Holiday Inn

[Sarah Sarill]

Hi everyone,

I have booked directly with the Holiday Inn for our stay from 21st-29th December and just wondered if you have any good/bad comments on the hotel. Any tips would also be welcome.

Is it as nice as the Newport Bay Hotel ?

Thanks in advance,

Sarah

 

[jillrobinson]

I think it's a litle difficult to compare an offsite partner hotel with an onsite Disney hotel. I've stayed at the NPB and was completely won over by it, I loved the theming, our room and our overall experience there was superb and given the opportunity I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.
Having said that I have been considering the HI for a quick trip in January because their rates are too good to be true really and it's had some good reviews from forum members, I don't want a Disney package because I want to sort out some AP's and it does look like a very nice hotel I particularly like the children's section in the bedroom for instance.
It's a 4 star hotel, technically higher than the NPB but my feeling is that it's got to be missing the Disney magic - I could be wrong - then there's the walk versus shuttle bus thing, I loved being able to walk to the parks, even with a 3 year old in tow and to walk back through the village either for shopping or a nightcap at the end of the day and then to go on around the lake is just magical. I didn't miss the "free for all" that is the shuttle bus experience at all.
I'm sure somebody whose stayed at the Hi will answer and to be honest the
only bad reviews I've read for the HI have been regarding breakfast facilities.

Edited to add: I've just read your intro, I didn't realise you'd already stayed at the NPB - you'll know what I mean about the Disney Magic and the walk along the lake.

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Thank you Jill.

I know what you are saying about the 'Disney Magic'. Christmas is a particularly expensive time to stay at Disney and weighing it all up we decided that the Hi was a relaistic dream as opposed to just a dream at TNB . In fact we saved almost £800 by booking direct and organising our own flights !!!

We have previously stayed at the Santa Fe and MTexplorer . IMO the later was better than the former but am concerned TNB is a hard act to follow, especially at Christmas.

Notice your in Abergavenny - we are just outside Newport. What a smallworld eh !!

Thanks for your reply,

Sarah

 

[Petal]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn a few weeks ago.

On the whole the hotel was good and certainly very good value for money.....but there were a few niggly things that initially annoyed us and eventually we laughed at!

Asked both the reception and the room staff each day for a lightbulb above the desk to be replaced (as it was not working) and a showercap ...never happened! I also only got 2 teabags the first day and never had another one (lucky I had brought my private supply as I'm a tea Jenny!!) over the 6 days of our stay!

The vending machines were a bit hit and miss......so don't depend on them for a 'snack attack' ....pack a some nibbles in your suitcase if you are anything like us and feel like something yummy at 11pm!

So take along a spare lightbulb, teabags, nibbles and a showercap and everything will be perfect!

As you can see these are silly wee things....we had a laugh....the hotel was great for the money!

Have a lovely time me 'earty

 

[Cyrano]

Apart from the breakfast offering we enjoyed the Holiday Inn.
It is a five star hotel offering good accomodation. The pool is excellent and happily served by shuttle buses.

Yes it is not quite the Disney magic but just look at the price of the HI against the NPB.

I'm sure you will have a great time

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks both.

Aside from the financial savings,my angle on the holiday was that on all the previous visits to DLP we spent hardly any time in the hotel so in theory we shouldnot see much of a difference (certainly not £800 worth).

Will remember the t-bags and snacks

Does anyone know what meal options there were last year for Christmas Day as they dont know themselves yet. We did the Tinkerbell show/dinner at TNB last year and hope they can offer us something similar.

Thanks for your quick replies peeps

Sarah

 

[Petal]

Yes Sarah....we were like that up and out in the morning.....and wandered back wearily at about 10.30pm - 11.00pm......so if thats what your hols are like....I'm like you....somewhere nice and clean to lay my head, nice shower and must say the HI did have a REALLY comfy bed......thats all you need....be refreshed and raring to go the next day!

 

[jillrobinson]

Thanks both.

