GuestBook Entries
The Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel is a wonderful place and extremely relaxing. While not right on the popular Manhattan Beach, it's close enough and is within easy walking distance, or even bike ride away. As a Platinum member I was offered my choice of a 500 bonus points, a complimentary 4-hour bike rental, or two dinning options. I opted for the bike rental and proceeded to ride the entire trail from Redondo to the Santa Monica pier and back. The hotel staff are fantastic, there are plenty of great restaurants and bars within a short walk, and even more within a short drive along with plenty of shopping districts up and down the many miles of beach. Next time you're in need a beach getway in the LA area, I'd highly recommend staying at this hotel.
PS. High-speed Wi-Fi is complimentar to Platinum Elite PCR members at his property (at least it was when I stayed here in January 2010).
Sunset as seen from my room at the CP Redondo Beach, and yes I was upgraded to a very nice room. The staff at the hotel know what they are doing and know how to treat loyal PCR members.
Sunset on Manhattan Beach with the famous sand vollyball courts, just a five minute walk up the beach from the hotel.
Famous Southern California sunset. The picture doens't do it justice.
After reading the favourable reviews and having a fantastic stay at the Park Lane the month before we were looking forward to our stay. Although the first day was totally unacceptable the guest services manager Marta did all she could to make the rest of our stay fantastic. The hotel is in a fabulous location and the room we had had 2 balconies overlooking Paris which was a great place to take in the sites and people watch. Despite the shaky start both my husband and I would stay again.
Clean....rec'd an upgrade...was noticed as a priority member. Was able to check in early and stay late.
Breakfast the usual fare, we did not partake.
Missing the roll away cot, had to call at 10:30 pm, even after I requested at 11am.
Missing the extra towels--listed as 4 people in room only 3 towels...(requested this on my reservation)
The shampoo that was in the bathroom was 1/2 used when we checked in (I threw it out-we had some).
No extra pillows like requested on my reservation also.
Used pool at 10:15pm last nite and towesl (dirty) were over flowing to the floor and timer on Hot tub broke, never went off after 15 mins.
Very friendly staff!
Keep striving for perfection, you are doing a good job!
Date of Stay: 14th February 2010
Number of Nights: 1 (including 15 nights parking)
Type of Room Booked: Executive Double Room & Double Room
Type of Room Provided: Double Room x 2 (adjoining and interconnecting)
Rate: 1st Room: £130 per night / 2nd Room: 25,000 PCR Points
Benefits Offered: Executive Lounge access extended to my children.
General Review: This hotel always leaves me disappointed. Despite being a very regular guest here, and emailing my request in advance to Guest Relations, there was an issue checking in! This hotel is simply not geared up for family travel at Frequent Traveller / Executive level, and quite frankly gives the impression that it doesn't care. My room was downgraded so that we could be adjacent/interconnecting with the boys. Apparently NONE of the guest rooms on the Executive floor are interconnecting or adjoining or have anything other than a King size bed in them. In the past, there has been a welcome note from the GM, a bottle of wine in the room to cross recompense for the downgrade, a basket of fruit, water, chocolate, and sweets for the boys. This time - nothing. Two basic two double bed rooms.
The club lounge has recently been updated. In fact it opened refreshed during my last stay, so it was good to go back and see how it is coping! The lounge is open until 2200 hours, and we noted that the wet bar is closed at 2130 to permit the staff time to clear up. In terms of canapes - well, crisps is as good as it gets - and even they are served with tongs and a plate - that's a challenge! The wet bar includes wine and spirits, along with bottled beers and soft drinks. Breakfast in the morning was Continental with a selection of fresh fruit, cereal, breads, juices, ham, cheese yoghurt and smoked salmon.
During our stay, we allowed our children to have room service and watch a movie. Well done to the Chef for creating an excellent room service menu for children which is very reasonably priced. My oldest son thought he was very clever being allowed to sign the "chit" for the room. This of course, permitted my partner and I to eat in the restaurant. Given that it was Valentines Day, you would imagine the restaurant to be packed out... No! Empty. We ordered... or tried to order our main course. There were 6 main course dishes on the menu - 3 were not available. So we ordered what was left - One Grilled Spiced Chicken and One Lamb Shank (The vegetarian was Mushroom Risotto, which didn't appeal even if it was available) A three course meal for two with wine was a very reasonable £70.
As we were flying late on 15th, I took the boys swimming. A great Leisure Centre. Child Friendly and very welcoming. One thing they MUST address though is that there are no "spinners" in the changing rooms. Now who stays at an airport hotel and flys off the next or same day? Oh, everyone... so that must mean that no one wants to travel with sopping wet swimming costumes/shorts. They offered us a plastic bag, so that we could pack our dripping wet shorts in our suitcase before we travelled. Clearly someone hasn't walked through the guest experience here!
