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3 Stars - 1230 Opinions
This hotel offers the WORST customer service. I have stayed at a number of establishments in the Ocean City area, and this is at the bottom of the list. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Bonita Beach Hotel offers a much better deal with a friendlier and more understanding staff. For a hotel in the HOSPITALITY industry, Princess Royale does not know the meaning of hospitality!!!
AVOID, AVOID, AVOID this place!!!
We were guests of the Princess Royale and had a WONDERFUL time. The suites were nice, clean and pleasant. From the time we arrived and the bellboy took our luggage until we left every employee was courteous and nice. The pool area is great and Schooners restaurant is the perfect place for an oceanfront breakfast or dinner. We ordered room service one night and it was delightful too.
What we did see, however, were guests making complete fools of themselves and talking to hotel employees like dogs because the night before apparently someone was smoking in a hallway and it set off the fire alarm. Frankly, we were pleased to know that we were staying in a hotel that had a working alarm system.
The only complaint that we had about our stay was that there were kids in the hot tub. There is a sign saying no kids under I think it was 16 and parents just completely ignored it.
We highly recommend the Princess Royale and plan to go back next summer!
This was my family's first visit to OC and the Princess Royale passed with flying colors. We left there on July 19th. The rooms were big and clean. The indoor parking garage kept out car out of the sun so it wasn't an oven each time we got in. Besides the bartender, the staff seemed helpful and friendly. The only draw back is that it is a 15-20 minute drive to the boardwalk. We did not eat in the hotel restaurant (Schooners) but the night we went by (about 5:30), there was no one eating there and they had plenty of help. There is a nice family restaurant right next to the hotel and a supermarket across the street.
My family and I recently returned from our first visit to Ocean City and our first stay at the Princess Royale. We found the hotel room to be clean, roomy and very family friendly. The indoor heated pool was a perfect break from the sand and sun. The saunas and spas were nice amenities to have poolside. There was an indoor and outdoor cafe for lunch. The only downside was they seemed to be very short-staffed, especially in the restaurant, Schooners. They made us wait an hour for the adult dinners (the kids already finished their meals) which we wound up canceling. The rest of the staff (bellboys, valets, front desk) were very helpful. We had a problem with the fridge on our second day there and while we were out at the beach, the fridge was replaced!
We would stay there again.
My girlfriends and I just returned from a weekend in Ocean City for my bachelorette party. We stayed at the Princess Royale and had a great experience, for the most part. When we arrived, check in was very quick even though it is the peak time at the shore. Our suite was clean and the perfect size for 7 girls - though an extra bathroom and mirror would have helped. We had a kitchen and a full size fridge which was great! We also had a view of the ocean, which every room at the hotel has. Maid service was attentive and very nice. We didn't make it to the beach at all since it rained all weekend but it is very close and convenient to the sand! All in all, the hotel was very nice compared to the other "hotels" in Ocean City.
The only issues we encountered was 1: the elevators were incredibly slow! For a hotel that size, there were only 2 elevators and it seemed every time the doors opened, the staff had the entire thing full with laundry bins or carts of some kind. We took the stairs mostly, but to check out with all our luggage, it took 20 minutes for an elevator to come!!!!
The other issue we had was with the buffet they offer at the hotel. Do not be fooled by the pictures that make it look like this spectacular feast - it is in a reception hall, with lots of fried food, and very minimal fresh seafood. I am not a picky eater, but this was in no way shape or form worth the $25 a person they charge. We should have known when we walked in and there were maybe 3 other tables in the whole place that were occupied. Plus at 9:00 when they closed, the staff just stood around, waiting for us to leave.
Other than these 2 issues, the resort was great for our weekend!!
Searching for a 3 night stay just 10 days befrore our vacation was to begin somewhat limited our choices, as the Holiday Inn, Bonita and a few other choices were unavailable. Choices meeting our criteria of an indoor pool, garage and beachfront access away from the boardwalk, were down to Princess Royale, Carousel and Clarion. Many negative reviews here led me to cross out the Carousel - they were also highest priced. The PR offered a 2 room suite for just slightly more than the Clarion and boasted the large indoor pool so we picked it.
