, cakes, and pastries with fresh, homemade lemon curd, Devonshire and jam. Add a glass of sparkling wine to make it a Royal Tea. The only thing I wish they'd do better is make it easier to find should you enter the hotel from the wrong entrance.

Had afternoon tea with friends at Ballantyne. Our reservation was at 3pm, we were seated promptly. Service was great, we were given a long stem rose when we left. Lost and found was very efficient, I was able to retrieve my sunglasses and iPhone which I left. But let's not get ahead of the story/review. The finger sandwiches were okay: cucumber with cream cheese, toast bites with tomatoes, toast with ham. For sweets we had cake pop, mango mousse, lavender scone served with clotted cream and marmalade... afternoon tea at the Ritz is slightly better with more variety of sweets and even tea selections.

What an amazing day I had going to High Tea at the Ballantyne. I've missed it so much and the last time I had High Tea was with my best friend during a lay over in Doha and that was at the beginning of Covid and here I am sitting down to Tea 2yrs later in a beautiful place like the Ballantyne. I had a lovely South African Tea called Rooibos tea served with maple syrup, lemon and cream. The tea was addictive. Along with this beautiful fragrant Tea was a stunning array of savoy sandwiches (cucumber sandwich, chicken salad with grapes, and scone) and decadent desserts. All around me I saw families, ladies having Tea and couples and every single one of them were calm, peaceful and happy. So the Tea worked its magic just like it should.

We spent the night here on our way to Atlanta. The hotel is massive and has a ballroom entrance for weddings. When we pulled up I was surprised to see they do not require any sort of parking permit to park, they just instructed us to park in front of the hotel and not the ballroom. The entrance to the lobby is decorated well and the first thing you will notice is the dining/bar area. Apparently this place is known for "tea time" on certain days of the week. Heading up to the room was easy enough and the room was a good size with two double queen beds. Everything was very clean and the room had a good smell to it. After a few hours in the room we decided to hit the pool. It took us a few minutes to find it because the elevator buttons are not labeled for them. We hit the gym button and wandered around until we found our way outside. Eventually we came to a gate for the pool but it was closed. The employee on the other side told us to go back up one floor and come through the other door. Fast forward a few minutes and we finally got into the pool and boy did it feel good. There are servers that take drink orders poolside if you're into that. They also rent cabanas for the day but we were only planning to be there for an hour or so. Back up to the room and we slept like babies before heading out. Checkout was simple and we were on our way.

Absolutely beautiful hotel! The rooms are spacious, bathrooms have a tub and very clean! It's a large hotel with lots of beauty and the staff is very nice. I truly enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend the Ballantyne!

I haven't found another full service spa like this anywhere I've traveled or lived across the country! Sauna, steam room, showers, nice sitting area, pool access... the ballantyne spa cannot be beat. I find the massages acceptable- not the best, but solid. you're paying for the experience. Make it a day, get lunch from the spa or hotel- it's all worth it!

I needed a break from life so I decided to splurge on a massage. I heard nothing but good things about Ballantyne, so I decided to visit their spa. Best decision ever. I did a mud massage and it was absolutely epic! I wish they had more availability. Whenever I attempt to schedule another appointment, they are always booked.

There was a mix-up with our room (we were given 1 king bed instead of 2 queens) and tight availability in the hotel (no 2 queen rooms left for the evening). Patrick was an all-star and was as accommodating as possible despite limited options. We were traveling with two tired children and they made the best of the circumstances. We are appreciative of Patrick for his wonderful help and caring demeanor.

Attended an event and ordered a cocktail in the lounge. It was made well. It tasted very tropical, I definitely tasted coconut and pineapple in this concoction. It was different and a bit on the strong side. As far as customer service, it took a while to be acknowledged while waiting at the bar. They were busy and it was kind of crowded and awkward standing there waiting. Overall, the lounge area was pretty nice and the bar tender very accommodating. She poured a couple of samples of different wines like Pinot noir and merlot in an attempt to find a wine that we liked, though I ultimately chose to go with a cocktail.

Attended the Gingerbread House competition for children, amateurs and pros. It is a free event each year. This was our first time attending. There are some very talented and creative children and adults. Definitely will check it out next year before the last day, several of the roofs were starting to cave in.

