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Resort Hotels: Magic, Misery or Mayhem?
- Thread starter AstroDan
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James
TS Founding Member
Sadly separating the Dragon Bar is unlikely to happen for a while given the money pumped into having the opening walls built so they can open it up to the atrium at night!
The casino hotel has been rumoured in the past so is not too far away from reality (maybe unlikely as a future plan). However it would be nice to see a third hotel that has some form of adult-only bar. Even if they still want to maintain the family market, have a third hotel with two bars, one with shows and aimed at families (they could really do with a big venue to ease the crowds both hotels currently get at peak) - and one secluded bar (far away from the entertainment bar of course) for those who wish to have a quiet drink.
The casino hotel has been rumoured in the past so is not too far away from reality (maybe unlikely as a future plan). However it would be nice to see a third hotel that has some form of adult-only bar. Even if they still want to maintain the family market, have a third hotel with two bars, one with shows and aimed at families (they could really do with a big venue to ease the crowds both hotels currently get at peak) - and one secluded bar (far away from the entertainment bar of course) for those who wish to have a quiet drink.
CoasterCrazyChris
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Craig said:
But didn't they do the exact opposite recently and remove the screening in favour of folding doors?
The problem now is that ATH has to deal with double the amount of children and parents than it was originally designed for, who come from the second hotel to watch the evening entertainment.
N
_nemesis_
What they need is an equivalent of Downtown Disney, with pubs, shops, and other facilities.
ive been in hotels across the globe and never heard of this problem the children and there families have always found other places to be children's discos ect ect surely there is somewhere in splash they would rather be. merlin must be loosing some serious cash on this its single people and childless couples that splash the cash in bars not families with small children
Whilst I accept what is being said, at the same time, this is a family resort, so your not really going to get away from the kids, regardless if this is in the theme park, waterpark, mini golf or hotels. As for a relax area, every time I have visited, Splash hotel bar has been dead and devoid of any atmosphere whatsoever.
However, I think Alton missed a trick with the Emperor Grill area by turning it in the overpriced Steak restaurant it is today. When I first visited AT before Splash was built, this room was opened up and they would hold disco's and events in there. It was a lovely sized room, not too big but adequate. Alton could have quite easily have made the lovely Dragon Bar (which has far too little seats now) into an 18+ area and opened the room occupied by the Emperor Grill into an extension of this.
Open the second bar which hides behind the wall by the ship every night and let families use this one. This bar is hardly ever open anymore, regardless if the queue in the Dragon bar is extending to the door or not which just seems crazy.
The Dragon Bar used to be a lovely relaxing place, plenty of seating, and a nice atmosphere in there, but that seems to have vanished since they opened it up more.
One thing I REALLY wish they would sort out however are the room allocations. The noise in the hotels from kids really is unbelievable at times, it sounds like the doors are constantly banging, kids jumping to the floor from the bunk beds, and elephants running up and down the corridors.
What I would love to see is Alton allocating adults only to either a section of the hotel, or start at the top floors and work down, so families have the lower floors, and kids are kept in the same area. I find it so annoying and my biggest annoyance of staying in the hotels is the noise from kids belonging to inconsiderate parents, early in the morning and late at night.
However, I think Alton missed a trick with the Emperor Grill area by turning it in the overpriced Steak restaurant it is today. When I first visited AT before Splash was built, this room was opened up and they would hold disco's and events in there. It was a lovely sized room, not too big but adequate. Alton could have quite easily have made the lovely Dragon Bar (which has far too little seats now) into an 18+ area and opened the room occupied by the Emperor Grill into an extension of this.
Open the second bar which hides behind the wall by the ship every night and let families use this one. This bar is hardly ever open anymore, regardless if the queue in the Dragon bar is extending to the door or not which just seems crazy.
The Dragon Bar used to be a lovely relaxing place, plenty of seating, and a nice atmosphere in there, but that seems to have vanished since they opened it up more.
