regular room at AKL?

[katypop]

hi everyone,
i am looking forward to my trip in apr-may/03 at csr. dd and i stayed at csr in may/02 and loved it, so i am looking forward to going back solo this year but...this will be the 1st trip i have with an AP so am thinking about trying to get an ap rate for AKL and splitting my trip between csr and akl. if i do this though, i will have to go with a regular room, savanah view would be nice but not in the budget for this trip. i know there is a chance i could be upgraded...but if i didn't get an upgrade, what is your opinion of the regular rooms. is it still worth going to akl? i plan on being out of my room most of the time anyway, will i enjoy this resort without the view? or do you think i'd be happier staying put in one resort? i plan on going to akl for dinner at boma once during my trip regardless.
thanks for your opinions

katypop

 

[Gillian]

I did AKL solo in a standard room and liked it. It was good for me because it's only one building. I don't like walking around outside by myself at night. I feel safer in a resort with interior corridors. I had a room very close to Mara so I would grab a drink in my mug & head out the observation areas. The CMs there are from Africa and they're really fun to talk to! There's a lot to see & do there.

Have a great time!

 

[pennylynn]

I was just at AKL in November by myself and I had a standard view room. There's no difference in the rooms themselves and they are wonderful. I had the first room off the lobby with a view of the parking lot so there was no great view. But it was fun watching the people coming and going at the entrance. But you said that you didn't plan on spending a lot of time in the room so you should have a great time. I was there two nights and never even left the resort because there's so much to see. On the second floor there are outside viewing areas where you get the same view as if you had a room on the savannah. But I spent most of my time going from one area to another just to see the different views. I have read that if you have a savannah view room you could possibly see some of the animals during the night. Once I go to bed I would probably never get up to see animals anyway so I didn't really miss that. I'd say, go for it. You'll love the resort.

 

[katypop]

Thanks Pennylyn and Gillian,
did you find the observation areas were busy? did you go to the storytime circles? i think i will give AKL a try if i can get a AP discount.

katypop

 

[Eljay]

I have stayed at AKL 3 times, love it more each time. I always get a great AP rate. Check with www.mousesavers.com for the AP rate codes.
Try to stop & take in as much as you can at the AKL. The smell, the sounds, the detail. If you have time, take the free daily hotel tour, they explain the incredible African art collection & more. BTW, the AKL has the largest collection of African art in N. America.
If you are solo & want a lovely dinner, go to Jico & ask to sit at the counter by the wood burning stove. The chefs will chat with you while you eat! I did this & loved it. I got the idea from watching Great Hotels on the Travel Channel. They reviewed AKL a while back & the host of the show, Samantha Brown sat there & ate. She commented that it was one of her best meals ever!
Enjoy!

 

[katypop]

thanks Eljay,
all i have to do now is wait for AP rates to come out for april/may.i was hoping to hear you didn't need to have a view of the animals from your room to enjoy AKL , of course that would be nice, but since i'm only budgeting for a standard room i know i can't count on it. the hotel tour sounds like a great idea, as does the meal at Jico. have to wait and see though...i've already got a few expensive meals planned

katypop