Luxury hotel on the south side of Charlotte. Convenient to travelers coming from South Carolina and nicely situated near many corporate campuses. Suites are updated and well lit. All rooms seem to have a balcony. Gourmet restaurant that serves all three meals. Really nice spa and fitness center that features Peloton bikes and rowers and both steam and dry saunas. Wonderful staff. I highly recommend.

This spot seemed like the perfect choice when reviewing their website (but they sit on a throne of lies - LOL - Elf reference for ya). Their website is completely misleading and purposefully misrepresents what you will be paying (a lot) for - and the hotel will not apologize or make it right. The GOOD :) - Most of the staff is trying VERY hard to help guests... keeping a very professional, positive approach in the face of so many challenges - The masseuses in the spa were excellent- very skilled and worth the rate - Bartenders in the restaurant were skilled... the woman that made the rhubarb simple syrup was a real pro - Front desk staff was very helpful - The spa reception, housekeeping pool staff were very pleasant - The valet/bellpeople were efficient, knowledgeable and helpful - they really make a positive impact on the experience - The Afternoon Tea was a delight and Ana was an entertaining server... even had GF options that were delicious (you need to give them at least 24 hours notice if you need GF) - Guests were bonding over conversations about their experiences at the hotel... that made me feel more sane and like I'm not some cranky old lady - LOL - The reception manager, Mara, left a cute, little box of cookies with a nice note in our room - The lobby smells great and the resort is full of fresh, beautiful flowers that are refreshed weekly - stop and smell the flowers, literally! The CRAZY :/ - Unbelievable construction- no decent view from any angle of the hotel... you are either looking at a huge, very active construction site or the parking lot... paying top dollar for the room and meals while trucks roar/beep loudly, jackhammering nonstop and cranes dump dirt... clouds of dirt... right next to you... really quite unbelievable and with absolutely no warning from the hotel. They advertise a completely different hotel exterior and are totally unapologetic for it. - Appears there is a lack of staff and many of the employees don't seem trained. It impacts everything (although they are trying very hard- not their fault from what I saw). Hours/days for responses to some requests... 30 minutes at breakfast with no menus or coffee... - resistance pools broken for a very long time and staff has no idea if/when they will be fixed. - Outdoor pool, spa lounge area, dining balcony and lobby balcony's are all right on the construction site - Sprung for a balcony for my mom to relax and heal... view is the parking lot (they said it is the best view available) and it is impossible to go on the balcony due to the wicked strong natural gas smell (it reportedly comes from the laundry) and the smoking from other guests. - Chair pads throughout the resort are stained, ripped (see pics) - Pool's "kitchen" closes at ~2pm; so no food after that unless you go across the large hotel to the restaurant. - Pool's bar randomly closed mid-afternoon and had to search the hotel to find a drink... same with the spa dining (they won't tell you this when you go for your treatment). - Items/supplies missing from the guest room; took an hour to locate a wine opener/corkscrew. - Dirty glasses in room not replaced for 4 days... just left with juice in them; no turndown service during the entire stay. - Site says there is a coffee maker, microwave and fridge in your room, there isn't. - Site says the property is smoke-free- it isn't. - Site says no pets- saw several in the lobby, elevator and walking the grounds (not service animals). - Site says there is a yoga area with mats/equipment in the gym- there isn't. - At 8am the cleaning staff starts pounding on doors and yelling "housekeeping!" - The food is so very meh with big price tags. HINTS - Book your spa treatments way in advance. Tracy is an excellent masseuse... one of the best ever for deep tissue massage. Another guest said Olga was an amazing esthetician and my mother enjoyed Amy's relaxing massage techniques. Enjoy!!! - Also book your Afternoon Tea reservations in advance- wonderful experience! - Save your nightcaps for the hotel bar- wonderful cocktails and service. - It appears that there was a free shuttle to local areas provided by the hotel - If you exit the indoor pool area to the patio outside, the door locks and your key won't work to come back in. They have done this on purpose (they give special keys to spa patrons to get back inside), but they won't tell you. - Bring bug spray to enjoy the outdoor areas in the evening... there are small bugs that leave a big bite welt. - Most important tip- be patient, be kind and tip the people trying to make your memories positive. As always, I shared this review with the hotel before posting and they thanked me for sharing it... and did not offer any corrections/apologies. Management shared that construction may be complete by November 2022. Hope this helps you plan your very best visit to Charlotte!

