Doesn't Live Up To The Radisson Name!
Written: Feb 25 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Location close to the water. Nice outside bar and restaurant.
Cons: Unfriendly staff, rooms were not clean, mediocre food in main dining room.
The Bottom Line: Although this might be the best Belize City has to offer, our experience was less than pleasant. Avoid rooms in the Villa Wing.
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| whalewatcher's Full Review: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina |
Granted, we only stayed at this Radisson for one night, but it was sufficient to convince us not to return. Maybe it was the confusion at check-in which started us off on the wrong foot, but it didn't get much better from there.
Check-in is 3 p.m., so it didn't come as a surprise that our room wasn't ready when we arrived half an hour early. However, when our room still wasn't ready by 4 we became a little annoyed. After traveling all day we yearned for a shower, and this was definitely not the welcome we expected from a Radisson. Rather than being apologetic, the front desk staff developed an attitude, offered no complimentary drink while we had to wait, and dismissed us with a barely audible 'sorry for the wait' when we were finally handed the keys.
The location of the Radisson Fort George is not bad. Surrounded by water on three sides, most of the rooms overlook the ocean and a small marina. For some reason we were put up in the 'villa wing' from where the views are less than wonderful. Our balcony wasn't of much use since it allowed just a glimpse of the ocean and the majority of the view was of the hotels' moldy stucco exterior.
The room itself was a disappointment as well. Spacious enough, with 2 double beds, mahogany armoir with TV and 3 large drawers, mini-bar and a rocking chair, the cleanliness left lots to be desired. The fairly average bathroom was less than sparkling with dirty tile grout, the sink barely drained and I found an old bottle cap in the tub drain. The bedsheets were not tucked in and the bedspread looked old and frayed from multiple washings. The A/C cycled noisily on and off and the ceiling fan wobbled with equal gusto until we finally turned it off. On the plus side, there was a coffee maker, iron & ironing board, and Internet access.
The lobby seems small due to low ceilings but it's comfortable and tastefully appointed with hand-crafted Belizean furniture, multiple flower arrangements, and local artwork. The gift shop has a good selection of souvenirs, beach clothes, and toiletries.
Two swimming pools are on site but one is open to the public for $5, which seems rather odd. The nicest part is the open air bar/deck which is surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation. Another attribute is the Stonegrill Restaurant where meals are cooked on natural volcanic stones right at your table.
We had a buffet dinner at the St. George's Restaurant but lacking even a single seafood dish, it was disappointing and dessert was limited to a choice of three! Breakfast was equally uneventful, or was it that we were looking forward to our imminent departure??
The hotel provides an airport shuttle for a fee of $13.20 (?) per person. A cab ($23-25) provides faster service and might be a better choice if there are 2 of you. The half hour drive is not very pleasant (roads are terrible) and Belize City is definitely not one of the country's best attractions.
Apparently, the Radisson is the best hotel the city has to offer. Its most recent claim to fame is hosting Bill Gates by blocking the 2 top floors of the hotel for his use. Obviously, there must be sections far superior to what we experienced although we spoke to several other guests who whole-heartedly agreed with our assessment.
Lean and mean write-off, less than 500 words!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
whalewatcher
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Claudia Testa
Location: Charles Town, West Virginia
Reviews written: 197
Trusted by: 244 members
About Me:
Travel fever is chronic. I hope no one finds a cure!
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