DISchurners Hotel Reviews Thread (extension of I love credit cards so much! thread)

SouthFayetteFan

Saving Money on Disney Vacations since 2006
Joined
Sep 6, 2014
For those that regularly follow the I love credits cards so much! v2.0 thread. This is an extension of that thread where people can post details of a recent redemption/stay so others can check it out.

If you have no idea what we're talking about...check out the recent 50 or so pages on that thread - this is a group who is all about using credit card rewards to cover travel on a much larger scale than you may have ever imagined :)

Items you may want to include in your review:

  • A link to the hotel's official website
  • Pictures of the room, dining, grounds, pool, etc.
  • Details on your redemption (did you use URs, hotel points, cash, etc.)
  • Information on proximity to major attractions
INDEX OF HOTEL REVIEWS/REPORTS (to be maintained by @SouthFayetteFan):

DISNEY PARKS UNITED STATES DESTINATIONS:

DISNEYLAND AND SURROUNDING AREAS

- Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center by @amalone1013; page1
- Hilton Anaheim by @DisneyMandC; page 3
- Four Points by Sheraton LAX by @amalone1013; page 1
- Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort by @christineinvegas; page 7
- Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Airport by @Haley R; page 8

DISNEY WORLD AND SURROUNDING AREAS
- DoubleTree by Universal Studios by @SouthFayetteFan; page 1
- DoubleTree by Universal Studios by @amalone1013; page 6
- Fairfield Inn Marriott Village by @1st*toright; page 2
- DoubleTree Disney Springs by @amalone1013; page 6
- DoubleTree Disney Springs by @Haley R; page 8
- Hampton Inn by SeaWorld Orlando by @Haley R; page 8
-
Walt Disney Dolphin Resort by @Haley R; page 9
- Radisson Hotel Orlando-Lake Buena Vista by @Haley R; page 9

OTHER DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS

BOSTON/NEW ENGLAND

- Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor by @StephPlum; page 4
- Comfort Inn and Suites North Conway, New Hampshire by @StephPlum; page 4
- Best Western Acadia Park Inn Bar Harbor, ME by @StephPlum; page 4
-
Wayside Inn in Bethlehem, New Hampshire by @Narnia_girl; page 8
- Atlantic Eyrie Lodge, Bar Harbor, Maine by @Narnia_girl; page 8
-
Hotel Kimpton Nine Zero - Boston by @CoP Luv; page 9

CALIFORNIA
- Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina by @amalone1013; page 1
- Avila Lighthouse Suites at Avila Beach by @gottalovepluto; page 2
- Monterey CA Intercontinental by @mitchwebb; page 3
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro - Port of Los Angeles by @wanderlust7; page 7
- Westin Carlsbad (San Diego) by @christineinvegas; page 7
- Courtyard San Diego Carlsbad by @christineinvegas; page 7

CHICAGO
- Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown by @CoP Luv; page 1
- The Blackstone - Autograph Collection (a Marriott brand) by @1st*toright; page 4
- The Blackstone - Autograph Collection (a Marriott brand) by @calypso726 ; page 7

CLEVELAND
- Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade by @Peel; page 2

DELAWARE
- Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by @SouthFayetteFan; page 9

FLORIDA
- Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort by @disneymagicgirl; page 2
- Courtyard Marriott Cocoa Beach Resort by @Pillow; page 4
- JW Marriott Marco Island by @Psychodisney; page 6

GRAND CANYON
- El Tovar, Grand Canyon National Park Lodge by @Narnia_girl; page 8

HAWAII
- Wailea Beach Resort Maui by @hsmamato2; page 5
- Royal Hawaiian by @Lain; page 6
- Sheraton Waikiki by @Lain; page 6

KANSAS CITY
- Four Points By Sheraton Kansas City Airport by @snugglebug; page 3

LAS VEGAS
- Palazzo Las Vegas by @pillow; page 1
- Venetian Las Vegas by @pillow; page 2

MINNEAPOLIS
- Moxy Minneapolis Uptown by @Tikitoi; page 8

MYRTLE BEACH
- Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes by @MarBee; page 8

NEW JERSEY - ATLANTIC CITY & OTHER BEACHES
- Caesars Atlantic City by @miztressuz; page 7
- Sheraton Eatontown Hotel by by @MarBee; page 9

NEW ORLEANS
- Le Meridian by @gottalovepluto; page 6
- Hilton New Orleans Riverside by @gottalovepluto; page 6
- InterContinental Hotels New Orleans by @miztressuz; page 7
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Kenner New Orleans Airport by @miztressuz; page 7

