I stayed at the Holiday Inn with my girlfriend on a recent trip to DisneylandParis, here's what we thought...
Booking and check-in was easy with no problems but getting the card to work in the door was our first hurdle which we eventually managed to overcome, it's a quick swipe from top to bottom, take the card out and push the handle when you hear a click so I hope that helps you get in!
Next the free shuttle bus which visits all the hotels outside the main complex is yellow and not pink (which goes to the Disney hotels within the complex) as a lot of travel guides state. When you come out of Marne-le-vallee station if Disneyland parks are in front of you go left towards Disney village and left round
the side of the station to find the bus terminal, you want the first stop on the right hand side of the road (poorly signposted!) This takes about 15 minutes but as my girlfriend was quite eager to get to the parks she said it seemed like ages so you might want to take something to keep "kids" occupied!
The last bus was leaving the Disney Village about midnight but times seem to vary so ask at the hotel's reception who seemed to know what they were talking about more than people that worked in the Village. Please don't miss the last bus especially if you are wearing high heels, if it's cold or if you just don't like to walk along main, poorly lit, roads in the dark...it's not good and is probably our worst memory of the trip.
The breakfast is in the hotel's 'restaurant' which seemed a bit of a rubbish restaurant, (more like a school canteen) was ok if you like sugar coated cereals like coco pops, which we do by the way :o) but the staff were never around to tell you where to find, for example, the coffee machine (it's on the right hand side of the restaurant on a kind of unit) and the fried food (buffet style) was the worst I've ever tasted and I've had some pretty dodgy fry ups (one of which my girlfriend cooked! ;o) I was also kind of annoyed that I'd paid extra for the breakfast when I booked only to find no-one was taking any notice of who was having breakfast anyway
The computer game arcade proudly mentioned in the brouchures was small and strategically placed right next to the door but the games took tokens which worked out more expensive than British alternatives (usually £1 a game)
We didn't use the pool area and gym because when we went to (we let ourselves straight in using the room card/key) it was closed (around midday/1) it wasn't huge but it looked very clean, well maintained and relaxing compared to Disneyland :o)
The shop in the hotel was also quite small but well stocked with souvenirs, postcards, Disney brand clothes and swimwear which is handy if you forget it.
As I joined the Priority club when I booked through Holiday Inn's website (a free reward scheme) I found out I could request a late check out which was all very easy at the reception desk when I was there and they gave me a later time to leave by. This was a nice option as our train was leaving late afternoon, however just after the normal check out the maids started knocking and they only spoke French. They came back several times and started being, what seemed rude. I felt they had no idea what was going on and should have been notified by the hotel staff.
As for the decor it was very bright and child friendly, there was even a little playroom next to the restaurant with child size chalk board's on easels and Tvs. The hotel is circus themed but that mainly consisted of framed circus posters and our ground floor double room had no sign of circuses so it's a poor effort but saves you waking up to a clown staring at you!
If you're considering Buffalo Bill's Wild West show we had a great time at that (even though it's quite expensive) and you can book at the reception desk.
In conclusion, I would go again, I would recommend it, the hotel was reasonably priced and had everything you would need for a short break (I believe there's also transport available for the nearby designer discount shopping centre) but it's a Holiday Inn at the end of the day, the room was clean but there was a lack of complimentary toiletries. The TV had Sky but we had no Disney channel, there's a safe in the wardrobe and basic tea/coffee facilities but taking into account four star is the highest you get in France and this is a four star this is no "top end" luxury hotel.
Very helpful review, I may be new here but I can't agree with gaunts in the slightest the info they're looking for can be found on the holiday inn website and prices change throughout the year so you don't wanna be giving out false information or hope for people that won't be able to afford it in peak times...I think you're just being nosey! :p
p.s. I got the impression it's in the middle of nowhere when I went, was it?
marymoose99 04.04.2007 10:55
A great first review, welcome to Ciao! As Gants said, could do with some more info, but I'm feeling very generous this morning so have given you a VH anyway.
silverstreak 04.04.2007 09:40
You'd have thought they'd have the Disney Channel, of all things, wouldn't you?
Apr 4th, 2007
exceptional by (7%):
very helpful by (67%):
helpful by (27%):
