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General Hotel Discussion
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
I was thinking of going up for one of their NYE packages but I dont know if I can bring myself to do it.
The gala dinner last time I went was a poor mismatch of "entertainment" which really didnt flow at all
Splash will be a crappy buffet dinner followed by the calypso crew all night (oh joy)
ATH will have the singer on the ship and no where to sit around the atrium
Price wise is fine, the poor hotel rooms I can cope with for one night, but the quality of the food / entertainment and seating areas is what concerns me. We would be with a 6 year old so the Gala dinner is out.
The gala dinner last time I went was a poor mismatch of "entertainment" which really didnt flow at all
Splash will be a crappy buffet dinner followed by the calypso crew all night (oh joy)
ATH will have the singer on the ship and no where to sit around the atrium
Price wise is fine, the poor hotel rooms I can cope with for one night, but the quality of the food / entertainment and seating areas is what concerns me. We would be with a 6 year old so the Gala dinner is out.
Poisson
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Giant Squid
Accom need restarting. Sheds at the bottom, Splash slightly better, then lower lodges and ATH then the higher quality ATH Rooms and tree houses. So sheds cheap, Splash akin to Travelodge prices, then upwards to the top with a Ling Bao quality and price.
Would require ATH to be refurbed and prices being reasonable so would never happen.
Would require ATH to be refurbed and prices being reasonable so would never happen.
jon81uk
TS Member
To be fair the standard explorer rooms are fine still. Lack of plug sockets is only issue really. With the new bathrooms there isn’t much wrong with them. A lot of other rooms have been refurbished to Moon Voyage or Artic anyway.
It’s the communal areas and particularly Secret Garden that needs work now. Mainly as we have all said it’s the quality of food as well that makes an enormous difference.
There was a card in the room with Wayne Burton asking for feedback so I’ve sent an email about the food quality at SGR breakfast and RCR.
Poopoohead
TS Member
The rooms are fine if you were paying half the price, I expect more for the money. Our room was disgusting at the Santa sleep over last year, food was acceptable but a massive disappointment compared to the year before and the service in general was poor. Not going this year as a result.
Splash rooms also desperately need a refurb
Splash rooms also desperately need a refurb
jon81uk
TS Member
True we paid £120 for ATH Explorer room in fireworks Sunday and that’s about the limit for me. Although I’ve stayed in Hilton, Crown Plaza and other similar hotels and the only real difference in the room was better toiletries (separate shampoo and conditioner for a start!) and a mini bar (which ATH doesn’t need). For £120ish the ATH rooms are still generally fine if a touch small. They really aren’t worth the £300 Saturday prices.
Splash rooms are smaller still so should be under £100 and the lodges are a little bigger so could be £150ish.
You are of course paying extra for location so I do think most of the accommodation is worth £100+. Compare prices with central London not with travelodge in the middle of nowhere.
Splash rooms are smaller still so should be under £100 and the lodges are a little bigger so could be £150ish.
You are of course paying extra for location so I do think most of the accommodation is worth £100+. Compare prices with central London not with travelodge in the middle of nowhere.
Whats wrong with the ATH standard rooms?
1. The price!
2. Cleanliness - look under the beds and notice no mattress toppers under the sheets! Check out those stains on the mattress
3. Faulty sash windows which either don't open or don't stay open
4. No air conditioning and like a sauna in the summer
5. Ripped or peeling wall paper
6. Stains on the light shades
7. No noise insulation
8. Average (at best) breakfast
9. Ridiculously early check out time
This is based on previous stays. In comparison, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express stoke for Scarefest and for £42 I got:
1. Clean room
2. Large bed with mattress protector
3. Air conditioning
4. Decent buffet breakfast
5. Good noise insulation
6. Check out time of 12pm
The biggest problem however with ATH is the price. They refer to the hotel as a premium product and "a touch of class". It isn't and the price does not reflect the quality of the product anymore. It did once, but not now. So yes, a Travelodge, or Holiday Inn is better value for money and better quality compared to the on site hotels right now.
