I would like to preface this review by saying that I am a city girl that has very high standards when it comes to resorts. I have stayed at five star resorts all over the globe (Sandals, Club Med, W hotels) and needless to say that I am very picky when it comes to where I spend my holidays. Normally I am not the biggest fan when it comes to 'cottage' resorts however as my life revolves around outdoor loving boys (ages 5 years old and 18 months) I had no choice but to find a place that had a cottage lifestyle yet modern enough to make me happy. My previous experiences with cottage resorts haven't been the most memorable (namely Shamlock lodge and Pow wow point lodge, both in muskoka) so I was pleasantly surprised by this cute resort that I had to write and tell everyone how fabulous it is!

Accomodations: We stayed in a ground level one bedroom suite (suite #14) that was part of a building with 2 other suites attached to it. Upon walking into the unit I was very happy to see how clean it was and also the size of the living area was great with a pull out couch and a little kitchen area with a fridge, sink, coffee maker and lots of plates, glasses, etc. Another nice touch is that they had a bottle of dishwashing liquid for you to use and liquid hand soap in the bathroom so that you don't have to bring your own. The bedroom was nice, with a queen size bed that looks so inviting (and i was told that it was a new mattress which was why it was so comfortable) and you get partial views of the lake from the bedroom and also from the living area. The bathroom was huge and looked newly renovated, you could literally fit 6 people in there and not feel cramped. There was a double jacuzzi also which we didn't use but the boys loved how big the tub was. The shower pressure was awesome with tons of hot water. Definitely the nicest washroom that i have seen at a cottage resort.

Beach/Activities: The main reason I booked this place was because of the size of the beach. I cannot describe how gorgeous the scenery is from the beach, or how awesome it was to swim in that beautiful lake. The water was warm, the beach was great (sandy bottom as you walk in- really nice) and there were plenty of beach toys/life jackets for the kids so you didn't have to bring your own. There was also a heated pool which i didn't use but stuck my foot in it and it felt like really warm bath water) and a great playground for the kids. There's also lots of paddle boats/kayaks etc. that you could use and an exercise room that was adequate. There's even a kids club that we didn't use but saw other kids in and they looked like they were having fun. Basically you will not be bored at this resort, there's a lot to do.

Food: I saved the best for last. I'm a real foodie, and honestly did not expect much from this resort simply because from my experience cottage resort = average food. However, Halimar blew me away not only with the quality of food but the presentation was gorgeous. It was pretty darn close to five star if you ask me. Breakfast was always great, they had a cereal/fruit buffet waiting for you when you got in and the hot items menu was really great. My favorites were the french toast and the chocolate chip pancakes (what a fantastic way to start your morning!). The restaurant itself is not open during lunch but you could order your lunch ahead and pick up at 1:00pm. So for us it was no big deal as it gave us a chance to go to haliburton every day for lunch (if you're there go to Mckeck's- it's a very modern pub with great food). Dinnertime was my favorite meal of the day, I loved how every day we were presented with the daily selection of bread and between my husband and I we tried basically every appetizer/entree/dessert on the menu and everything was mouthwatering. My favorite items were the curried carrot soup, schnitzel with mushroom sauce and pecan pie while my husband truly enjoyed the potato and leek soup, cod in white wine sauce and the new york style cheesecake. They also provided a full children's menu with like 8 items on it so your kids will never get bored of the food as well. You could tell that the food was made with pride, everything was homemade and tasted better than i could have ever imagined.

So, to sum up my experience at Halimar, I'll quote my son who said that he would like to come back for a trillion million sleeps. While i can't guarantee that we'll come back for that long, I was happy to hear that this resort offers a loyalty program so we'll definitely be back in the near future.

Honestly, if you're contemplating going to this resort just book it. You won't regret it.

Sharon

We have stayed at Halimar 4 times over the past 5 years. We have stayed in 3 different
units and all are clean, beautifully located and have all the amenities one could want.
The owners are very friendly and will do whatever is necessary to make you feel at home.
The food served in the dining room is excellent quality and more than enough in quantity. We always leave the table "stuffed". This includes breakfast and dinner. If you have children
there are plenty of activities to keep them occupied and a beautiful beach for swimming or just playing at the waters edge. I have one unit that I prefer because it has a large deck
overlooking the lake and in itself is very private. All units have wood burning fire places,wood supplied, Star Choice satellite t.v and DVD/VCR players and free movies.

I just came back from an amazing 4 day vacation at halimar resort. I must say i had an amazing time! I travelled with my husband and two children (ages 8 and 10). The resort was just beautiful as it is (literally steps away) from the lake. We stayed in a cottage that had two bedrooms, a sitting area. tv, kitchen, and fire place.

There was so much to do during our stay and the kids were well entertained. The kids often swam in their beautiful outdoor pool, played board/outdoor games (which was provided), played on the outdoor playground (slides, swings, etc), or built sand castles. My husband and i were also entertained as there is a basketball, tennis, and volleyball court. We would even relax by the pool or in the gazebo or take out canoe, kayak, or paddle boat out when feeling adventurous (WHICH WAS FREE!!! :D).

I would recommed that everyone take advantage of the food package they offer as it includes a great hot breakfast and gourmet style 3 course dinner. The food was deliciious and not having to worry about making dinner or leaving the resort to eat was just priceless. A few times after dinner my husband and i would have a few drinks at their beautiful bar (which also has preimum liquor ;)) as the kids watched
tv on their flat screen tv in the lounge or played fooseball or used the pool table.

I think Halimar resort is good for people with families, couple on a romantic getaway, older or even younger adults as it has ammenities that everyone can enjoy.

I would definitely visit Halimar again! Staff and owners were very friendly and made our stay a 5 star!!

My husband and I just got back from a really nice stay at Halimar. The owner was very friendly and accomodating. The food was pretty good- not 5 star but good basic food.
The cottage we stayed in was really nice, with a wood burning fireplace and 2 person jacuzzi in the room. The bed was comfortable as well. The grounds were nice, and hiking trails are right across the street.