After reading many positive reviews,I changed my original choice (Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa)for the Holiday Inn Family Suites. (Big mistake I should have trusted my initial instincts).

On arrival the front of the hotel looks great, on the way to our room the pool looked good too. Our room just looked grubby and the carpet was a bit sticky. The bathroom however was clean as was the master bedroom. The kids section of the suite was looking a bit tired and the ladders on the bunk bed were a bit creaky.

We went to the pool, plenty of pool beds and towels, but no cushions of the beds. (Are my expectations too high I'm now thinking?) My children loved the pool, they didn't care about the lack of cushions on the beds.

Back to the room to get cleaned up for dinner. We opted for the steak buffet, you had to practically beg for more steak. The bits I was given was no longer hot and there were flies all over the buffet, but the staff in this area didn't seem bothered about this.

Following morning time for the famous hot buffet breakfast, we were looking forward to this and to start our adventure. Plastic cutlery, polystyrene plates and cups. This wasn't a kids birthday party.

We ate in the hotel one more evening after this through sheer exhaustion and the food was no better. We had learned our lesson and just avoided the place after that.

We booked our room direct and paid up front. We tried to book another hotel on our third day, the Gaylord Palms. After we dropped in to the Gaylord we decided this is where we should have booked. A little bit more expensive by $60 per night, but it would have been worth it. Unfortunately they could only accommodate us for three of the five nights required.

We did speak with the duty manager on several occasions regarding our thoughts and they refunded one nights accommodation cost. A decent gesture. Our comment to the food a beverage manager regarding the food being cold, was responded to by telling us it was a free breakfast after all. Hot should always mean hot.

I've returned with a couple more comments the hotel is best suited for families with kids as long as you are not expecting anything smart or mildly luxurious. We put it down to experience. I've said best suited for budget travel but this hotel is not cheap, one example some milk sent up to our room for coffee. $4.65 This is excessive. I don't mind paying for luxury but this hotel was not in the luxury end of the market but some things were price that way.

Recommended: No