1. The price!
2. Cleanliness - look under the beds and notice no mattress toppers under the sheets! Check out those stains on the mattress
3. Faulty sash windows which either don't open or don't stay open
4. No air conditioning and like a sauna in the summer
5. Ripped or peeling wall paper
6. Stains on the light shades
7. No noise insulation
8. Average (at best) breakfast
9. Ridiculously early check out time
This is based on previous stays. In comparison, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express stoke for Scarefest and for £42 I got:
1. Clean room
2. Large bed with mattress protector
3. Air conditioning
4. Decent buffet breakfast
5. Good noise insulation
6. Check out time of 12pm
The biggest problem however with ATH is the price. They refer to the hotel as a premium product and "a touch of class". It isn't and the price does not reflect the quality of the product anymore. It did once, but not now. So yes, a Travelodge, or Holiday Inn is better value for money and better quality compared to the on site hotels right now.
jon81uk
TS Member
Yes holiday inn in Stoke is gonna be £100 cheaper but it’s 40 minutes drive from the park. That’s the main factor in the price, the location. It’s the same at Disney (World and Paris)
I do agree that the breakfast is very poor at AT and the check out time is a bit early. But is it heavily enforced? I’ve checked out at 10:30 pretty much every time. They should move it to 11am though. Many people who are going to the park will check out earlier anyway.
They do need to add air con to the rest of the ATH rooms but how many days a year is it really needed? Also it’s a product of its time back in 1996 air con wasn’t very common in the UK at all. But then it should have been added to Splash Landings when it was built.
I do agree that the breakfast is very poor at AT and the check out time is a bit early. But is it heavily enforced? I’ve checked out at 10:30 pretty much every time. They should move it to 11am though. Many people who are going to the park will check out earlier anyway.
They do need to add air con to the rest of the ATH rooms but how many days a year is it really needed? Also it’s a product of its time back in 1996 air con wasn’t very common in the UK at all. But then it should have been added to Splash Landings when it was built.
Matt.GC
TS Member
I stayed at Screfest in Splash for the first time in quite a while. Whilst I agree with some of the comments above, I think it's the little things that make a big impact to the stay rather than the accommodation being a complete shambles.
Splash and ATH still remain fantastically designed hotels. I love the pair of them and always have. Splash rooms need a bit of an upgrade here and there and general maintenence, but are still fine if they're cleaned properly. Bathrooms seem to be the weakest part, the showers are just awful and shower curtains are really outdated. Both Hotels in general need a bit of TLC, things like the audio in the ATH lifts and the sloppily applied turquoise paint slapped all over the walls in the Splash toilets! Nothing too extensive, the wheel doesn't need reinventing, they just need maintenence and restoration.
Enchanted village is a lovely idea and in general is also well designed. It just seems so - unfinished. Every where you look it seems like there was supposed to be something else there, some theming or something that was possibly planned but was cut back at the last minute. Crooked spoon would be fine if it wasn't just so hopelessly small and inadequate. Also lacks the character of the communal areas in Splash and ATH.
Cbeebies looks fine from the pictures. However, behind the bright colours and nice theming touches, it seems a little square, flat and vinyl compared the Splash and ATH. The back of Cbeebies looks absolutely terrible and has ruined the ATH garden.
Breakfast across the accommodation is of poor quality. Used to be fine but now tastes cheap and nasty. Most of the restaurants close before you have a chance to get back from the park during Scarefest and Fireworks too.
The coffee shack being boarded up outside Splash, Extraordinary golf's lack of upkeep and the closure of Treetops adds to the Cloud Cuckoo Land-esque hollowed out feeling across the resort.
The less said about those embarrassing sheds they plan on dumping in a field outside EV the better.
Splash and ATH still remain fantastically designed hotels. I love the pair of them and always have. Splash rooms need a bit of an upgrade here and there and general maintenence, but are still fine if they're cleaned properly. Bathrooms seem to be the weakest part, the showers are just awful and shower curtains are really outdated. Both Hotels in general need a bit of TLC, things like the audio in the ATH lifts and the sloppily applied turquoise paint slapped all over the walls in the Splash toilets! Nothing too extensive, the wheel doesn't need reinventing, they just need maintenence and restoration.
Enchanted village is a lovely idea and in general is also well designed. It just seems so - unfinished. Every where you look it seems like there was supposed to be something else there, some theming or something that was possibly planned but was cut back at the last minute. Crooked spoon would be fine if it wasn't just so hopelessly small and inadequate. Also lacks the character of the communal areas in Splash and ATH.
Cbeebies looks fine from the pictures. However, behind the bright colours and nice theming touches, it seems a little square, flat and vinyl compared the Splash and ATH. The back of Cbeebies looks absolutely terrible and has ruined the ATH garden.
