Saratoga Inn: Great service, great rooms, great views

A dreamy, bluesy Frank Sinatra crooned the air at the 5-star Saratoga Inn in Langley as I entered the dining area for the complimentary breakfast last week. And after that, an Amy Winehouse song. Just another sweet touch to the Inn's island hospitality. Classy.

A scrumptious coffee cake, laden with cinnamon and sugar, served with orange juice was the first course. Followed by a Mediterranean Strada made from sourdough bread, eggs, peppers, olives and feta cheese with a side of fresh fruit, it was high-end restaurant-quality food.

Working in a town heavy with tourists during the high season sends many of us locals out in the low season for our own little respite. This time I chose Langley, a pleasant drive through South Whidbey Island's green pastures. A perfect choice. With views overlooking Saratoga Passage and the distant Cascade mountains, an eagle scouting for breakfast just outside my room; with wine tasting, seafood restaurants within a four-block radius, I done good.

After a walk into town – oh! – stop by Moonraker Books and the owner Josh Hauser, who I thought was an elf, just might take you by the hand and escort you across the street for some wine tasting. Small town charm.

The smell of baked bread filled the Inn upon my return. Wine and cheese were served at "teatime," which I missed due to some downtown shopping, while coffee, tea and cocoa are always available.

Outdoor rocking chairs on the wrap-around porch begged for company.

It's the little things that make this inn so charming – like a welcome pack for your pet – a couple rooms are pet friendly, leaving the others pet-free for allergy-prone guests. Thoughtful.

My king room overlooked Saratoga Passage and felt warm and cozy with the fireplace, comfy bed and plump pillows. Sleep came easily.

The Inn itself has quite a history. From about 1940 until 1991, the site was a gas station! When renovating it to an Inn, the gas tanks had to be removed which exposed a layer of slate beneath. Further excavation and anchoring of the foundation made it so strong it could be a tsunami shelter.

Kristy Kavanagh, a city girl from San Diego, and her husband, Jason Judy, an old farm hand who used to clean horse stalls, the live-in managers, have been in the hospitality business for 35 years. And it shows. "We'd been on the road for seven years and this is the place where we decided to make a final stand." A hospitality-kinda couple with complimentary skill sets, they are a perfect fit for the VIP Hospitality Group, the owners of the Inn.

The VIP Hospitality Group owns over a dozen restaurants and inns – including The Majestic Inn in our own backyard. They claim, "No matter how it's said, or stated in whatever language, great hospitality achieves the same feeling, by making people feel warm and welcomed, safe and cared for." The VIP Hospitality Group is graced with their management.

Jason's background began when he was a teenager working for Clint Eastwood in Monterey. From there onto California winemaking. Jason's laid-backness could fool you into thinking he was still "just a farm boy" until you see and feel his welcoming spirit, high standards and Kristy's eye for art and charm. "We tried to make the property like our own home." Said Jason of Kristy's attention to detail.

After being "on the road for seven years, this is the place we decided to make a final stand." So, they made a pitch to VIP as a management team.

Staff clearly love their work – from the gardener to the chefs to the cleaning people. All were pleasant and happy, ready to serve with a genuine smile. Jason said all staff are cross-trained in every aspect of the Inn – from serving, cleaning, to cooking – even gardening. Team spirit was palpable.

Upon hiring them, Jason tells them, "When you get to work, it's time to let your worries and cares of life go. Work keeps us alive and happy."

The Saratoga Inn offers 16 rooms, plus a 700-square-foot Carriage House Suite, all complete with fireplaces and big screen TVs. The Carriage house has a sprawling bathroom with a tub and dual sinks. It is presently booked through August. All 16 rooms can be rented out for wedding parties.

See video on saratogainnlangley.com/.

The La Conner Weekly News traded lodging for writing this article.