Just in case I don't get to my trip report soon enough...I'll give you a little bit about my time at the Twin Towers.
Originally I was supposed to go back to Daytona Beach after my stay in Orlando at the HRH for 2 nights, and 3 days at the parks. However; My Aunt had a change of plans and was going to St. Augustine on the days we'd be going back to see her. So I had to find a hotel for 2 nights before our plane left...but that just wasn't set in the budget. I looked around on these boards, and in a coupon book my sister gave to me for a reasonably priced hotel. Couldn't find anything "cheap" that didn't have some kind of bad review. I could have taken small.....but had to be CLEAN!!
So, I got a link from these boards for a site that helped with Priceline deal making. After doing some homework, I decided to bid on a 3 star hotel, and figured I'd get the Radisson Twin Towers (as many had). I thought I might get it for 30/night, but went in and bid $25/night just for fun at first. And guess what...I GOT IT!! I was very happy with that deal!
So, after our stay at the Hard Rock, and after we closed down IOA at 8 pm and lingered about City Walk for quite awhile (sittin' in those chairs at Margarittaville
), we got into our car at the HRH parking lot and headed over to the Radisson. (after a bit trying to figure out how to get out of the gate). It took all of 4 minutes to drive over to the towers. I was nervous that for some reason the Priceline wouldn't work....so I did not unload my luggage first, didn't want to jinx myself. But it did; and I just confirmed with them that it was 25/night. They just wanted a copy of my credit card for incidentals. So, we unloaded our car and I sent up my friend and my kids to the room while I parked the car. However, when I got into the room on the 14th floor (we did want to be up high for the view). I could right away smell cigarette smoke. I just walked in the room and knew that the room had either at one time been a smoking room, or that someone had smoked in there. No one else seemed to notice it, so I thought maybe it was in my head...but it wasn't. I started getting a scratchy throat, and my eyes were starting to bug me. (My kids referred to me as the "smoke detector", upon which I took a mental note that this talent may come in handy as they proceed through their teenage years). So I had to move. But we liked the size of the room, and didn't want to go to a lower floor...but oh well.
So, I called the front desk, and explained my problem. They responded by saying that it was a whole non-smoking floor, but that it was very possible that someone had smoked in the room. So I said, OK, but we want a high view still, and wanted to make sure that we had the same size room, and she said, "well I could give you a larger room if you like"...and I said..."um...OK".....
I decided that I wanted to check out the room first, and make sure it didn't have the same smell (wanted to confirm that it wasn't all in my head). So I went down to the desk and got a room key and proceeded to room 1216. Opened the door, and immediately smelled the difference...ahhhh NO SMOKE SMELL!!. But then a most wondorous thing.....When we flicked on the lights...there was a full size pull out couch...and the room was atleast 8 feet longer if not more. YEAH YEAH YEAH!!
So I went down and said that the room was better, but wanted to know if I'd get charged more...and the very nice lady said "NO".
So I got a little "suite" for 25/night at the Radisson Twin Towers. With the 5 of us...it was so very nice to have the extra room and extra sleep space.
The pool was open till midnight....and the weather was perfect so we all went for a swim! There is a nice little courtyard area and a TCBY, KRISPY KREME, AND sandwhiches (I think) down in the courtyard area. There is a bar there with Kareoke(sp?). There is also a restaurant that we did not eat at. I did however attempt to get the special Krispy Kreme donuts (the ones with the with creamy frosting like filling)...but they didn't have that kind. The regular ones were 75cents each! ug. There is also a shuttle to the parks, but it may be faster to walk, as the Radisson is picked up first and then it goes to 4 or 5 other hotels in the area before dropping you off at the Park area. (we took it to City Walk on our last day....it was interesting to see that part of the parks as we had either walked over from HRH or took the water taxi...big difference..didn't know how good we had had it!). But it's worth it to take the shuttle back because you are dropped off first.
My room was clean and spacious. And the best bargain for travel that I have ever had! The hotel staff was kind and courteous. Our bell hop upon initial arrival took our cooler and filled it with ice for us, and then filled our bucket with ice too! (he was tipped well
). It was a great experience. Hope you have a great time.
Sorry so long....I'm still chatty, and the details are still fresh in my mind...so I shared it ALL!!