NEW YORK
- IHG Intercontinental Times Square by @pillow; page 3
- Hilton Times Square by @calypso726; page 3
- New York Marriott Marquis Times Square by @DisneyMandC; page 5
- New York Marriott Marquis Times Square by @pillow; page 7
- St. Regis NYC (Marriott) by @striker1064; page 5
- Homewood Suites Rochester, NY by @Lvsdisney; page 4
- Residence Inn by Marriott New York Manhattan/Central Park by @striker1064; page 6
- Residence Inn Central Park by @calypso726; page 6
- Residence Inn by Marriott Manhattan/World Trade Center by @ctinct; page 6
- Holiday Inn Express Times Square South by @hsmamato2; page 7
- The Lexington - Autograph Collection (Marriott) by @1st*toright; page 7
- The Chatwal - Luxury Collection (Marriott) by @1st*toright; page 7
- Park Hyatt NYC by @mmmears; page 7
-
Sheraton Times Square by @calypso726; page 9

PITTSBURGH
- Hyatt House Pittsburgh Bloomfield/Shadyside by @Jax1023; page 3

PUERTO RICO
- Courtyard San Juan Miramar by @miztressuz; page 2

TENNESEE
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Gatlinburg Downtown by @christineinvegas; page 3
- Courtyard Nashville Downtown by @amalone1013; page 5
- Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown by @amalone1013; page 5

TEXAS
- Fairmont Austin Hotel by @AmyAnne; page 2

WASHINGTON D.C. (and nearby locations)
- Willard Intercontinental by @calypso726; page 1
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town by @Lvsdisney; page 3
- Hyatt Place Washington DC/White House by @WVMomof3; page 3
- Fairfield Inn and Suites at Dulles Airport by @DisneyMandC; page 3
- Hilton Arlington by @miztressuz; page 4
- Embassy Suites Washington DC Convention Center by @DisMommyTX; page 5
- Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Arlington, VA by @striker1064; page 6
- Grand Hyatt Washington DC by @WVMomof3; page 8

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS

DUBAI

- Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa by @calypso726; page 6

CANADA
- Quebec City Hilton by @Narnia_girl; page 8

COSTA RICA
- Hotel Punta lslita Guanacaste by @platamama; page 4

FRANCE
- Sequioa Lodge Disneyland Paris by @afan; page 3
- Park Hyatt Paris Vendome by @afan; page 3

JAPAN
- Airbnb in Shibuya by @Haley R; page 8
- Yumoto Station Hotel Mirahakone by @Haley R; page 8
- Hotel Gentle Fox Kyoto by @Haley R; page 8
- Hilton Tokyo Bay - King Celebrio Ocean by @Haley R; page 8

MALDIVES
- Conrad Rangali Maldives - a Hilton property by @calypso726; page 6

SCOTLAND
- Radisson Collection Hotel In Edinburgh by @calypso726; page 8
- Holiday Inn Express Inverness by @calypso726; page 8
- The Lynnfield Hotel Kirkwall, Orkney by @calypso726; page 8


SPAIN
- Hotel Arts Barcelona by @tink1970; page 4

This thread will only work if you DISchurners add information...so please do so! I'll update this index as new reviews are added but please feel free to discuss people's posts too :) This index will only reference NEW reviews.
 
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DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...rance-to-universal-orlando-MCOUNDT/index.html

Travel Dates: November 4 - 7, 2017

We stayed at this DoubleTree on points for our Universal Trip in 2017.
  • The cash rate for 3 nights was $419.41
  • We redeemed 75,000 Hilton Points (25k per night) to stay for free.
  • Recently I've seen the price hold steady at 30k points per night so that 25k I got may have been a little hidden gem!
  • Parking cost was roughly $20 per night - so although you can walk to Universal you still don't get out of paying for parking, haha!
  • We got free breakfast due to having Hilton Gold status (through my AMEX Platinum). The Breakfast buffet was good, but I wouldn't pay for it as it's WAY overpriced.
The best part of this property is that it is walk-able to Universal Studios. It's basically across the road from Portofino Bay. It was approximately 15 minute walk to the CityWalk entrance. You enter the Universal "security zone" via the escalators from the Valet parking. The walk was relatively pleasant (there is a sidewalk the whole way) and you only cross one major road, otherwise you're in fairly calm territory.

I don't have any personal pictures from the hotel. I would recommend this property to anybody looking to use Hilton points on a Universal trip. Otherwise it's very out of the way from Disney, SeaWorld and all the fun and restaurants on I-Drive.

