Chris C.
Yelp
I never would have guessed that this was a hotel. At first glance it looks like a fancy business building. The entrance is grand and beautiful. There is a round-about at th front with a beautiful fountain. Valet service is $53. I'm not sure how much self parking is. My family and I utilized the handicapped parking for 2 people in our party. So, we self parked and were graciously not charged.
The lobby is beautiful and is so spacious. There are a few little sitting areas throughout the lobby. One is towards the front and has a few computers available in their business center for printing, faxing and that sort of thing. Another sitting area is just inside the main doors. I had my little one sit there while I checked in. She sat so comfortably playing with her doll. The wait to check in was very short and the girls at the desk were so sweet. I'd tried to call the hotel a day before our arrival to make our request and preference for a room close to the elevator known, because of the 2 handicapped individuals in our party. The person I spoke with had let me know that notations for that request had been put into the system and that It would be no problem. Of course when we arrived, that room had been given away. It was quite unfortunate. She did her best to try and find us another solution. The one we settled for made things quite difficult for us because of the long walk but sometimes there just isn't anything that you can do. It really was too bad things didn't work out.
There are some kid friendly spots in the lobby. They have a football table. They also have shuffleboard and other small board games. It was nice to see families enjoying time together, sharing appetizers and drinks while playing games with the kids. It was nice to see kids from different families playing with one another too. You could tell this was just a really nice, welcoming, friendly environment.
The rooms are spacious and there is a consistent under water (swimming/aquatics) theme throughout the hotel. A lot of the art work has to do with swimming, diving, the elements and movement of water. It's calming. Speaking of calming, the pool deck is very cute as well. The deck is very clean. Towels are readily available upon entrance. The used towel receptacles are neat and not over flowing. Cabana spaces were available for rent. There were plenty of chairs.
The hotel has its own 9-hole course. Leave your heavy bag at home. You'll just need your irons. The course is small but is a fun little number. I believe the daily rate is discounted for those staying at the hotel. I think it was $15 instead of $28. You can't complain about that. I was golfing as a participant of a charity golf tournament. It was a ton of fun. The way that the hotel had things set up for us was spectacular. We had some fun events and lots of extras.
Lunch and dinner service were wonderful. I really enjoyed the garlic mashed potatoes and their chicken. I also like their vegetable medley: squash, zucchini, and broccoli. Staff were on top of it when it came to clearing plates and utensils. They were very accommodating of my little one. The facilities throughout the hotel were sparkling clean. Everything was just so nice.
I had no idea that there was the Manhattan Village just 2 blocks away. It is the cutest little outdoor shopping and dining area. There are stores like Macy's, Johnny Was, Alo, Wilson, Apple, and so many more here. Some of the food places include silver lake ramen, CPK, Handel's ice cream, sidecar donuts, smash burger, etc. there is something for everyone here. This reminded me of a beach-vibe sort of Americana or the Grove.
This hotel is so perfectly located to this area. It is easily within walking distance. You can ask the employees at the hotel for their suggestions. They can give you lots. They are so sweet and so helpful. One of the gentlemen that works in the front, we brought him a pizza from CPK to thank him for his help and his many suggestions. He was great.
I would definitely recommend the rooms that have the balcony. Our view was of the golf course, the lush trees and one of the water hazards which looks like a lake. Early one morning I saw an egret fly over the water. it was so beautiful. Even if you don't' spend much time or any time even on the balcony, having the fresh air come in is so nice. This hotel is a real gem.
Oh and, here's a little secret. . . if you've forgotten some small toiletries on your trip, there is a good chance that the front desk might be able to help you out with that (shower cap, razor, toothbrush, etc.). Now that is some serious service! This is also the big difference in staying at a Marriott Autograph Collection property. definite 5 stars!!!