Crowne-Plaza Marlow-on-Thames: There's a bright light at the end of the tunnel!
Written: Aug 06 '04 (Updated Aug 16 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very comfortable hotel. We wanted to stay another night, despite having another booking elsewhere!
Cons: Doesn't look great from the outside. Convince yourself you'll stay here. You won't be disappointed!
The Bottom Line: Location could be a bit better, but the staff are absolutely superb - extremely kind - and the accommodation is excellent.
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| andymcf's Full Review: Crowne Plaza Hotel Marlow-on-Thames |
Marlow-on Thames is (very probably rightly) seen as the "Jewel of the Thames". It's a really beautiful town amidst abundant Home Counties wealth and, for some reason or another, we decided to spend a night at their Crowne Plaza Hotel. Marlow's star attraction, at a price, may well be the "Compleat Angler" hotel, which occupies a really delightful riverside location. We, however, chose the Crowne Plaza.
I'd booked on-line, via the Six Continents web site, which encompasses brands ranging from Express by Holiday Inn, through Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, right up to Intercontinental. As a Priority Club member I might just have been on the lookout for a few loyalty points. I also wanted to find a decent hotel. I'd certainly found one!
Marlow-on-Thames is a superb location; let me say that from the outset. It has a certain twee-ness about it, if such a phrase actually exists, and is absolutely replete with lovely pubs and eateries of all descriptions. It also has the river Thames running right through its centre. It's gorgeous and, I have to say, just stinks of wealth.
But you haven't booked a room at the "Compleat Angler". Nope! You've elected, instead, to stay at the Crowne Plaza. You follow their driving directions through a somewhat ugly industrial estate and arrive at a two-year-old, low-level hotel which, from the outside, appears to be ever so slightly bankrupt in terms of design. There's a certain sinking of heart. It's only momentary, however, I assure you! Honestly!
Whilst initial, external, impressions may certainly disappoint, you should fasten your seatbelts. This is actually a very, very good hotel, in my very humble opinion. As the slightly embarrassed owner of a self-inflicted broken leg, we decided to park our car (and might I add that car parking is free?) in one of the many "disabled parking" spaces near to the entrance. It was only a short "hobble" on crutches to the revolving door, although baby Josh was far more interested in the running-water sculpture that dominated the centre of the hotel's Y-shaped footprint. It's a very good piece of work, and I'm delighted that he's got such good taste for artwork at such a very young age.
The reception area, anyway, is large, spacious and peaceful. Keen to preserve the quiet ambience, I asked Amanda to look after Josh (who is now nearly three years old and becoming somewhat boisterous) whilst I checked us in. This was an incredibly efficient and friendly procedure and I was in possession of my room's key card within minutes. Although they were not hiding, I couldn't see Amanda or Josh and stood on my crutches for several minutes, trying to find a blue-eyed, blonde-haired monster, and his mother. I'm possibly going blind (but I doubt it), but I couldn't see them sitting on a comfortable sofa on the opposite side of the lobby.
This hotel is good. In fact, it's incredibly good. It may be somewhat architecturally bankrupt, but it's full of extremely caring staff, and it's beautiful once you're indoors. I am occasionally asked how disabled-friendly hotels are. I generally refuse to comment - I think that it would be incorrect for me to do so, when able-bodied. Whist I'm temporarily hobbling around on crutches, however, I feel I'm part qualified to give this hotel a real thumbs up; whilst searching for Amanda and Josh, the manageress rushed up and offered me a wheelchair on loan. I declined the offer, yet was absolutely unable to refuse her direction that a porter should carry our bags to our room. He did - and I have to admit that, once we arrived in our room (110) on the first floor and near to the central hub, he didn't hang around waiting to be tipped; it was simply part of the service. By the time I'd got my arms out of the crutches and into my pocket, he'd left us all alone in the room.
And what a fabulous room it was!
Superbly furnished, with a deep-blue carpet and pastel furnishings, we were very happy and extremely comfortable. The window ran from wall-to-wall and from floor-to ceiling. The bed was large (King-size) and sported a duvet in a plain white cover. There were two comfortable chairs, one of which had a footrest which enabled me to elevate my broken leg in line with the strict instructions of Nurse Bridget (Don't disobey her, whatever you do!). There was a working desk (with fast Internet connection) with a comfortable leather chair that both swiveled and elevated. Also, an interactive television (that didn't actually interact in the manner that it should have - ah well), touch-move minibar and - wait-for-it - two bathrobes. Yes! Two! We would appear to moving towards a culture that accepts that a double room accommodates two people, and that they might both want to relax in a fluffy bathrobe. We certainly did! It was nice not to have to fight over it, or feel that one or other of us was making a sacrifce!
Oh! And there was a trouser press. Obviously. Didn't use it. Obviously. Still, it was there. And that's re-assuring. Where would we be without one?
The bathroom was great. Separate bath and shower cubicle, with decent complimentary toiletries, and you could relay whatever was going on on the television direct to the bathroom. If you wanted to. I'm not allowed to get my leg wet, at the moment, but it all looked very inviting. I'd have spent 30 minutes in there. Possibly more.
What do I mean "possibly"? Definitely 45 very comfortable minutes. Possibly even more!
The hotel has a bar and you'd be very surprised if I didn't visit it. So we did, as a duty, and as a family, for your benefit, pop down to the Agua Bar. Great place for one drink if you're in the company of a manic two-year-old, and it would have been even better if we were alone - they had a very enticing cocktail list, and I'd have loved to linger longer. Their Long Island Iced Tea never got tasted. I really wish it had! Interesting atmosphere, though - deep purple with downlighting created a very convincing "nightclub" atmosphere. Move further out and you'll find yourself in a conservatory atmosphere. Further out, and you're in the garden, overlooking a lake with a really spectactular fountain.
There's a great restaurant, or you can eat bar snacks at Agua. Josh was starting to play up, bless 'im, so we retreated to our room and ordered room service, who delivered some splendid food and we had a great meal in our room. Breakfast prices were, as usual, moving towards the limits of disbelief. I offered. Amanda declined. I breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed a fantastic night's sleep in a most comfortable bed.
Don't be put off by the alarmingly awful geographical approach to this hotel. It's an absolute catch. And yes - for once, I feel sufficiently confident to announce that they are very disabled-friendly. And so they should be!
Andrew
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andymcf
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Member: Andrew McFall
Location: Canterbury, Kent, England
Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 132 members
About Me:
Maths teacher. Father of young Josh. See below!
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