WEB IMAGES THAT APPEAR ACCURATE FROM MEMORY:
Universal Entrance sign right across the road (the two towers are the hotel) :)
DoubleTree-Universal.jpg


Accurate picture of the (overpriced) Breakfast buffet - There's another row of food that isn't pictured here and the made to order omelets can kinda be seen in the back right of this picture. if you have Gold status and get it free, hit it up for sure!! If you don't get it free...you may want to really consider the price point :)
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Starbucks In Lobby:
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Thanks for starting this! With photobucket being a paid thing now, where are people hosting photo's? I'll have some to post in a few weeks :)
 
Thanks for starting this! With photobucket being a paid thing now, where are people hosting photo's? I'll have some to post in a few weeks :)
You can just upload them from your computer. I think you can do the same from your phone's gallery. Click on 'upload a file' on the bottom right of your post and it will let you browse for your picture(s).
 


You can just upload them from your computer. I think you can do the same from your phone's gallery. Click on 'upload a file' on the bottom right of your post and it will let you browse for your picture(s).

To clarify, you hit Reply, and on the screen that comes up, you'll se the 'upload a file' button at the bottom right. I'm going to do that now and put a picture of my post underneath this. You can do it as a thumbnail or full-sized image. I hit 'Reply' to my first post, then 'Upload a file' on the screen that came up. I was then able to browse to where I had the screenshot and insert it on this post. I probably totally confused you by now!
uploading pics to dis.JPG
 


To clarify, you hit Reply, and on the screen that comes up, you'll se the 'upload a file' button at the bottom right. I'm going to do that now and put a picture of my post underneath this. You can do it as a thumbnail or full-sized image. I hit 'Reply' to my first post, then 'Upload a file' on the screen that came up. I was then able to browse to where I had the screenshot and insert it on this post. I probably totally confused you by now!
View attachment 320461

I'm aware that I can do that, but to upload I have to resize every single photo because the file is too big otherwise. I know people host them elsewhere to post here and that would be easier than having to resize every photo. There's been several things I've wanted to post here before but haven't simply because I'm not going to resize the photo because I don't have the software to quickly and easily do it.
 
I'm aware that I can do that, but to upload I have to resize every single photo because the file is too big otherwise. I know people host them elsewhere to post here and that would be easier than having to resize every photo. There's been several things I've wanted to post here before but haven't simply because I'm not going to resize the photo because I don't have the software to quickly and easily do it.
Does Imgur work with DIS?
 
I've never heard of it. Maybe @amalone1013 can help since she does trip reports ☺
That’s the site people typically link to from Reddit when they share a pic. :) I can’t recall if I’ve ever seen a pic here from there but I bet it would work and I’ve found it easy to upload pics there. :)
 
Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center - King Room with Sofabed
Corner of Harbor and Katella by Disneyland

https://anaheimresort.house.hyatt.com
https://anaheimresort.house.hyatt.com
Travel Dates: April 7 - 10, 2018

  • Cash rate was $778 total
  • We used 36,000 Hyatt points (12k per night) transferred from Chase UR points. There were no extra fees.
  • Parking is $18 per day per website, we did not have a car
  • Free breakfast described below, though we did not try much. I think Hyatt is changing which hotels include breakfast though, so make sure to verify before you go!
  • There is a lobby bar and a 24 hour market inside, plus Blaze pizza next door is open to midnight or 1am.

We spent three nights here for 12k Hyatt points per night, transferred from UR. It was very clean, every time we walked through the lobby they were sweeping, mopping, or cleaning something, even at 1am. Maybe a 10 minute walk tops for two adults. Breakfast had eggs, bacon/sausage, toast, pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice. They had to go coffee cups and flavored creamer in the breakfast room. The room just had regular coffee mugs like you'd have at home. I think they had Seattle's Best in the breakfast room, and just your typical hospitality brand in the room - I didn't try it.

ETA: We didn't try the breakfast beyond a pastry for a snack to get going, because we fell for the siren call of Disney breakfast each morning.

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Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina - Traditional Marina Tower King Room
http://www.sheratonsandiegohotel.com/

Travel Dates: April 4 - 5, 2018
  • Cash rate was $160 for one night, including resort fees
  • Currently 10,000 starpoints plus $30 resort fee per night (I'll try to remember to update after the Starriott merger...) UPDATE: will be 35k points
  • Free shuttle, Parking is $35 per night per website
  • Several restaurants inside, and a Sheraton Club Lounge
  • Across the street from San Diego airport
  • Starbucks coffee in the room

10k Starpoints + $30 resort fee/$160 incl resort fees on our night

We watched some planes take off and land from our balcony for a bit. Not as much airport noise plus it ended earlier compared to the next hotel review. There's a shuttle, but we actually just walked over for the night with our little carry-on roller bag. The weather was so nice! Busy roads being by the airport, but I didn't find it sketchy or anything. We paid cash for extra points. And I struggle because to me, at least when I booked it, 10k points is a night at the Dolphin, so that's how I keep thinking of my starpoints. We had drinks and apps in the bar downstairs. The drinks were good, but the apps weren't anything special to us. We were a little disappointed by them.