Loved the stay. Super friendly and clean staff. Our room was so nice and beautiful. We will be back again. Also family friendly. Our toilet didn't work at first but they fixed it immediately. Can't wait to book another stay but in the suites next time .

Gorgeous hotel with amazing amenities and spa. I wish we could have stayed after the outdoor renovations were done, rather than having to see the yards all torn up. Our room was absolutely beautiful and spotless, and I think we had the nicest bathroom I've ever had in a hotel. Biggest complaints were not with the property itself, just that it was far from downtown. So either you have to Uber everywhere, or stay on the property eating at the insanely expensive restaurants (like $22 for oatmeal expensive).

I ended up here to use their spa. The property is immaculate, the inside is stunning, and the spa was world class. This is a beautiful hotel with a very friendly staff and a very southern charm feel. The restaurant looked very good and the rooms looked very pretty. Going back to the area I would certainly book this hotel and definitely go to the spa again

I occasionally treat myself to a day at the spa for a relaxing massage. The masseuse, Tanya, was phenomenal. I was so very relaxed, and had a lovely afternoon. When I went to check out, I was told there is now a mandatory gratuity of 20%, which I don't mind, I usually round up to $200. for the $165. massage anyway. But then I was told that the Ballantyne gives the masseuse only 15% and keeps the other 5% for themselves! They are actually taking tips away from their staff? These new rules seem to be very poor business practices - charging mandatory tipping and taking a percentage of tips from their employees. I do love my afternoons there, but I will be looking for an alternate establishment, one that treats their employees with respect.

AFTERNOON TEA - The ambiance is spectacular, however, it's the most overpriced venue in Charlotte, or for that matter in all of NC! Other than the scones the food is sub par. The sandwiches are dried out and tasteless. You can literally eat at a 5 star restaurant for the same price as a cucumber sandwich here.

Would give this hotel 5 stars if it weren't for the lap pool and steam room being out of order. Everything else was so nice, especially the sweet gingerbread competition in support of the children's hospital. We loved the shrimp and grits for breakfast, illy coffee and spa lavender pedi.

I believe our room (720) has bed bugs. Woke up with bites all over my arms. So not cool. Asked for a fridge to be brought to the room and it took several hours and two phone calls. The ironing board in the room is laughable. It's the size of one you see in a kids play set. They don't clean their irons very well. There was stuff on the iron when I went to use it. Ruined a pair of my pants.

Sunday Afternoon tea, at this fancy hotel was so much fun and delicious. They try and capture the English tea as best you can considering your in the US! Lovely tea pots and cups, and the tiered plates for serving the sweets and savories. Such a quaint setting in a area just set for tea, by a fireplace, but nicely spaced out. We sat at a nice round booth , our server was European so it was like kinda being in the UK! We added the bubbly which just so you know makes it a Royal afternoon tea! You choose your tea from the list she gave us, and you each get a pot . I got the earl grey tea, everyone got something different, peppermint, holiday spice, peach and raspberry. They give those fancy sugar cubes and little cream pourers. Nice touch. Teas were all great and tasted great so was the bubbles. The food was so well presented, you get the scones which were cranberry on the side as well the caramel thumbprint cookies. The tiers had finger sandwiches on the bottom, chicken salad, smoked salmon and cream cheese, pesto chicken, and cucumber. All were great the salmon and cucumber were the best. The next tier was sweets, chocolate filled goodies, all little bite size desserts. Not traditional English style, but still really nice. The top tier had the macaroons and little chocolate coffee cups. The macaroons were nice, light and slightly crunchy but soft inside. Actually tasted like coffee and raspberry. The thumbprint cookies were nice and buttery, and the scones were my favorite, served with clotted cream and jam or lemon curd, the best part by far. Call for a reservation, it's a hard thing to put together, as you can't anyone on the phone but end up playing phone tag, wish there was a online way to book it. Fun girls day or birthday treat in my case. Nice to get dressed up and be English. Just needed my fascinator hat! Great time at a beautiful location.