I completed a review of the hotel, however nearly three weeks on, and I am yet to receive a response, despite requesting one. It does make me feel that the GM considers that all of his guests depart after one night, so it doesn't matter if the hotel is not runnng smoothly! Having a captive audience with most people staying immediately prior to a flight should not mean that standards can drop or there is no need to review guest needs. I am staying here again on 8th April, so will write to say if the experience improves!
Rate: 1st Night CAD$169 Luxury Weekend Rate / 2nd Night CAD$239 comp with RA Free Night Voucher
General Review: This is an amazing InterContinental. Every visit runs smoothly. Check in was a breeze. The receptionist was extremely knowlegeable about Royal Ambassador Status and all of the benefits. 30 minutes after arriving to my room there was a telephone call from the Concierge offering their services and wishing me a nice stay.
The leisure club / spa was very quiet - we were the only people in there. Children must be accompanied in the pool. There was a steam room in the changing rooms. Sadly the Jacuzzi was out of service - being cleaned.
The hotel is located adjacent to the CN Tower, which is about a 5 minute walk. A great place to visit for a panormaic dinner - if you can cope with ascending some 400+ metres into the sky using a glass floored lift!
Hotel Location: Holiday Inn, Oakville, On, Canada (about 30 minutes from YYZ Toronto Pearson Airport)
Date of Stay: 15-19 February 2010
Number of Nights: 4
Type of Room Booked: 2 Double Beds Executive, 6th Floor & 2 Double Beds (for Children)
Type of Room Provided: 2 Double Beds Executive 6th Floor for both rooms, interconnecting
Rate: 1st Room: CAD$130 / 2nd Room 5,000 PCR Pointsbreak nights
Benefits Offered: Complimentary Full Breakfast, Boys room upgraded to 6th Floor to be adjacent
General Review: I am guessing that this hotel used to be a Holiday Inn Express? It has recently been updated and is awaiting rebranding to the new refreshed Holiday Inn. IHG's website states that there is an Executive Lounge on the 6th Floor, however this has recently been closed (website needs updating techno's at IHG!). I was not made aware of this when booking, however when I sent an advance email requesting adjoining rooms and use of the Executive Lounge for my childrento have breakfast, I was advised that the Lounge was no more. I had dialogue by email with Donna Mancuso (Guest Relations Manager) and she offered us Complimentary Full Breakfast to make up for the lack of lounge facility.
Check In was a little slow. Apparently Reception had no prior knowledge of my reservation request and subsequent email confirmation from Guest Relations for adjoining rooms and I was offered keys for rooms on the 5th Floor for me, and a 3rd Floor room for my 10 & 11 year old. After around 20 minutes, we succesfully achieved two 6th Floor Rooms, adjoining with interconnecting doors!
The rooms were clean, well appointed and had spectacular views of the QEW highway (if you're into that sort of thing!) however one drawback was the very noisy air conditioning/heating, with the drum fan thumping away when the thermostat decreed. Given that the outside temperature was -5 during the stay, the heating was on almost all night, and without it being on the room went very cold. This is an area of guest comfort that the hotel could focus on.
Breakfast was reasonable given that it was complimentary, however if I had been asked to pay for full breakfast then it was not worth the money. It was identical (although poor in quality) to a Holiday Inn Express Hot Start Breakfast - with a noticeable lack of cinnamon rolls ;-( If you are a guest here, then I would suggest either going for the continental breakfast, or walk 5 minutes down the road to Dennys!
There was a kids playroom fitted out with pool table and video games, also a small indoor heated pool (unsupervised). The lounge was spacious and plenty of seats if you want a quiet read. Coffee in the lounge was self service with an "honesty box" for CAD$2 per cup.
Plenty of complimentary car parking space outside the hotel.
Overall, a centrally located, no frills, reasonably priced place to stay if that is all you are looking to do.
There is really nothing in Dunn a few stores, gas station and down the road from the hotel a large WD.
The HIE Dunn is an award winning hotel, friendly staff, great rooms, and a very nice free breakfast. You can book it and get a discount at the Visitors Center. We were given two bottles of water and two bags of chips. Gold Level.
