Quick Questions

[jon81uk]

Which Hotel?

I'm looking to go Alton Towers with my daughter (she's 18), but instead of doing the trip in a day like we do multiple times a year, driving from Newcastle and back, I'm going to opt for staying in a hotel or whatever they have to offer.I've never stayed there before so I'm completely unaware of the range of accommodation and how it would suit us. Looking at the hotels, it seems quite kiddy. What would people recommend if we are wanting a bar, somewhere relaxing, quick access to food (probably do rollercoaster restaurant TBF) and breakfast. Are the enchanted gardens good, what do they offer for adults, is the Alton Towers hotel decent, are the rooms big enough so we have a bit of space as they seem quite cramped.

Any info from your experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.

P.S I can appreciate we might not get there this year for an overnight stay, but I'll use the info for when we do.

Splash Landings has the smallest rooms.
Alton Towers Hotel rooms are fine, not too small but not massive and its only a short walk along the corridors to the bar in the atrium. It isn't very kiddie, but the standard rooms do have bunkbeds so unless you get one of the rooms with a double and a single, she may be in the bunk beds. Otherwise the hotel is fairly "adult" feeling. Personally we've never paid for the Moon Voyage or artic rooms as the standard ones are fine.

I think the enchanted lodge rooms are a little bigger (I've never stayed in one) and if you are going in a warmer time of year it should be fine walking outside.


Nowadays we only visit AT for the fireworks nights, so we like the Alton Towers Hotel for the bar and indoor corridors. But this year the price was coming out too high (I refuse to pay more than £150 B&B) so we have the Premier Inn Uttoxeter booked, assuming the fireworks go ahead.

 

[Steve74]

Which Hotel?

I'm looking to go Alton Towers with my daughter (she's 18), but instead of doing the trip in a day like we do multiple times a year, driving from Newcastle and back, I'm going to opt for staying in a hotel or whatever they have to offer.I've never stayed there before so I'm completely unaware of the range of accommodation and how it would suit us. Looking at the hotels, it seems quite kiddy. What would people recommend if we are wanting a bar, somewhere relaxing, quick access to food (probably do rollercoaster restaurant TBF) and breakfast. Are the enchanted gardens good, what do they offer for adults, is the Alton Towers hotel decent, are the rooms big enough so we have a bit of space as they seem quite cramped.

Any info from your experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.

P.S I can appreciate we might not get there this year for an overnight stay, but I'll use the info for when we do.

I've not stayed there for donkeys years, but the AT hotel is the most "grown up" out of all them. There is a nice bar and restaurant which will serve your breakfast in the morning.

I stayed in one of the lodges in the Enchanted Village last fireworks and while it was cold outside the rooms were nice. They are a little bigger than the average hotel room but only because there is a separate room for the bunk beds. And because of the mix up with the firework dates last year meaning I was unable to book breakfast in the Crooked Spoon - which is the restaurant onsite in the Enchanted Village - we ended up eating in the AT hotel restaurant.

 

[rob666]

Just over the edge, so to speak, but an easy walk...Chained Oak.
Nicer stay for less money, and a quiet nights sleep.

 

[Burbs]

Was going to say, you don't have to stay on site. There's also the Premier Inn in Uttoxeter about 6 miles away with a Table Table restaurant attached... if that's your bag.

 

[Godscrasher]

Thanks for the replies, we've never stayed on-site before and it's what we want to do. We have stayed at the premier inn I think once when we were doing a rollercoaster tour about 5 years back, but that's about it.

By the sounds of it, the Alton Towers hotel seems the best choice for us, she can have the bunk bed of course since I'm paying.

 

[djtruefitt]

To be fair all the hotels are fine, and no matter where you stay you get access to everything (except cbeebies which won’t be for you anyway).

Splash rooms are a bit more modern than the original ATH ones. But these are also fine, just depends on cost as they can be a lot more at times.