The forecast called for intermittant thunderstorms all week so I wanted a large indoor pool to make my 4 year old happy on his first vacation, we choose the Royale based on a few phone calls and booked through their site (online sites higher).
Our stay was from July 27 -30/2004. We choose a 2 room non-smoking suite with a King size bed and a pull-out sofa with an interior (pool) view to save money. It was about $250/day w/tax so I was a bit nervous. Check-in was prompt and she gave us a nicer room on the third floor. The rooms were a bit small but had everything. It was clean and recently redone with new carpet, linens and wall paper. It had two rooms, with a real door in between (great for mom and dad's privacy) and a TV and phone in each room. One TV 's remote was leashed to a table which was somewhat inconvenient but it was obviously a replacement remote, the original likely stolen, so I understand. Many quest are jerks who steal anything not aniled down and make it hard for the rest of us. The front room/kitchenette had a full size fridge and MW, dishwasher, cabinets and even cups, cutlery, pots and pans. The bathroom was a bit smallish but clean although there was a pink stain in rear of tub (I doubt it was mold) which I hope was from ladies shaving lotion or some other cosmetic. The tub also had a pullout line to hang clothing from to dry. There were ample (but somewhat rough towels), a hair dryer and toiletries provided. The heat/AC was built into the wall between rooms and the AC was distributed very evenly in the room. Some places have just a window/outer wall AC unit that blasts cold air in one spot and doesnt send air elsewhere in the suite. Our interior view was of the pool (2nd Floor). We had no balcony but a sliding door with a rail and bars in front of it. Despite signage, every room in site had towels/clothing hanging on the rails to dry out. With a 4 yr old, I was glad not to worry about a balcony. The bed was surprisingly comfy and even the pullout wasn't bad although it didn't look great - just double sheet it. There was a safe, iron and fold down ironing board in the closet. Overall we were quite pleased with the room. The full size fridge/freezer helped save a lot on meals as we ate two meals a day in our room.
Yes, the elevators were slow and we also used the steps a lot. Not bad since we mostly went from 3rd to 2nd floor pool/ocean access area. But viewing the many other lodging choices we could of made on our drives to the Boardwalk left me grateful that we HAD elevators as many places looked to be stairs only. Hint to those who care -one day, to kill time while our maid did the room, we walked around and discovered that the elevators on the sides of the hotel are much faster then the centrally located elevator.
The garage is across the street from the hotel. We never saw any of the advertised "guards" in the garage, but no vagrants either. The garage was lit on a timer, not based on light level so it was a bit dark on rainy days. The spaces were adequately sized but support columns and people who park off-center make manuvering tight. It was difficult to negotiate the tight access ramps with our 206 inch long van - we scraped our front lower bumper and worse, our side panel. The garage is not good for longer vehicles, there was lots of paint visible on the corners of the ramps. If the ramps corners were chamfered properly it would be better.
The breakfast buffet is not worth it. We ate late, about 10:00am. It was picked out and cold. The toast had an off cinnamon tang to it, the bacon was hard and cold and we skipped the eggs which looked old. The sausage was not tasty either. The potatoes were passable. Small pancakes were OK for my son as he prefers his food cold anyway. There were single serving cereal packets availble. The fruit was good but not much available. Not worth $8 adults but okay $3 kids 5 and under. We didn't complain, just left heaps of bad food on our plates - that should tell management we were unhappy. Our son is not used to restaruant eating and was whining too much, we just wanted to get out of there. Breakfast convinced us not to eat in the hotel again.
Next day my husband went next door to Laytons restaruant and had a good breakfast alone. One night we ordered takout crab and fries and it was very good.
