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General Hotel Discussion

Dave said:
Wasn't that because they don't have a free to use pool?

May have imagined that
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That could well be a contributing factor, along with no room service. There was a time when Cariba Creek was exclusive to hotel guests.

It's probably for the better anyway. Standards have slipped so much the hotels don't even come close to 4 star.

They don't have a concierge either now do they?
 
Depends what you mean by concierge. If you want to book restaurants in the theme park and hotels, buy theme park, water park, high ropes etc tickets and get information on the local area I'm sure reception has all that covered.
Want to book a restaurant in Stoke or know what the theatre there is showing? I wouldn't expect a concierge at ATH to know.
 
Fair point with food that requires a chef, snacks wouldn't be out the question however. Reception staff can do that will a small stock kept within reach.
_

I think the main points being made here are not so much these specific things being unavailable, it's more about the bigger picture and that the fact prices have risen over the years and there has been a loss of many perks/services. I remember free Fastrack, voucher booklets, 'free' gifts for adults (as well as kids), waterpark exclusive for hotel guests (they could easily do a morning/evening 1-2 hour hotel guest only slot these days outside day guest hours), more entertainment (kids club, The Magic Makers, characters etc). People who didn't visit the resort 16 years ago will of course know no difference, although it's still a shame for those of us who have been dedicated customers for years on end. I've certainly given Towers less custom over the years because of the decline in the offerings.
 
And I agree most of those extras I would rather have than room service etc.
Do you remember the goody bags with top trump cards?
That every room at ATH had a teddy bear?

I would rather have those little extras and the ones you mentioned that provide magic than room service and other "proper" hotel things.
 
I first visited ATH the year it opened. They were doing a Valentine weekend, think it was £60 or something for a couple and that was a night in the hotel, dinner, breakfast, disco and use of the pool. Was a great evening. The rooms felt special, with duck hairdryer, kettle that changed colour, a huge teddy, and great entertainment. On the beds would be a small goody bag containing a book of discount vouchers for the park, top trump cards and various other bits and pieces.

Went every year after this. The night time entertainment was great and the hotel had a great feel about it. Then with Splash came exclusive use of the waterpark. But as each year has gone on, those goody bags, discount vouchers, chocolate stashed in the secret drawers, everything has just been taken away. Now you get a bog standard room with a window which may or may not stay open, and a bed which has seen better days. Oh - and you pay more for it!
 
GaryH said:
I first visited ATH the year it opened. They were doing a Valentine weekend, think it was £60 or something for a couple and that was a night in the hotel, dinner, breakfast, disco and use of the pool. Was a great evening. The rooms felt special, with duck hairdryer, kettle that changed colour, a huge teddy, and great entertainment. On the beds would be a small goody bag containing a book of discount vouchers for the park, top trump cards and various other bits and pieces.

Went every year after this. The night time entertainment was great and the hotel had a great feel about it. Then with Splash came exclusive use of the waterpark. But as each year has gone on, those goody bags, discount vouchers, chocolate stashed in the secret drawers, everything has just been taken away. Now you get a bog standard room with a window which may or may not stay open, and a bed which has seen better days. Oh - and you pay more for it!
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And not forgetting that bunk beds have now gone from both hotels. Kids love bunk beds.

Now you just get a cheap single bed stuffed in the corner of the room.
 
andeyhart said:
Moon Voyagers at ATH have bunk beds.
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Yeah but who wants to pay extortionate prices for that Moon Voyager crap. They're barely a notch above standard rooms.

Again, the old themed rooms of days gon by were very special. I shall have to digout some old hotel brochures and get some scans.
 
PeteB said:
Yeah but who wants to pay extortionate prices for that Moon Voyager crap. They're barely a notch above standard rooms.

Again, the old themed rooms of days gon by were very special. I shall have to digout some old hotel brochures and get some scans.
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Personally, I'd say they're a fair bit better. And they're not that expensive, at least not when I book them.

They may not be of the standard of some of the old themed rooms (although to say all the old themed rooms were amazing is a case of extreme rose-tinted glasses), but they're certainly not crap.
 
PeteB said:
And not forgetting that bunk beds have now gone from both hotels. Kids love bunk beds.

Now you just get a cheap single bed stuffed in the corner of the room.
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Our room last year at Splash had bunk beds. But we had a single bed with a pull out at ATH this year.

Also bunk beds are clearly shown in the pictures of the explorer rooms on the ATH website http://www.altontowersholidays.com/alton-towers-hotel.html#bookingForm

and the enchanted lodge rooms definitely have bunk beds.
 
I dread to think how much Towers would charge for room service given that most hotels can charge more for delivery than the actual thing you want...

Also the old Nemesis room was amazing <3 It's stuff like that what made the hotel special... Now though it's just expensive bog standard stuff, do they even have the activity books anymore?
 
The Moon Voyager rooms are better than the Explorer rooms. Although the quality of the Moon Voyager rooms is about the same quality as the Explorer rooms of the 90s.

Air conditioning is a life saver in summer though.
 
In May myself and my family stayed in one of the explorer rooms at the hotel, they all thought it was great but agreed the bathroom could do with an upgrade. Also my friends stayed there and loved it.

If they make the gp public happy and they are still selling rooms at that price no problem, it isn't like they will change much.
 
Stayed in the Sonic room and this was the state of the bathroom basin ..
PZ9LQmt.jpg

I guess you get what you pay for... double the price, double the amount of disappointment
 
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