Aside from the financial savings,my angle on the holiday was that on all the previous visits to DLP we spent hardly any time in the hotel

Sarah

Hi Sarah
We're the same and it's why I could never pay the extraordinary amount required for the DLH, much as I'd love to stay there.

My sister lives in Newport, she and family came with us last time, their first visit, also adored the NPB, but at the end of the day £800.00 buys a lot of souveniers or nice meals.

I'm sure you'll have a fanatstic time at the HI.

 

[Michael623]

I find that European's and American's opinions differ greatly but here is my opinion. I spent part of my honeymoon at DLP and opted for what was considered a "nicer" DLP hotel and stayed the first night at HI to save a couple of Euros. The HI was great start to finish. Very friendly English speaking reception, short lines, nice room, great hotel atmosphere at a low price. We only used the bus once but it was quick and convenient. Ample parking. The we moved over to NBH. 90 minutes to check in, rude barely English speaking reception, loud rushed hotel atmosphere and ridiculously overpriced. Not enough parking and just far enough away that walking was impracticle and the busses were always packed. I'm not typically critical about hotels but I really hated this place. Keep in mind that it is the biggest hotel in western Europe and you really feel it. If you're stuck at the end of a hall it is an unbelievable walk. Plus you get an opportunity to see the peeling wallpaper, chipping paint, and stained carpet every step of the way. The maintanence is a joke. The breakfast is also a joke but I guess it is the same at all of the DLP hotels so I can't hold that insanely unorganized disater againt it. I the PBH was the same price as the HI I certainly wouldn't have been as critical but still disappointed, but the price was triple. At that price I felt it was the single biggest ripoff hotel I have ever stayed at worldwide. For those of you who have been to WDW it was like sub-Pop Century quality for GF(rack rate) prices.

 

[stargatebarbie]

we stayed at the kyriad in july (right next to the holiday inn) and we met some people there so had a look around, and i have to say for the price i was very impressed . we are always on a buget and as we always go in the summer and stay in the parks till midnight these sort of hotels are fine ,a bed to fall into and a showe to wake me up !! PERFECT! although i wouldn,t say no to staying at the better disney hotels ,if it came to going or not going I would happily curl up in the car park

 

[BONITATIME]

We have stayed there several times. I have a 13 and 14 year old boy and girl and the bunks are ideal. I have had no problems with reception and the only difficulty we ever had was no hot water one day. This was eventually fixed after severl hours and whne we went to check out there was no charge for that night, which was a lovely surprise.

Last december the breakfast queue at the weekend was long if you got up late but the deal we had for breakfast was really cheap.

I would reccomend this hotel to any one and we will probably stay there again next May.
The buses are good and run most of the day every 20 mins. We actually walked back one night after the fireworks and it took about 25 mins.

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks to you all for your great replies.

Im going out today to buy my 'walking' boots. They have to be trendy but practical Might even try a hat this year as for a few days last years the wind was bitterly cold but very Christmassy

Sarah

 

[littlelizzie]

Hi we stayed there in June and thought it was a great hotel especially for the price.
Take a look at the review I wrote, It has photos and more information here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=13386518#post13386518

 

[6.2.6]

We spent one night at the park last week, and we stayed at Holiday Inn. Its a excellent hotel (4 stars), 10 minutes away from the park (by bus, every 15 minutes)

Just one tip...USE THE SWIMMING POOL when park closes. It's open from 6:30-12:00 and 14:00-22:00. You, and especially your daughter, will enjoy it

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Littlelizzie,

We have booked the breakfast package. IYO is it really worth the additional cost or should we just have food upon arrival in the park ?

Sarah

 

[littlelizzie]

We found the breakfast fine certainly filled us up until a snack in the afternoon before a proper meal in the evening. I would book a breakfast package again as for us the difference in price was minimal and for us well worth it. It was a good selection of fruit, cereals, bread, croissants, cake, toast, tea, coffee and bacon sausages and eggs (although I never had the cooked breakfast as don't particularly like it!)
I’m sure you will find it fine, I think you would end up spending a lot more if you were to go in the parks to eat and the breakfasts probably aren’t any better.