What an exquisite place this is! We went for a short getaway and I wish I could have spent days here! The service was impeccable. The decor, flawless. The rooms fashionably immaculate. The bathroom was pristine. The bed was so comfortable, it felt like I was sleeping on a cloud! We got a complimentary upgrade and had a delightful view of the golf course. The hotel was beautifully decorated for the holidays. We walked around and enjoyed the huge resort - discovering all it had to offer. The hotel has a wonderful spa and swim area. The spa closes at 5pm and the swim area closes at midnight! We enjoyed our time in the hot jacuzzi at 11pm! There was no one there and we loved the privacy. The next day we were able to use the resistance pools which were a great workout. I can't say enough good things about the hotel. I would highly recommend this amazing place to stay

$250-300/night on the weekdays...its when you want the very best and finest. Out of my budget, but I was on a business trip so I spent two very luxurious nights here for free. PROS: -Big comfortable luxurious room and bathroom, huge bathtub! -Indoor and outdoor pools, gym, golf course. -Elegant and refined premises throughout. -Friendly professional staff CONS: -Really expensive -Location is a good distance from central Charlotte. -When they ask what time you plan to checkout, say 11am or noon. Don't say 8am like I did, because your keycard will stop working at precisely 8am.

The experience and customer service when you are there is exceptional. I was displeased with the reservation process. The young lady that took my reservation treated me as if I were a second class citizen and that I didn't belong there. That was a very unusual and unpleasant situation for me, but I wanted my mom to have this experience as she had never done high tea and it was her 65th birthday. Holly was our server and she was awesome! Sweet, present and happy to be hosting my mom and I, she was able to turn the whole experience around.

My family and I have had tea at this location a few times and everyone has been so nice! We did a group gathering at this location for Christmas tea and Eric plus staff went above and beyond! They assisted us with all of our needs for the group and they were so kind! The food, the service and the ambiance is magical! Can't wait to go back again!

Friendly, good service, nice entry and lobby area. Rooms were not as nice as we expected, pretty basic to be honest. Seemed clean enough, I did find an old dusty goldfish cracker on the floor beside the nightstand. The chair and ottoman in the room could use a steam cleaning. Noise was a bit of an issue. As we walked down the hall, it sounded like people were having a party in many rooms but we quickly learned it's the tile floor and door gap enhancing the sound from each room. If I were to stay here again, I would use bathroom towels and place across the gap at the bottom of tue door. The best part of our experience, the front desk was very polite and the restaurant was wonderful. We were very tired from our travels, and headed to dinner after check-in. We would definitely eat at the restaurant again.

Wonderful hotel with an ambiance that spreads itself all the way to the front door! As soon as the doors open, you're greeted with the most delightful fresh scents!

Good Luck with this place. I can't anyone to return my call to set up a reservation for the Holiday Tea. I left 2 messages with all relevant information on the number on the website. After no reply in a week, I called the general reservation number; they opened up a case file for someone to call me back. Still nothing. I don't know what else I can do to make a reservation for an extensive Holiday Tea. I can't imagine paying for a room and anything else if this is how they handle their reservations.

As usual we stayed at the Ballantyne for Thanksgiving and the room is absolutely beautiful. The service is impeccable but for $123.20. The turkey dinner was not a turkey dinner. My wife got a gray duck confit which must've been over heat lamp for an hour, and the turkey was processed smoked turkey breast and processed smoked turkey round. There was no skin and the turkey was a perfect oval while the, dark meat was a perfect circle. It reminded me of the turkey breast I get when I visit my mom in the convalescent home for dinner. Very disappointed in the food. I told the Somalia I told the resident manager and then I went to the desk who said she would talk to the food manager I did not ask for a discount or free mail. I just said it was sad that they served Processed turkey on Thanksgiving for 125 bucks. Very disappointed two stars.

Two stars for delicious breakfast and the amazing service there. Otherwise, underwhelmed. The spa was nice but very crowded, the indoor pool was crawling with children who were splashing in the warm pools and playing in the hot tub. I understand it's not a spa only pool but there was no one there to even enforce the 16 and over hot tub rule. The massage was extremely disappointing- the masseuse, started late but finished on time, forgot to address entire body parts, then rushed through the end. She never even touched my neck! We also went to afternoon tea which was probably the most underwhelming part of the day. The sandwiches were all room temperature and the bread was either stale or soggy. All but one of the pastries were chocolate, which would be great for someone who loves chocolate but I do not. I understand that's a personal preference, however I would expect more variety. They also mentioned macarons being included in the pastry selection, which they were not. Overall, I likely wouldn't go back especially for the astronomical prices (side note- 20% gratuity was automatically added.)

