LiamT
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Smiler
Hi all,
I don't post here often but when I stayed in the Alton Towers Hotel recently, it got me thinking and I need to share my experience with you all.
I've been a ride enthusiast since 2010, but visiting Alton Towers since birth! I've never got the opportunity to stay in the Alton Towers Hotel till last week, but I wish I had stayed sooner.
The term 'cash cow park*' is used a lot to describe Chessington but I feel Alton Towers is the true cash cow, upon arriving at the hotel, it was dead (admittedly we did stay out of season but that was the only time you can get a reasonable priced room!).
We booked the standard explorer room, but I was interested to see if we could upgrade to the moon voyager room, just because I've heard that the explorer rooms are stale and dated. 'Yes of course sir, that'll be an additional £50!' £50? Interesting as when I looked online, the price difference was only £20, I declined and left it at that!
Once being refused our keys till 3pm (in a empty hotel) we made our way to the waterpark through the abandoned splash landings... depressing to say least, all this while we saw the construction site of ANOTHER hotel.
Once we finished with the waterpark, all other attractions were closed so I had a walk around the closed enchanted village... another depressing site. We got to finally be allowed into the room. Yes it was dated and we only had two plugs, but you had an decent amount of extras provided in the room.
Time for dinner, which we was pushed to book a time for at reception. Being one of three tables in the entire secret garden restaurant, I'd expect service to be quicker but alas, all the staff seemed new. Our food tasted great but certainly not worth the price, even with MAP discount I still felt like I needed to sell a kidney.
Now one kidney less, we watched the entertainment, the singer was fantastic with crowd (me and two other people) but I enjoyed myself. After she had finished and spoke to us... there was nothing left to do, so I guess it's an early 9pm bedtime!...
In the morning, I was awoken by the sound of lovely construction vehicles, went down for breakfast but not before housekeeping were banging down your door, almost waiting for you to leave!
Breakfast was great, quiet and full English so I can't complain, once back in the room we had housekeeping knocking on the door again, kicking us out.
They were almost escorting this woman from her room, for a hotel that prides itself on being 'premium' I'd expect not to be kicked out the door one hour before check out!
And that was it, we had a drink outside the construction sit... sorry garden and home we went.
Alas I felt disappointed and I don't know if that is because I work in hotels (I'm currently writing this post at work during the night shift - don't tell my boss!) or because I realized that Alton Towers isn't the magically place I thought it was, and the hotels are truly just cash first, guest second.
Thank you for taking your time to read this.
Liam T
*cash cow park - a park which sole purpose is to bring revenue in.
I don't post here often but when I stayed in the Alton Towers Hotel recently, it got me thinking and I need to share my experience with you all.
I've been a ride enthusiast since 2010, but visiting Alton Towers since birth! I've never got the opportunity to stay in the Alton Towers Hotel till last week, but I wish I had stayed sooner.
The term 'cash cow park*' is used a lot to describe Chessington but I feel Alton Towers is the true cash cow, upon arriving at the hotel, it was dead (admittedly we did stay out of season but that was the only time you can get a reasonable priced room!).
We booked the standard explorer room, but I was interested to see if we could upgrade to the moon voyager room, just because I've heard that the explorer rooms are stale and dated. 'Yes of course sir, that'll be an additional £50!' £50? Interesting as when I looked online, the price difference was only £20, I declined and left it at that!
Once being refused our keys till 3pm (in a empty hotel) we made our way to the waterpark through the abandoned splash landings... depressing to say least, all this while we saw the construction site of ANOTHER hotel.
Once we finished with the waterpark, all other attractions were closed so I had a walk around the closed enchanted village... another depressing site. We got to finally be allowed into the room. Yes it was dated and we only had two plugs, but you had an decent amount of extras provided in the room.
Time for dinner, which we was pushed to book a time for at reception. Being one of three tables in the entire secret garden restaurant, I'd expect service to be quicker but alas, all the staff seemed new. Our food tasted great but certainly not worth the price, even with MAP discount I still felt like I needed to sell a kidney.
Now one kidney less, we watched the entertainment, the singer was fantastic with crowd (me and two other people) but I enjoyed myself. After she had finished and spoke to us... there was nothing left to do, so I guess it's an early 9pm bedtime!...
In the morning, I was awoken by the sound of lovely construction vehicles, went down for breakfast but not before housekeeping were banging down your door, almost waiting for you to leave!
Breakfast was great, quiet and full English so I can't complain, once back in the room we had housekeeping knocking on the door again, kicking us out.
They were almost escorting this woman from her room, for a hotel that prides itself on being 'premium' I'd expect not to be kicked out the door one hour before check out!
And that was it, we had a drink outside the construction sit... sorry garden and home we went.
Alas I felt disappointed and I don't know if that is because I work in hotels (I'm currently writing this post at work during the night shift - don't tell my boss!) or because I realized that Alton Towers isn't the magically place I thought it was, and the hotels are truly just cash first, guest second.
Thank you for taking your time to read this.
Liam T
*cash cow park - a park which sole purpose is to bring revenue in.