One thing I REALLY wish they would sort out however are the room allocations. The noise in the hotels from kids really is unbelievable at times, it sounds like the doors are constantly banging, kids jumping to the floor from the bunk beds, and elephants running up and down the corridors.
What I would love to see is Alton allocating adults only to either a section of the hotel, or start at the top floors and work down, so families have the lower floors, and kids are kept in the same area. I find it so annoying and my biggest annoyance of staying in the hotels is the noise from kids belonging to inconsiderate parents, early in the morning and late at night.
Croftybaby
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Adults don't need a separate area, it's the kids that need one. Why are the kids running about? Because theres naff all for them to do!
Someone mentioned Europa, europa has kids areas built into the hotels, theres one on the left of the foyer of colosseo with video games, climbing frame, dvds. ALL FREE MIGHT I ADD. plus theres the parks of the other hotels and of course the evening entertainment over at the tipis.
Merlin would prefer to offer naff all and have the kids hanging round pestering the parents for money to play on battle outrun or the grab a ipid 7 machines.
The hotels were top notch when they opened, but when they did we were used to crappy travelodges, wetherspoons was just getting off the ground and so was Premier Inn (if I recall) tHese brands have continued to grow and improve because of they focus on CUSTOMER SERVICE, meanwhile The resort has been sat deteriorating.
The problems are clear, The budgets are too low, the staff are demoralized probably because of low pay and minimum hours contracts. Why would you work in a Bar in the middle of nowhere for £6.30 with no guaranteed hours when Stoke/Litchfield had masses of low paid warehouse jobs for example?
The whole place needs a re-think and most of all it needs to be taken out of Merlins grubby little hands.
Someone mentioned Europa, europa has kids areas built into the hotels, theres one on the left of the foyer of colosseo with video games, climbing frame, dvds. ALL FREE MIGHT I ADD. plus theres the parks of the other hotels and of course the evening entertainment over at the tipis.
Merlin would prefer to offer naff all and have the kids hanging round pestering the parents for money to play on battle outrun or the grab a ipid 7 machines.
The hotels were top notch when they opened, but when they did we were used to crappy travelodges, wetherspoons was just getting off the ground and so was Premier Inn (if I recall) tHese brands have continued to grow and improve because of they focus on CUSTOMER SERVICE, meanwhile The resort has been sat deteriorating.
The problems are clear, The budgets are too low, the staff are demoralized probably because of low pay and minimum hours contracts. Why would you work in a Bar in the middle of nowhere for £6.30 with no guaranteed hours when Stoke/Litchfield had masses of low paid warehouse jobs for example?
The whole place needs a re-think and most of all it needs to be taken out of Merlins grubby little hands.
Andrew
TS Contributor
I'd suggest that if something along the lines of the lodges were to be built, then have those and Splash as the more family orientated options and the Alton Towers Hotel as the more mature option. By providing Splash and the extra accommodation with more child-orientated entertainment, it would make families stay there, freeing up the Alton Towers Hotel for- but not limited to- adult use.
It would provide better atmospheres for both parties then as you could relax in the Alton Towers Hotel if you so wish or you could have a fun time in the party atmosphere of Splash and the third accommodation.
It would provide better atmospheres for both parties then as you could relax in the Alton Towers Hotel if you so wish or you could have a fun time in the party atmosphere of Splash and the third accommodation.
Kids are going to run around because they are excited. Cant really blame them for that. To be honest, apart from the room noise, the kids in the hotel areas dont really bother me that much. If I want a quiet drink I usually head up the stairs in ATH to one of the upper floors. There are plenty of seating areas up there, particularly by the clocks for example, where you have the TV showing the entertainment on the ship. The only downside of course is having to go back downstairs to get drinks. But there are quiet areas if you want them.
You cant really escape it that much with the rooms.
Chris - I assume your staying in ATH? If so, when you arrive, ask for a room to the left and away from the lifts, as close to the spa as possible and on the top floor overlooking the lake. That way you will get a nice view, less traffic past your room and no kids above you.
You cant really escape it that much with the rooms.