The pool was a real pleasure. Not quite olympic sized as advertised but based on other reviews and glimpses into the competition I'm sure its one of the larger offerings in OC. It was clean, heated, had a hot tub area inset next to it and saunas. Its in a muti-story atrium and had a nice open feel to it event hough it was inside. There were pool tables, ping pong and video games surrounding the fenced pool area. Towels were available to be checked in/out pool side. Access to the beach is through doors at front of pool area. There are 2 hot tubs on a deck outside the atrium. A flight of steps leads down to short access paths to the beach.
There is a short beach which some complain about, but I think its less lugging distance and prefer it. The beach was clean and chairs and umbrellas were available for rent (we brought our own so I don't know what it cost to rent). The hotel sold drinks and snacks for limited hours, but we brought our own so I don't know the prices. The beach had lifeguards and the water was warm enough. My son really liked it but enjoyed the pool even more!
We didn't even need our own beach towels because the sun/breeze dried us off quickly even on overcast days. There are water jets to rinse off feet and gear before climbing stairs back to atrium level. Then you just hop in the pool, relax, dry off with hotel towels and back to your room - nice and neat and no towels to dry!
We hung our bathing suits either in tub area or over the rail but it was tough to dry due to the humidity of the pool area. I'd recomennd bringing 2 or more suits to compensate. Some but not all floors have a washer and dryer in the vending area, but only one each. No matter which floor I checked or what time, the dryer was always in use. I wish there had been a dedicated laundry room with more dryers on each floor.
We did not interact with staff too much except for checkin/out but they were very nice. Some loud mouth was yelling at the manager in the lobby for at least 40 minutes about someone smoking in the elevator and the sprinklers going off and how it traumatized his daughter. He was peeved but if some idiot smokes in an elevator its not the hotels fault. Be glad there were sprinklers in case there was a real emergency.
Our last day we checked out, went to the beach and pool for a few hours and were given access to the changing/shower rooms on first floor. We showered off and began our return fresh and relaxed. The changing/shower rooms for quests who already checked out was a nice touch!
Overall we were very pleased. Our room was kept clean, we had enough towels, the staff we did meet were nice, the indoor pool and changing rooms were a treat. Just know to watch out for corners in the garage and avoid the restaurant. Considering what we got for the price, and the money the kitchette saved us on meals, it was a very good value - we would stay there again.
rooms just remodeled,clean atmosphere. had a nice indoor pool-with a game room attatched. was disappointed in the restaurant- too pricey and nothing for children. overall, i would stay there again.
We were very unhappy with the treatment that we received from the management. We had an issue that was handled poorly. Judging from the response of other guests they were also unhappy with their treatment. In addition, the hotel was not kept clean and the wait time for elevators was pathetic since they have no service elevators as told to us by one of the Bellmen.
We reviewed the rooms and amenities but didn't actually stay.... we were there for about an hour walking around, and I agee with the other reviews. It's a big hotel and the elevators were very slow, the staff did NOT use the service elevators, or perhaps there were none. Contrary to the info. in the other review, not all rooms are ocean front... they vary from poolside view (indoor pool) to regular "inside" hotel rooms with no balconies, etc. We have eaten at their seafood buffet as well in past years and it's gone downhill. Cafeteria atmosphere and lots of fried stuff.... not worth price. Try the Embers buffet. Very good.
Do not stay at this hotel without carefully considering the other options that are available to you. This hotel DOES NOT give refunds for any reason. The Staff is utterly incapable of helping you address any of your problems. The people who have had a good experiences in this hotel are the ones that have been lucky. It's a total gamble to stay here. There are eleven clauses which state that you will not recieve any money back, that your requested room could be given to another person, that if you decide not to stay you will be billed. All in all go Stay at that Clarion on 101st, or the Holiday Inn Suites on 67th. They are by far much better....And if anyone reads this that was there for the alarm activations and got ripped off. Please back me up on this, it's nickle and dime and they will rob you.
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Address: Oceanfront at 91st St., Ocean City, Maryland, 21842, United States
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