Had to book on the phone. We were driving down I95 when we decided to stay in old St. Augustine. Called the number on PC card was told the rate would be $128.00 asked for AAA and told $108.00 but no breakfast. At check in I asked for an upgrade they said no. I'm Gold. When I finally was in the room and after 2 hrs, there WiFi was servicing too many units and was very weak. I was given the last cable to hook in direct to get connect. I went to the PC site and saw the room was going for $89.00, mentioned it and was told I would have to cancel the second day and book on line. I did. Will not stay there again. There is a Days in next door where rooms are $58.00.
Nice hotel. Convenient to the airport, can leave your car at the hotel and take their shuttle to/from the airport. One drawback is that there are no options for dining outside of the hotel close by.
This is one of the best HI Express hotels I have ever stayed at.
It is actually in the middle of nowhere but very quiet and good place to rest. Very close to the famous Italian restaurant.
I arrived after dark for one night's stay on a Sunday evening. Fortunately, I had my GPS because this hotel was not listed on any of the signs coming off the expressway, and I could not see the HI sign before I got to the property.
I was provided with a new Platinum color coded key packet and snack bag, although my status was not verbally acknowledged, nor did I receive an upgrade. After asking, I was told all of the rooms are the same, and I believe they are other than the suites.
The bed was very comfortable, and the room was nicely sound proofed. No visible light filtered through around the doorway from the hall, and I could not hear the heavy rain overnight. I was happy with the room comfort, and would stay here again solely for that reason. There was a fridge and microwave in the room. The Internet connection speed was satisfactory. Definitely faster than where I am now!
The fitness center equipment was in good condition. I did not use the business center or visit the restaurant.
I stayed here one night while traveling for business. As a Platinum member, I did not receive an upgrade, corner room, or any extras. I had booked an executive room because the rate was good, and I wanted to make sure I had at least that. I know hotels don't have to provide a suite upgrade; however, many HIX often do, and it sure is nice when it happens.
At check-in my status was not recognized. In fact, I received a Gold key packet. I cheerfully commented that I had been downgraded, and the agent smiled and told me they were out of Platinum packets. The employees were all nice enough and seemed eager to please. I did not specifically ask if a suite was available or if I should have been receiving anything extra. I figured making sure they knew my status was enough.
The room was large with a fridge and microwave. The furniture and bed were comfortable, although I did not like the pillows, which felt old and used. The room looked clean, but did not smell fresh. The bathroom floor was nicely tiled with a nice walk-in shower--no tub. The room was not very sound proof. I was awaken shortly after midnight by guests talking in the room next door. They were not extremely loud; however, they must have just gotten to their room for the night. Fortunately, they quit chatting after a short time. I had a non-smoking room, and I could smell smoke (only slightly at first) in the hall and sometimes in my room. I later realized that the third floor at this hotel is smoking and non-smoking. My room was the first non-smoking room next to a smoking room!
The breakfast was the basic HIX express breakfast. There is no gift/F&B shop at the hotel, and the vending machine mechanics had issues, so it took some diligence on my part to get a bottle of water that evening. Ruby Tuesday is located next door, and there are steps between the hotel and restaurant.
The fitness center was sufficient, although one treadmill sounded like it was ready for a tune up. The wireless connection in the room was good.
Overall: I would probably stay at the Hampton Inn next time I am in the area. I don't usually stay at Hamptons because I do not think they are better than HIX; however, sleep is important to me, and I did not get that at this hotel. The pillows and noise both kept me awake. The smoke and stale room smell was also a down side for me.
Decent choice when it is necessry to stay at the airport. Ask for quiet room. Mine was, but some folks complained about airplane noise.
Free shtulle service. No need to hone. Go to Departures level ; shuttle comes every 20 minutes.
Restaruant looks dull, but they had the best ribs, Order them!
Room was large and comfortable, great CP bed, and sleep set.
Platinum members are entitiled to a full breakfast. I left pre-dawn before the restaurant was opened. and was provided with a fine box breakfast.and coffee.. Very nice.
I recommend contacting MS Yomaira Lopez, Reservation Manager a couple of days before arrival to reconfirm and make special requests. I got the box breakfast., only Ms Lopez took care of my request.
This is strictly an airport hotel and there is not reason to be there except for airplane connections.
I stay in IC hotels 3-4 times per week all across the UK and chose this one as it said it was only 50 rooms. I was very impressed the staff were lovely I was struggling through a door with baggage and a member of staff walking past offered to carry my bags up the stairs for me and ended up taking it all the way to my room for me. The rooms look as if they have had some renovation in line with the new branding and were well equipped and totally spotless. They recognise platinum members with free drinks in the restuarant, coffee and free internet access. Although a little further out of town than the central Crowne Plaza I will definately be staying again and recommending to my colleagues.
