I just got back from staying 4 nights at the PVI.
Quick review--CLEAN room passed the bare feet test. 5 minute walk to the security tent was amazing. (Nightly joke after 12 hours in the park went something like "Oh, I don't know if I can handle the walk back to the mot--oh, we're here!"). As far as customer service, they won my repeat business (will explain more on what they did below). All said and done, we will be staying there for all our DLR family vacays.
Longer review--Showed up at 5:45pm on Wednesday. Check-in took 5 minutes or so. They didn't fuss about putting the charges on 2 separate credit cards (on a previous trip we stayed at the Super 8 on Katella and they said, "There's no way to do that without canceling your reservation," and yet PVI didn't flinch for a moment at it).
We got room 111. Went to the room, left everything (including my kid! LOL) outside the door. Checked mattresses (covered, so I unzipped it), headboard, night stand, and dresser to find ZERO signs of bugs (no red stains, no odd discolorations, no black spots). We brought everything in and unpacked.
We took a dip in the pool and jacuzzi. Both were completely sparkling clean.
Back at our room, I explored a little. There's a fake (electric) fireplace that I enjoyed while DD was sleeping. There were dishes/pots/pans/silverware for cooking/eating. The kitchenette came with a full-size oven, 4 burner gas range, microwave, fridge, toaster, dish soap, sponge (looked clean), and paper towels. Sadly, we never made use of any of it, LOL. The bathrub was nice and deep, and even had jets. Ahhhhh! Heaven after a long day of walking! Two queen beds with the "triple sheet" blankets (fitted sheet, flat sheet, velour blanket, another flat sheet on top); not my favorite, but it seems to be the "in" way to do things now. Sheets were white and completely stain-free. 4 pillows on each bed, and 2 pillows with a blanket in the closet for the pull-out (full-size) sofa-bed. DD had no complaints about sleeping on the couch (she's 8). Flat screen TVs in the living room and bedroom. Loved having a vanity in the kitchen area as well as in the bathroom; allowed DD to be brushing her teeth at the vanity while I put on my makeup in the bathroom while SO took his shower.
Maid service was very good. We came "home" each evening with a clean room (still passing the bare-foot test!), beds made, fresh towels. If things were on the bed, they put them back after making the bed (like DD's light-up pillow pet and my planning journal). They promptly fixed a slow-flowing tub drain when we called about it.
They called on night #2 to check in and see if we need anything. Thought that was nice.
Their breakfast fare was FAR above what I expected. They had sausage, scrambled eggs, waffle batter and hot irons, 4 cereals, bread for toast, and bagels; 4 kinds of juice, coffee (SO said it was too weak), and hot cocoa available in to-go cups. I think there may have been pastries, but I can't remember.
The gift shop has a good, albeit spendy, selection of items--tons of t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc., along with the more typical candy, pop, etc. And because I neglected to check my packing list, I was pleased to see that they carried hairbrushes--because I forgot our hairbrush. (Need to do a smily kitting head on the wall with that one). Sodas are $1.75 in the vending machine--making it more than $1 cheaper than in the parks, so we just got them there before heading in each day. A regular candy bar was $1.19.
Now, as far as customer service, I have to admit, they won me over. The check-in was quick and easy. The check-out was non-exsistant; just leave the key-card on the table! Where they won me over, though, was *after* we checked out. We were waiting at the DLR Express bus stop when I looked down to notice that I had never put on my engagement ring after my shower. My heart sank. The bus was due in mere minutes. SO RAN back to the hotel, they immediately let him in the room, and he and the maintainence worker looked and looked for the ring. They eventually found it on the floor of the bathroom. SO was in the bedroom area of the suite--it would have been so easy for the worker to pocket the ring, and yet, he found it and handed it right over to SO.
Perhaps they are finally cleaning up their act?
Also of note, SO said the maintainence man said they were in the middle of refurbishments. We appeared to have a pretty new room.
). Paradise Pier is out of our budget and I honestly didn't really like the walk from the HOJO. Close proximity is my #1. Has anyone stayed here? I have read some good reviews and some scary reviews. It will essentially just be a place to sleep, we don't plan on spending much time there at all. Thoughts?
happy boy! )
