The hotel offered so much, but the management and help offered so little.
Written: Oct 03 '02 (Updated Oct 17 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very classy, offers much
Cons: the people just didn't care
The Bottom Line: This place offers so much,looks very classy, and I had high expectations, but the people who work there are on a lower level.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Wyndham Wind Watch |
One of the questions we are asked to answer when we write a review is "Would you recommend the Wyndham Wind Watch to a friend" In this case I had to answer "No"
As a gift to my partner in business and his wife, my wife and I offered a night away for them. The four of us would spend a day, a night, and then the next day together. They have a young family and she does not like to leave them for too long a time. We arranged babysitters for them that evening and all was set.
We live on Long Island and just twenty minutes away from them is the Wyndham Wind Watch Hotel. It is one of the three or four upscale hotels on the Island. It is almost smack dab in the middle of Long Island very close to the Long Island Expressway. My wife and I stayed there a couple of years ago and it was a very nice stay. This time things were a bit different.
The hotel has a large parking lot. There is no valet service during the day. There is a bellman at the door to help you with your luggage if you like.
My wife and I arrived at noon and a room was ready for us. I saw to it that they had a room prepared for our friends also. I belong to the Wyndham by Request program. With that you let them know what you like in your room and it is set up before you get there. This is for items like extra pillow, towels, a bottle of wine , soda, water, fresh fruit, crackers etc. Now, as a member I am given this but was told I could not get it in both rooms. This I was told at the desk. OK, fair enough, but poor business. I mean if I asked for extra towels or a cream rinse, they couldn't do it?
Anyways, I had a bottle of wine, and fruit sent to their room. My wife and I checked in, no problems there, and went to our room to change and then go to the pool area.
I should start with the lobby area of this ten story building. It is large and open with lofty ceilings, quite attractive, and decorated with fine furniture. The registration area is to the left and then you go to the hidden elevator banks not too far away. There is a very large well appointed lounge and bar area with many comfortable table and chair arrangements. It is set with soft lighting and has a piano that is active at night. The bar accommodates about twenty people and was very handsome looking, done in dark wood. All this overlooks the atrium where a dining room "The Terrace Cafe" is located. They have a varied menu and the service and prices looked like high class! At night the dining room looked beautiful.
Going upstairs to our rooms we passed comfortable settings of lounge chairs and sofas. The elevators were very modern, quick to pick us up, and smooth running. Outside the elevator on each floor were other lovely settings of furniture.
Our rooms were very large. We had the King sized bed that we requested. During the week this hotel caters to business clients. Each room has a large desk with a lamp and chair. We also had a comfortable lounge chair and ottoman. The rooms were simply decorated, light in colour, airy ,and yet sophisticated looking. They were very attractive. The room had a large TV with cable service. It also has telephones with two lines and a data port. Each room has an alarm clock/radio, iron, ironing board, and you get USA TODAY newspaper daily. The bed was very comfortable. It had a very firm mattress with one of those padded cushions on it. We have this at home and it's the only way for me to really be comfortable. I suppose I'm spoiled. Reading lights were on both sides of the bed and easily reached from the bed.
They do not give you a safe with the room but you can get one at an extra charge. All the rooms have a coffee pot with coffee. They have room service twenty four hours a day, same day dry cleaning, and valet service.
The bathrooms are large with a bath, showerhead, large and an ample amount of towels. The large corner countertop had amenities like shampoo, rinses, moisture lotion, shower caps, and even a sewing kit. It also had a hair dryer. The bathroom was well lit and had a makeup mirror.
Our room was on the south side of the building with a nice view but the north side of the building, where our friends room was, has the better view. Ask to be on that side. It overlooks the golf course and the north view of Long Islands rolling hills. Long Island is flat on the south but is hilly on the north due to an ice age that stopped there and deposited the hills many years ago.
The last time we stayed at the hotel we spent the afternoon having snacks and a few drinks at poolside. A bar and small grill were there that made the drinks, lunch, and snacks etc. I had asked, when I made the reservations, if that was all the same. "Yes" I was assured. We were there in late August of this year.
My wife and I went to the pool. The bar and grill were closed! I was disappointed because plans were to just sit around relaxing in the sun for the afternoon. They told us the bar in the hotel was open and they would be happy to send us drinks.
Now a good point can also be a bad point if you change the atmosphere. You see the pool is quite a distance from the main area and bar of the hotel. That is nice when you want privacy and quiet. It becomes a hassle when someone is trying to bring you Margaritas on salted glasses, and food that should be served hot.
Hey am I complaining about trivial points of service? Yes I am!! But service is what I was there for, it was promised that the pool bar was open, and that convenience is what I wanted for my guests!
You know how something that is simple to rectify and isn't can become such a thorn in your side. Well that's how it went. When my wife and I arrived at the pool the walk area around it was loaded with leaves and some other trash under some lounge chairs. These didn't just get there. They were probably there a few days and the worse part was that some was blowing into the pool.
I mentioned it to the a couple of the workers, but nothing came of it. My wife and I ordered a drink and I tried to relax. My partner and wife called. They had just arrived were changing and on their way down to the pool.
In conversation I asked if the room was fine, etc and found out that the wine and fruit was never sent to them!
Trying not to ruin the afternoon I never mentioned what they should have found in the room. We did have lunch served to us cold and the drinks had less in the glass than what they left the bar with. Another problem was that when they forgot something like salt and pepper or whatever, we had to wait for them to complete their trek back to the bar inside and come back out again.
In spite of the problems we enjoyed the afternoon with a late lunch and good conversation. We went to our room, relaxed, and then got together again for a movie and dinner. Living nearby we knew of a local place to dine. This area does have many choices, but you do need a car to get around. When finished at about eleven we went back to the hotel. We went to the lounge that had a mixed age crowd enjoying conversation and drinks. We listened to the pianist, had a couple of drinks, and then retired to our rooms. We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of the lounge and our time together. What wasn't good was the service. We were told by one of the hostesses that they would bring us our drinks. That was fine with us. Service and relaxation was what we wanted. After out first encounter we couldn't find the help. Eventually we received our drinks.
The next morning we met our friends again. He went home early in the morning to get his tennis rackets so he and his wife could play and early morning set. The hotel also has an eighteen hole golf course, a spa, and indoor pool, a whirlpool, saunas, and a great exercise room. You can also book a massage. All of these rooms etc are very nicely decorated, the best of equipment, and very clean.
If you are looking to stay at the hotel they do offer special weekend rates. Ask for the B&B special. They charge $149 for champagne and chocolates upon arrival and breakfast for two at the Terrace Cafe. We were there during the week when the prices are generally higher. We paid an AARP rate of $155. The regular weekday price is $220. I knew getting beyond fifty years old was good for something! If you stay for Sunday night in addition to the Saturday they give you the room at $99.00 for the second night. These are actually pretty good rates for Long Island
We had breakfast at the "Terrace Cafe" It is served buffet style and was quite good and complete. They made omelets to order. The cost was twelve dollars each. That was well worth it. We had a relaxing breakfast with good service, changed and back to the outdoor pool we went. The same leaves and trash were still out there. I went to the desk to let a manager know. He said it would be taken care of. It never was. When I talked to the manager about the wine in the room and could we do it the next day because they didn't get it correct upon arrival I was not satisfied. There was more to it than just this. I just don't want to make this review a bashing forum. The place was beautiful and offered so much. The help and management offered nothing.
In spite of the small nagging problems the four of us had a great time together. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place to a friend.
Long Island
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Recommended:
No
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