Sheraton Long Island, Recommended
Written: Feb 12 '03 (Updated Oct 17 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well situated near parkways and the Long Island Expressway.
Cons: Decor in the lobby is a bit too modern for me. Pool parties on Saturdays.
The Bottom Line: My wife and I have enjoyed this hotel very much. They are constantly upgrading and redecorating. It is clean and inviting.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Sheraton Long Island Hotel |
I was very recently at the Sheraton Long Island for an event for my business. It is also a place that my wife and I have frequented many times for short get away weekends. We always enjoyed ourselves at this place.
WHERE?
Just a few hundred yards off the Long Island Expressway makes this a place easy to get to. The LIE is the East West road that starts at the New York City line and continues well out on Long Island to the beginning of the Long Island forks. Just a mile or so away from the hotel is the Sunken Meadow Parkway that gets you quickly North and South on the Island.
The hotel itself is on Vanderbilt Motor Parkway. Many years ago, shortly after the turn of the century, there used to be well attended auto races along this road. It was a place to be. Most signs that this was once part of that race are long gone but the name continues on.
VIEWS
The hotel has about six floors and stands by itself off the road. the views from the top rooms are interest, To the south are the level plains of Long Island of which some farms can be seen but are quickly disappearing with the constant encroachment of shopping strip malls and more homes being built. To the North are the rolling hills that are made up of the debris left from an Ice Age of long ago.
ENTRANCE
The entrance area of the hotel is quite grand. There is a large overhead structure outside keeping those embarking and debarking from the hotel out of any inclement weather or hot summer sun. I have never found a bellhop here. At the same time we have always traveled very light and did not need any services. Most of the services needed are done by the front desk staff. I have never had any concierge service either. Once again, the front desk staff helps out.
LOBBY, LOUNGE and RESTAURANT
The hotel lobby had a complete renovation just two years ago. It changed from a warmer country feeling to, in my opinion, a colder look. It now has black marble fountains with silver sculptures within them. The chairs and couches in the area are inviting and comfortable. The area is quiet and relaxing, except for the constant sound of the falls.
There is a bar off this area. It is called the Spiritz Lounge. This place I like it is open and has plenty of seating at the bar. there is a piano between the lounge and the lobby. It is used on many nights and weekends at dinner time.
Up a step from the lobby, piano, and lounge is a restaurant. It too is open to the whole lobby. Generally I don't like that but this hotel, though large, always has a quiet pace to it in the lobby area. The restaurant opens at 6;30AM for breakfast on weekdays and 7AM weekends. A breakfast would go for about twenty-five to thirty dollars for a couple. You can get breakfast for two for an additional twenty dollar room charge. If you know you are eating in the hotel it is worth it.
If you want a quick take with breakfast there is a coffee shop that opens at the same time as the restaurant every morning.
Dinners at the restaurant start at about twelve dollars for pastas like Rigatoni Ala Vodka and go up to about twenty three dollars for Steaks or Fisherman's Platter. The dishes in between would possibly be Chicken Marsala, Salmon Di Jonnaise that are frequently on their menu. The food is good and the atmosphere is romantic.
ROOMS
The regular rooms are pretty basic. Being built as a business hotel the rooms carry this feel. Dark mahogany and Cherry furniture are used in most rooms. A large desk with phone and Internet ports are their along with a table lamp.
The rooms can suit those looking for two double or as we prefer a king. We do not smoke and my wife has a keen nose for odors. We have never had a problem here.
The room has a TV and adequate storage space. An iron and board is in the mirrored closet. The rooms are very well maintained and clean. We have been in the hotel at all seasons and the temperature regulators for heat and air conditioning have never been an issue. This Sheraton does not have room safes or mini bars. As mentioned earlier, the rooms on the upper floors have better views of the island.
The bathrooms in this hotel are quite small. They have tiled floors and tub/shower area. In the bathroom are a coffee pot, hairdryer, and a pull out vanity mirror for that close work. Counter top rinses, conditioners, and lotions are in place inside a small basket. There is an overhead heat lamp too. The water is always as hot as needed along with good water pressure.
Another thing this hotel does not have is a business center. It may be that more and more business people have laptops, etc, but I don't and at the same time like to be connected.
THE POOL
One of the reasons we use this hotel is because of it's pool. It is at most times relaxing. More on that later. It has a large jacuzzi and a spa area with sauna, and steam baths. There is a clean and rarely used work out room with good equipment. This area always has attendants. It opens at six am and continues to nine pm. Right off the pool is an area open to the southern sun. In the summer lounge chairs are brought out here. We enjoy a cold drink and the warmth of the sun while relaxing or reading a book. Sometimes on weekends the spell is broken due to kids pool parties. The management books the area for one or two kid birthday parties on many weekends. They do let you be aware of it. We have found that as long as we know when the area is used we can work around it.
NEARBY
My wife and I when on these get away weekends will sometimes take in a movie. There is a multiplex theatre just a few minutes away. There are also some fine restaurants in the area. Just a twelve minute ride away is Sunken Meadow Park. This is a north shore beach with a boardwalk and is a scenic place to take a walk or absorb the afternoon sun.
Back at the hotel we have stayed in rooms right of the pool. We once stayed in one of their tower rooms after an upgrade. These are two levels. basically everything a regular room is on both levels. Couches, chairs, desks, bathrooms. On the bottom level, however, is just a pullout couch. These rooms are about fifty percent higher in price but are a good deal if you are sharing with children. There is a spiral staircase that adjoins the rooms. We enjoy the rooms off the pool. We have never had any kind of security problems there.
A BIT MORE IN CLOSING
The hotel has a large parking lot with plenty of parking. Even when the ball rooms and meeting rooms are being used there is no problem, just a bit more of a walk. You must have your room key, an electronic credit card type, in order to access the hotels non lobby exterior doors at night. The hotel has an in house flower shop and convenience store. The hotel staff has always been very helpful and friendly. Sheraton is part of the Starwoods family and works with a point system for stays. We used these points for a recent five star hotel Rome, Italy. The name of that hotel is the Sheraton Cavellieri. That property received five stars from me!
The Long Island Sheraton is highly recommended and I feel one of the better hotels on Long Island. Enjoy your stay and let me know how you enjoyed it.
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Recommended:
Yes
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