I don't know if I'd stay here if I was in San Diego for a few days, if I was going to be Downtown a lot or something, but it worked well for us for a night before heading off to BILs wedding. And the girl at the desk was very confused about getting lounge access with SPG business card, but hey, unless you're staying there before August that won't matter!

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My Starbucks coffee

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Four Points by Sheraton LAX - Deluxe King Room
http://www.fourpointslax.com/

T
ravel Dates: March 16 - 17, 2018
  • $146 for one night
  • 10,000 Starpoints, no extra fees (I'll try to remember to update after the Starriott merger...) UPDATE: will be 25k points
  • Free airport shuttle, parking is $32 per day per website
  • Two (?) restaurants on site
We stayed here for a night when we did a weekend in Long Beach. I picked this one because it had a shuttle, we just needed one night, and it was similarly priced to other hotels but we got to use it towards an SPG promo for extra points, so that tipped us in its favor. We got in late, almost midnight and caught the shuttle. The only issue was I had done mobile check in, and I think it had been so long since they activated our room keys that they didn't work any more - I had that happen at a Quality Inn in March, where they had made them early and had them on the desk. So we had to troop back down and there was only one person at check-in, but a line of 4 or 5 parties. If planes would bother you, probably not the best choice. But they don't bother us so it was perfect for one night at the start of a trip.

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What a great thread! For those who have hotel status, like Hilton/Marriott/SPG gold, would you mind including what perks were included, such as breakfast or breakfast buffet? We travel in September, staying near Port Canaveral, we will be posting our hotel experiences then.
Thanks! Glad you like it :)

@amalone1013 - I updated the index to include your posts. Thanks for sharing!!
 
Willard Intercontinental

Washington.intercontinental.com

Travel dates: March 29 - April 1

  • $253 for one night
  • Free as IHG annual certificate for credit card holders or 70,000 IHG points.
  • Restaurant inside and nearby

We stayed here and took advantage of our free nigh certificates on a trip to DC to see the cherry blossoms. We fell in love with the hotel. The hotel dates back to 1850 and is literally steps away from the White House. We were able to walk to the Washington Monument and Tidal Basin. There is plenty to see and do in walking distance. They have afternoon tea which requires reservations. We were able to experience the tea service and it was fantastic. There is a cherry blossom tea created specifically for the Willard. It's a great place to stay. We took an Uber from the airport which was covered by our Amex Platinum monthly Uber credit. I really enjoyed our stay and do plan to go back again.



willard.jpg

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Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown - 1 Bedroom Suite
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/ho...nd-suites-chicago-downtown-CHIHSHX/index.html

Travel Dates: February 2-3, 2018

We stayed at the Hampton Inn for a quick city weekend.
  • The cash rate for 1 night was $153.
  • We redeemed 10,192 UR points to stay for free.
  • The suite was a true 1-bedroom suite that was quite large. Had a kitchenette with a granite island that served as a table for two.
  • This room can go anywhere from $150-$300 per night depending on the season.
  • Indoor swimming pool was a must and it was ok. Nothing too special, but for the kids in February, they had a blast.
  • Breakfast buffet was included, and was a typical breakfast buffet. Nothing special, had a few hot items. Breakfast room was very large.
HX_steking_3_386x310_FitToBoxSmallDimension_Center.jpg Hampton Inn.jpg
 
Palazzo Las Vegas - October, 2017
https://www.palazzo.com
60,000 IHG points OR free night

We used my IHG annual free night here as a quick overnight before heading to the Grand Canyon. We arrived late, and they were nice enough to waive the resort fee for us since we were also leaving early the next morning (think the resort fee is around $30-$35 or so). This was the Bella Suite I believe.

We also used my hubby's free night at the Venetian and the end of our trip. We liked the Palazzo better since the room had been updated. The Palazzo room had silver finishings, whereas the Venetian had the old cheesy gold 80's stuff. Super comfy beds (reminded me of DCL!).

The only negative about these rooms for me, is that they do not have coffee makers. You're forced to pay for overpriced Vegas coffee. DH walked to Starbucks for ours - cost a fortune.

Prior to this trip, we used our annual free night to stay at the Venetian in August 2016. We were able to upgrade to a larger room on that trip by paying a cash upcharge. Will post that separately.

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