 

[jillrobinson]

I find that European's and American's opinions differ greatly

You're telling me, I'm not even sure we've stayed at the same hotel !
For anyone who is now in a blind panic over an imminent stay at the hotel I'd just like to balance this up with our experience of the NPB.

90 minutes to check in

- "straight to desk, no queue",

rude barely English speaking reception

- very nice lady who was courteous, efficient and spoke very good English, how's your French BTW - you're in their country after all ?
I could also point out that I'd phoned the hotel twice prior to our visit as they were arranging FREE OF CHARGE a birthday surprise for my son and both times I spoke to an English speaking CM.

loud rushed hotel atmosphere

- Nope

and ridiculously overpriced

- it's Disney what do you expect ?

Not enough parking and just far enough away that walking was impracticle

- I can't comment on parking although I did venture to the front of the hotel on quite a few occasions for a cigarette and there was ample empty parking as far as I could see, as for being too far away to walk - we walked to and from the hotel every day with a 3 year old in tow, it was one of the highlights of the stay and took about 10 minutes

and the busses were always packed.

- Yep that's my memories of the shuttle buses at Cheyenne and Santa Fe too, dependant of course on the time you're using them.

I'm not typically critical about hotels but I really hated this place. Keep in mind that it is the biggest hotel in western Europe and you really feel it. If you're stuck at the end of a hall it is an unbelievable walk. .

- Well I think we've established that you don't like walking.

Plus you get an opportunity to see the peeling wallpaper, chipping paint, and stained carpet every step of the way. The maintanence is a joke.

- When exactly did you stay there, because I'm afraid I didn't see any of this, although to be fair there were large sections of the hotel having a rehab earlier this year, as have most off the other onsite hotels.

The breakfast is also a joke but I guess it is the same at all of the DLP hotels so I can't hold that insanely unorganized disater againt it.If the PBH was the same price as the HI I certainly wouldn't have been as critical but still disappointed, but the price was triple. At that price I felt it was the single biggest ripoff hotel I have ever stayed at worldwide. For those of you who have been to WDW it was like sub-Pop Century quality for GF(rack rate) prices.

- I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, I couldn't fault the hotel or it's staff.

 

[Michael623]

OK, you're right I'm wrong. Case Closed.

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Jill,

I have to agree with most of your observations on TNBay Hotel.

We had a great stay last Christmas and the hotel could not be faulted for its service. Because we stayed in The Admirals Club we had a fast VIP check-in although I have to say the queue for the 'normal' check-in was very very long. We were lucky with our breakfasts too as it was very quiet in the Admirals Restaurant (nothing like the busstle in the main one though).

The staff were always friendly and could communicate well in most languages.

The Christmas Day lunch and show is a must.

My only observation which did not spoil the holiday was that I thought the decoration was a little worn and could do with a refurbishment.

All that aside I would have stayed again this Christmas had funds allowed.

Michael623,

Thank you for your reply re THInn. I am relieved to hear that you felt in better than the NBay and am less aprehensive about of forthcoming stay based on the replies I have had.

I did not have your experience of the Newport Bay but you seem to have stated it as you experienced it - perhaps you were just unlucky.

6.2.6
Thanks for the tip on the pool - it sounds a good way to relax and wind down after a busy day walking (well its either that or or .

Kind regards,

Sarah

 

[Michael623]

With me it is all value based. I want to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. For the price I paid for the HI I was extremely satisfied and would have been happy paying much more. For the price I paid at the NBH I had higher standards and the hotel didn't even come close to meeting them. I felt the same level of Disney magic (none) at both places. I may be biased by the WDW level of service but I just call them like I see them. For those of you who have stayed at both do you feel that NBH hotel is worth 3 times the price of HI?