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Stargazing Pods
- Thread starter Matt N
- Start date
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- Tags
- stargazing pods
Stuntman707
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
"Budget Accomodation" Hmmm...
Poopoohead
TS Member
I think it’s because there’s no AP discount on the sheds for some reason. Makes it even more of no brainer to avoid them
Dave
TS Founding Member
Had a look around the site the other day, few thought:
The good:
1) some nice little landscape features have been put in, nothing high cost but it adds I suppose.
2) The entrance arch is ok
The Bad:
1) The toilet/ shower facility is tiny. If everyone wanted a shower in the morning it must surely take hours.
2) lack of paths to the sheds will be a nightmare in wet weather.
3) the tipi is embarrassing.
4) no clear signage so everyone was milling around looking for check-in.
Wasn’t staying so can’t comment on how well a B&Q shed is for a good nights sleep....
On a minor plus the enchanted village is looking good now the trees are bedding in.
The good:
1) some nice little landscape features have been put in, nothing high cost but it adds I suppose.
2) The entrance arch is ok
The Bad:
1) The toilet/ shower facility is tiny. If everyone wanted a shower in the morning it must surely take hours.
2) lack of paths to the sheds will be a nightmare in wet weather.
3) the tipi is embarrassing.
4) no clear signage so everyone was milling around looking for check-in.
Wasn’t staying so can’t comment on how well a B&Q shed is for a good nights sleep....
On a minor plus the enchanted village is looking good now the trees are bedding in.
If staying at the ATH looks like The Ritz, then that says all that is wrong about the Merlin accommodation offering at Alton Towers. The ATH is basically a themed Travelodge.
Now let's look at Europa Park - who Merlin have no claims to be second only to. 4* Superior hotels - all very well done. Now look at Disney - who Merlin do claim to be second to, isn't it something like 30 hotels they operate in Orlando - and not a pig-shed in sight?
Poopoohead
TS Member
When I stopped at colosseo it was worlds above anything on offer at Alton towers in every aspect. Bars across the whole europa resort were fantastic with great service. I don’t think the accommodation prices are too different to ATH?
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
For the most part, Towers accommodation prices are cheaper than EP's dependant on the dates you're looking at. Given the value for money however, EP's are better suited.
With the resort offerings at Towers you're paying for vinyl walls, long queues in the limited number of bars/restaurants serving food and drinks that fluctuate massively in quality, and sub-standard limited entertainment.
At EP you're paying for full themed rooms in fully themed hotels, with a wealth of differing entertainment options alongside the plethora of bars and restaurants. It won't be long before EP have more resort bars and restaurants than Towers have rides.
When it comes to value for money on the budget options, you're much better off at EP. Not only are the prices better than Towers "budget" offering, you're also getting more bang for your buck with their quality than you are at Towers:
vs
vs
With the resort offerings at Towers you're paying for vinyl walls, long queues in the limited number of bars/restaurants serving food and drinks that fluctuate massively in quality, and sub-standard limited entertainment.
At EP you're paying for full themed rooms in fully themed hotels, with a wealth of differing entertainment options alongside the plethora of bars and restaurants. It won't be long before EP have more resort bars and restaurants than Towers have rides.
When it comes to value for money on the budget options, you're much better off at EP. Not only are the prices better than Towers "budget" offering, you're also getting more bang for your buck with their quality than you are at Towers:
vs
vs
djtruefitt
TS Team
It seems Towers have listened to the tripadvisor reviews, these new signs have been added around the car park, photo from leek signs fb page.
Hasn't taken long for cleanliness to crop up in a review. Also a few more recent reviews mentioning how warm it is inside their sheds..... these will be equivalent of the "hot houses" they used to throw POW's in during war films come the summer!!!
"Pod no cleans properly (empty packet of crisps under the bed and quite a lot of dust, front porch had some bits of wrappers). Not a major problem, it’s budget style accommodation but the prices are hardly budget and I expect a thoroughly cleaned pod on arrival.
Due to the nature of the pods the floor is hard to keep clean from dirt, wouldn’t like to stay there when it’s raining or for more than a night or two. "
"Pod no cleans properly (empty packet of crisps under the bed and quite a lot of dust, front porch had some bits of wrappers). Not a major problem, it’s budget style accommodation but the prices are hardly budget and I expect a thoroughly cleaned pod on arrival.
Due to the nature of the pods the floor is hard to keep clean from dirt, wouldn’t like to stay there when it’s raining or for more than a night or two. "
djtruefitt
TS Team
I don’t know when they clean the pods, but I had a wonder through the area the other evening and there were loads of glasses/bottles dotted around on the porches and even a few towels just chucked about.
This was one of the nights when the pods were out of action and closed, but they clearly hasn’t been cleaned since the last guests departed.
This was one of the nights when the pods were out of action and closed, but they clearly hasn’t been cleaned since the last guests departed.
DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
And they don't even provide those!
Thought they did if you opened your wallet even more and paid for them!
Maybe Towers have learned from Center Parcs (who do provide towels, but with "Accommodation Use Only" embroidered into them). Judging by our visits to the pool in CP Longleat last week most visitors there are illiterate.
As the saying goes... you reap the seed you sow.
Merlin & Towers deserve all they get with the less-than-glowing reviews of the sheds. I daresay the view of the stars [from outside, obviously] on a clear night would get a more glowing review.
Craig
TS Administrator
I've removed the off topic post in the topic and the subsequent replies.
Can I ask everyone that they simply report the post rather than posting replies, further adding to the off topic conversation. We were a little slow picking up on the report due to the meet this weekend, but replying just means we have to go through deleting even more posts when the report is addressed. Thanks!
Can I ask everyone that they simply report the post rather than posting replies, further adding to the off topic conversation. We were a little slow picking up on the report due to the meet this weekend, but replying just means we have to go through deleting even more posts when the report is addressed. Thanks!
since the last post was so poorly misunderstood, I'll explain the point I was trying to make.
It is funny how we get 2 months of rain as soon as AT open the stargazing sheds...Them being randomly placed on a field with no paths and all.
(Then, the hope was that it would ignite a discussion)
Anyway, now that God himself has intervened to point out all the glaring flaws in this development, do you think that this (and any backlash they get from not having paths) might push them into installing paths between each of the individual pods?
It is funny how we get 2 months of rain as soon as AT open the stargazing sheds...Them being randomly placed on a field with no paths and all.
(Then, the hope was that it would ignite a discussion)
Anyway, now that God himself has intervened to point out all the glaring flaws in this development, do you think that this (and any backlash they get from not having paths) might push them into installing paths between each of the individual pods?
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Might be a good idea; I'd imagine people's shoes get very wet walking to the pods! But to be fair, I think the pods were designed more for summery weather.