Chris - I assume your staying in ATH? If so, when you arrive, ask for a room to the left and away from the lifts, as close to the spa as possible and on the top floor overlooking the lake. That way you will get a nice view, less traffic past your room and no kids above you.
good advice Gary but I am booked into the chocolate room and smiler room for my 27th birthday
im staying at the chained oak the night before so will make sure I am well rested to enjoy the Alton towers night time "expiernce" to come and well plied with alcohol which in the smiler room will be a interesting and amusing experience.
im staying at the chained oak the night before so will make sure I am well rested to enjoy the Alton towers night time "expiernce" to come and well plied with alcohol which in the smiler room will be a interesting and amusing experience.
i think the customer service in the hotel is down to staff morale and how they are treated (any one work for the hotel can confirm how you are treated) but merlin as a whole needs to pull its act together just look at the annual pass mess with you guys not being sent premium packs and those of us that want vip passes and prepared to spend 500 plus being left out in the dark not even a date has been given. im willing to bet the hotel managers are trying to spend under budget to score brownie points that's why things like food quality generally suffer but prices stay the same
CoasterCrazyChris
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When Alton Towers Hotel opened there were a range of activity rooms with organised activities for children above the swimming pool area.
Since they turned all that into the spa there is nowhere for children to go - its not like they can spend the evenings in the waterpark either because it's never open!
It amazes me how there isn't even so much as a children's indoor or outdoor play area at either hotel, which is pretty poor really.
Since they turned all that into the spa there is nowhere for children to go - its not like they can spend the evenings in the waterpark either because it's never open!
It amazes me how there isn't even so much as a children's indoor or outdoor play area at either hotel, which is pretty poor really.
I know its no excuse, but isnt customer service always bad at the start of the year due to the volume of new staff in the place?
Im guessing most of the staff are students and only work there a year or two before moving on hence the high staff turnover.
As for the waterpark, I agree, at peak times and Friday and Saturdays they should keep it open into the evening.
Im guessing most of the staff are students and only work there a year or two before moving on hence the high staff turnover.
As for the waterpark, I agree, at peak times and Friday and Saturdays they should keep it open into the evening.
Rose Of Dawn
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GaryH said:
With a huge influx of new staff, many of whom will be still learning the job, worse customer service will happen in virtually any job. Obviously no excuse - it's unfair on customers and judging from the feedback maybe Towers should be more rigorous in their recruitment (they can certainly afford to be).
It's also important to leave feedback directly with the resort in instances like this - especially with new recruits, many of them seasonal, the resort is in a better position to react to complaints, especially if it results in extra training or dismissals.
jon81uk
TS Member
I haven't stayed in the hotel in years but did notice that bar service was always slow back then!
A lot of the entertainment issues I think just weren't thought about properly when the hotels were designed and built, particularly with Splash Landings. I think where the arcade is in Splash (or another similar location) should be a proper kids club, staffed by appropriately CRB checked and trained staff so that younger children can spend a few hours in the early evening away from parents. AT Hotel could then offer a more adult singer/caberet show still with an adult feel, so even if children are present it isn't aimed at children. Trying to do Childrens entertainment in a bar (Ringo's club in SLH) just doesn't work.
I really hope you did make all your service complaints known so hopefully they can improve.
Does anyone know if they still do the little extras like the bags with the Top Trumps style cards anymore?
A lot of the entertainment issues I think just weren't thought about properly when the hotels were designed and built, particularly with Splash Landings. I think where the arcade is in Splash (or another similar location) should be a proper kids club, staffed by appropriately CRB checked and trained staff so that younger children can spend a few hours in the early evening away from parents. AT Hotel could then offer a more adult singer/caberet show still with an adult feel, so even if children are present it isn't aimed at children. Trying to do Childrens entertainment in a bar (Ringo's club in SLH) just doesn't work.
I really hope you did make all your service complaints known so hopefully they can improve.
Does anyone know if they still do the little extras like the bags with the Top Trumps style cards anymore?