Enchanted village rooms are probably the biggest, you get a double bed and then a separate room (with curtain) with bunk beds, so it’s a bit more private. They are nicer in the summer, but so much when it’s cold.

As for bars, ATH is best for adults, but there will still be kids, but splash is main place which is full of kids until later in the evening when they’ve gone to bed.

 

[RoyJess]

If you don't mind noise, then I like ATH, has an oldie woldie classy feel to it. Splash is cheap and cheerful, however I do find that both of these hotels can be very noisy from other guest returning to their rooms every few minutes, you can usually hear doors slamming, people walking and talking etc....

Our first choice of stay for the past few years has been the Enchanted village, not only a lot quieter, we find the rooms are a little bit more spacious, and for us as Jess is a full time wheelchair user, there is no lifts and fire doors to negotiate. If you get a nice evening, you can just sit outside on the porch.

We normally stay on site for the convenience of not having to transfer Jess and pack her wheelchair away into the car and having to travel to a travel lodge only to set her wheelchair up again which can take around 20 mins each time. Other than that, a travel lodge is just a good, but for a fraction of the price. After all, you only need the accommodation for overnight sleep, most of which you will be gone to the world

They are nicer in the summer, but so much when it’s cold.

We never had a problem with staying during the colder nights, just make sure you turn the thermostat on the wall up as well as the radiators are turned on, for some economical cost saving reasons, we often find these are either turned down or off and this applies to most hotel accommodation that we stay in, not just on the resort.

 

[djtruefitt]

If you don't mind noise, then I like ATH, has an oldie woldie classy feel to it. Splash is cheap and cheerful, however I do find that both of these hotels can be very noisy from other guest returning to their rooms every few minutes, you can usually hear doors slamming, people walking and talking etc....

Our first choice of stay for the past few years has been the Enchanted village, not only a lot quieter, we find the rooms are a little bit more spacious, and for us as Jess is a full time wheelchair user, there is no lifts and fire doors to negotiate. If you get a nice evening, you can just sit outside on the porch.

We normally stay on site for the convenience of not having to transfer Jess and pack her wheelchair away into the car and having to travel to a travel lodge only to set her wheelchair up again which can take around 20 mins each time. Other than that, a travel lodge is just a good, but for a fraction of the price. After all, you only need the accommodation for overnight sleep, most of which you will be gone to the world



We never had a problem with staying during the colder nights, just make sure you turn the thermostat on the wall up as well as the radiators are turned on, for some economical cost saving reasons, we often find these are either turned down or off and this applies to most hotel accommodation that we stay in, not just on the resort.

I was mainly meaning you’ve got to wonder back from the other hotels in the rain and cold back to the lodges, but the same can be said in the summer! It’s just nice in the summer to have your door open and sit out having a drink on the little porch area in the lodges.

 

[yoursilentface]

If you buy entry tickets to towers using tesco clubcard vouchers can you upgrade to season or merlin passes....getting the online price knocked off.?

 

[djtruefitt]

If you buy entry tickets to towers using tesco clubcard vouchers can you upgrade to season or merlin passes....getting the online price knocked off.?

I believe you can upgrade any type of ticket to a season pass, even sun free tickets. Not sure with the current situation, but they are still selling season Passes so guess it’s still an option.

 

[RoyJess]

If you buy entry tickets to towers using tesco clubcard vouchers can you upgrade to season or merlin passes....getting the online price knocked off.?

I personally would message the park either via email or Facebook messenger, if they respond with a yes you can, I would screen shot the answer just in-case they say different when you arrive at the park. You can then show them the message.

 

[yoursilentface]

I personally would message the park either via email or Facebook messenger, if they respond with a yes you can, I would screen shot the answer just in-case they say different when you arrive at the park. You can then show them the message.

I've messaged them on twitter but no reply as yet...but that is my plan

I believe you can upgrade any type of ticket to a season pass, even sun free tickets. Not sure with the current situation, but they are still selling season Passes so guess it’s still an option.