Breakfast across the accommodation is of poor quality. Used to be fine but now tastes cheap and nasty. Most of the restaurants close before you have a chance to get back from the park during Scarefest and Fireworks too.
The coffee shack being boarded up outside Splash, Extraordinary golf's lack of upkeep and the closure of Treetops adds to the Cloud Cuckoo Land-esque hollowed out feeling across the resort.
The less said about those embarrassing sheds they plan on dumping in a field outside EV the better.
I've only stayed at the Enchanted village for the past few years, but we have stayed at the Splash Landings and the Main Hotel before the Enchanted village was built.
My only issue is the price, but I find that the EV are quieter and more accessible for Jess, as we haven't got lifts (which are too small for Jess' wheelchair) and fire doors to negotiate
I find the breakfast is good and the cleanliness of the rooms are always respectable. I'm sure if I look in every nook and cranny, that I will find some dirt or dust. At the end of the day, if can be unhealthy to be too clean. Some dirt and germs will give your immune system a good work out. If you want to stay in a sterile room, then it's a hospital you need to check into
TBH, I find there is no difference between staying in a travel lodge compared to the Alton resort, except the price.
My only issue is the price, but I find that the EV are quieter and more accessible for Jess, as we haven't got lifts (which are too small for Jess' wheelchair) and fire doors to negotiate
I find the breakfast is good and the cleanliness of the rooms are always respectable. I'm sure if I look in every nook and cranny, that I will find some dirt or dust. At the end of the day, if can be unhealthy to be too clean. Some dirt and germs will give your immune system a good work out. If you want to stay in a sterile room, then it's a hospital you need to check into
TBH, I find there is no difference between staying in a travel lodge compared to the Alton resort, except the price.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
This is something I have seen a lot over the years however it is a statement that I have to disagree with. I have stayed in 3 different Travelodges this year as well as ATH and the Enchanted Village. The quality of the rooms at Alton Towers is far superior and you do get breakfast included.
Travelodge rooms are very basic and the stand alone single beds are not at all comfy. The bunk bed I slept in at ATH was surprisingly comfy! The ATH and EV bathrooms are nicer than Travelodge bathrooms, as are the general furnishings.
Poopoohead
TS Member
I’d compare ATH more with premier inn rather than Travelodge, but the beds at PremierInn are far superior to any on resort!
This is something I have seen a lot over the years however it is a statement that I have to disagree with. I have stayed in 3 different Travelodges this year as well as ATH and the Enchanted Village. The quality of the rooms at Alton Towers is far superior and you do get breakfast included.
Travelodge rooms are very basic and the stand alone single beds are not at all comfy. The bunk bed I slept in at ATH was surprisingly comfy! The ATH and EV bathrooms are nicer than Travelodge bathrooms, as are the general furnishings.
As long as we have the basics...
...bed, bathroom, TV, kettle, Tea (with tea sugar and milk for Jess), bin, towels, and wheelchair accessible, then we don't really care for much else, once as our heads hit the pillows, we are asleep until the alarm goes off in the morning.
Like I've said in a post before on here, staying on the resort is more of a convince for us as oppose to wanted a superior room.
Back in the day when I used to travel around doing shows, you would just be grateful just to have a bed and a room for the night. I have sleep rough many a nights in the past.
Those shed pod thingy's will seem like luxury compared to some of the digs that I've stayed in.
How many and where are the accessible rooms? Do they still sleep 4?
Poopoohead
TS Member
I don’t think anyone is calling for travelodge prices, just passing comment that the quality of accommodation is of a similar level. I’d have no problem paying Alton’s prices if the quality warranted it
There is at leat one in ATH my normal way of spotting them doesn’t work at towers (they have a peephole lower down as well as the normal one).
AstroDan
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
The thing is, the quality is not generally the same as Travelodge. Sure, some of the rooms at ATH are older and dated, but, typically, rooms at ATR are not the same as Travelodge. They are either bigger (ATH/EV/CBLH) or more decorative (SL).
I am in the camp where £40pppn is fine for Alton Towers. I think a 25-50% premium is warranted simply for the convenience of staying on resort (as is the case for most theme park resorts).
I am in the camp where £40pppn is fine for Alton Towers. I think a 25-50% premium is warranted simply for the convenience of staying on resort (as is the case for most theme park resorts).