This is the honey comb hideout in Charlotte, as I am a local I come here to escape once in a while! The pool area is beautiful. The restaurants and local shopping are awesome.

This is a beautiful hotel. I hope to be able to stay here again soon. The staff is friendly and extremely attentive. The interior and exterior is very well kept. The rooms are neat, sanitized and very clean. They have afternoons teas that are so nice. I loved it. I really wanted to get a spa package but they were completely booked this past weekend. I hope to be able to return again soon but I loved my stay here.

Never being to Charolette and trusting the reviews and website photos was a mistake. Although this property is a premium Marriot property it left me feeling cheated. Most importantly, one must know that this location is not central to anything, and there is massive visible construction everywhere around the property making it difficult to maneuver, unsightly, and unkempt. Unfortunately, parts of the property are being renovated ( which of course they failed to mention ) the big selling point for me was the beautiful indoor pool- CLOSED/ as well as the jacuzzi's- CLOSED. Although our room was on the class of second most expensive with a balcony the carpets were worn, and the balcony which I paid extra for, was dirty with absolutely no view. The minibar fridge is stocked very well, and quite expensively as to be expected and quite cleverly there is no room left for anything you might personally want to keep cool, they have implemented clever hacks to make sure that you are at the mercy of purchasing their products. ImThe prices are of course, over-the-top expensive as anyone would expect especially for room service but I mean who doesn't want to pay $25 for a small Caesar salad at midnight when you forget dinner? The property just felt like it is primarily meant to be used for large business conferences and meetings. I did not have an intimate getaway feeling at all (that was what I was going for) They do brag a luxurious spa, which I don't doubt that it is, as it consumes a large part space it was simply too expensive and too booked for me to try it. Although the design and decor is generic and unauthentic it is clean, functional, and modern. The service is excellent and friendly despite how overwhelmed they obviously are. Thank you for allowing me to share my experience.

Girls Trip Weekend!! Second day of our Charlotte Girl's Trip and on our itinerary is the Spa at The Ballantyne. Gorgeous hotel, beautiful spa and excellent customer service. When you enter the spa, your temperature is checked and you complete a covid waiver. Then you head downstairs to the spa area where you are given a tour of the facility and changing area. We had secured lockers to house our clothes, so we changed into our robes and headed over to the waiting area where they had cucumber water, tea and snacks for our convenience. They also would have brought you champagne if requested. Very nice. I waited with my friends in the waiting area for our techs to come and get us. Today, I indulged in the Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and it was awesome!!! Every protocol was taken to ensure everyone's safety. The restrooms were very clean and sanitized. The massage was very good but I have had massages where I walked out a new person. This massage wasn't that by any means but it was very good. After our massages we went upstairs where you check out and could purchase the products used in your massage, candles and other things from the gift shop. It was a great start to our fun filled day.

Good location, close to a fair amount of options for food & shopping. Nice enough rooms (clean & modern) and though I had minimal contact with the staff, they were all nice when approached. There was a massive construction project going on during our stay that made it rather difficult for a light sleeper to enjoy a lazy day sleeping in. The safe wasn't working. Repairman came up within 5min and it was fixed (dead battery) very quickly. Had dinner at the Gallery restaurant and room service for breakfast. Both were good. Gallery: Really enjoyed the meal. Our waitress Kathryn was nice and attentive. Not sure who the bartender was but the Old Fashions were DELISH. Which explains why we had 8. 3 people approx $400 (inc tip) Charcuterie - can't really mess this up Duck Fat Carrots - could have been a bit fattier Truffle Fries - yum! Crispy Brussel Sprouts - table favorite Approx 8 Old Fashions - SO good! 3 glasses of merlot Room service - breakfast approx $80 Shrimp & grits Smoked salmon Benedict There is a small fridge in the room that does NOT accommodate anything but hotel items. Everything is weighted so don't bother pulling anything out of it to put your stuff in it. It would have been nice if they had a small section where you could put at least a couple of your own drinks. 3 night stay, 1 light dinner & 1 breakfast approx $1400. All in all, it was a fairly decent experience. The four stars is a combination of the hotel and restaurant. I'd give the hotel 3-3.5 and the Gallery a 4.