Yes i remember seeing you could upgrade free sun tickets...you'd think clubcard would be the same as it converts your vouchers into money to put towards the online price

I missed the window on getting the renewal price on our MAPS as i didn't fancy shelling out when i didn't think they'd be used this year tbh

 

[AT86]

If you buy entry tickets to towers using tesco clubcard vouchers can you upgrade to season or merlin passes....getting the online price knocked off.?

The general rule is that you get the amount you paid for the ticket taken off the price of the season/Merlin pass and they pay the difference.

So if you have purchased an online £34 day ticket they will knock that price off the season/Merlin pass, if it’s a 241 ticket then it’s £29 and so on.

The free Sun tickets are an exception because there was often a ‘special offer’ just for these ticket types where you could upgrade to a season pass for a set amount - something like £24 last year.

Generally the price printed on your actual ticket is the amount they will take off the pass price - if you have your ticket already, does it have a £ value on it anywhere?

 

[yoursilentface]

The general rule is that you get the amount you paid for the ticket taken off the price of the season/Merlin pass and they pay the difference.

So if you have purchased an online £34 day ticket they will knock that price off the season/Merlin pass, if it’s a 241 ticket then it’s £29 and so on.

The free Sun tickets are an exception because there was often a ‘special offer’ just for these ticket types where you could upgrade to a season pass for a set amount - something like £24 last year.

Generally the price printed on your actual ticket is the amount they will take off the pass price - if you have your ticket already, does it have a £ value on it anywhere?

No i haven't bought them yet

You exchange your clubcard points for a code.....50p clubcard = £1.50 credit....then you buy on this link

https://www.merlinclubcard.co.uk/altontowers/dayticket

Tickets are priced at the standard online price of £34 adult £28.50 kids

We have over £50 clubcard points to convert so can easy buy 2 adult and 2 kids tickets

If i get the ticket price off then i'll be happy

 

[AT86]

No i haven't bought them yet

You exchange your clubcard points for a code.....50p clubcard = £1.50 credit....then you buy on this link

https://www.merlinclubcard.co.uk/altontowers/dayticket

Tickets are priced at the standard online price of £34 adult £28.50 kids

We have over £50 clubcard points to convert so can easy but 2 adult and 2 kids tickets

If i get the ticket price off then i'll be happy

It will just be a case of checking the actual tickets when you get them. If they are simply listed as regular online tickets showing a value of £34 then you would get that amount knocked off a season pass. If they don’t have a monetary value and simply say something like ‘Tesco Clubcard Redemption’ then you wouldn’t get anything taken off.

 

[yoursilentface]

It will just be a case of checking the actual tickets when you get them. If they are simply listed as regular online tickets showing a value of £34 then you would get that amount knocked off a season pass. If they don’t have a monetary value and simply say something like ‘Tesco Clubcard Redemption’ then you wouldn’t get anything taken off.

Ok thanks....in hindsight i should have renewed our MAPs i think!

 

[MakoMania]

anyone know if non-residents are going to be able to use hotel facilities like restaurants now?

 

[yoursilentface]

The general rule is that you get the amount you paid for the ticket taken off the price of the season/Merlin pass and they pay the difference.

So if you have purchased an online £34 day ticket they will knock that price off the season/Merlin pass, if it’s a 241 ticket then it’s £29 and so on.

The free Sun tickets are an exception because there was often a ‘special offer’ just for these ticket types where you could upgrade to a season pass for a set amount - something like £24 last year.

Generally the price printed on your actual ticket is the amount they will take off the pass price - if you have your ticket already, does it have a £ value on it anywhere?

Just bought our tickets using clubcard...

They're e-tickets and on the receipt tab of the folder it says "3 adults £102 total...1 child £28.50"

So should be ok

 

[Alolan Diglett]

How is the Park for a single rider since reopening? I’m going next week and my usual guests are still too apprehensive about Covid to go to the park.

 

[spinba11]

Spinball is off limits.