More about Radisson Hotel Valley Forge
Almost terrible
by TripAdvisor Member JeffHutton
Date: September 09, 2006
We booked the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge on the basis of availability of non-smoking rooms and 3.5 star rating on Hotels.com. We chose the "sleep number" king bedroom and were given one on the ninth floor.
Here are a listing of issues we had during our one night (Saturday) stay.
* Though we had a non-smoking room, it had obviously had housed plenty of smokers.
* The bathroom above ours had obviously had leaks which were merely painted over, not fixed. There was a spot in the wallpaper that had bubbled out and when poked you would hear water sloshing behind it.
* The elevators had an obnoxious bell that rang loudly whenever it arrived on our floor. Don't believe you can get a room far from the elevator as the hotel is circular and all rooms are relatively close to the elevator.
* The air conditioner (it was a bit warm upon our arrival) was so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation while it was running.
* Each room had a balcony, but the doors were sealed shut.
* Though it was the weekend after Labor Day the pool was closed for the season.
* Water temperature in the shower changed as other guests used water.
* The housekeeping crew arrived early (between 8:00 and 8:30 am) on Sunday morning and spoke loudly and often, despite many "Do not disturb" signs on display (we were already up, so it didn't disturb us).
* The French Toast at the breakfast buffet was cold.
On the positive side:
* The room was reasonably clean.
We paid $105 for the room (plus tax). Stay away from the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge.
Nice Jacuzzi-Pathetic Shower
by TripAdvisor Member Boorobb
We stayed in the Cape May Suite, one of the Fantasy Suites on the 15th floor. Travel light, as anything you need to take to the 15th floor must be carried up the stairs from the 14th floor, where the elevator ends. The jacuzzi was a pleasant surprise, spacious and comfy. I would have liked to have access to the controls from inside the tub, though. There is a dial on the wall, similar to the ones controlling the timed heat lamps in other hotels' bathrooms, that runs the jacuzzi. The biggest problem with this is that you need to be out of the water, and down off the platform, to turn on the jacuzzi; but if the water level is too low because you are not in it, the jacuzzi shoots water all over the walls and the back of the TV which is right next to the tub! Once you get into the tub and the water level rises, it's ok. While in the jacuzzi. there was a knock on the door and we were unable to get to it, but someone yelled that he was bringing us champagne. That would have been a nice touch, although we passed. The bathroom was the tiniest room I have ever seen, and you have to step up a very high step to get in it. If you are tall, be careful, as the bathroom seems to be an afterthought, and the toilet is under an angled ceiling. The shower stall is miniscule, and in the morning there was no hot water. It started out lukewarm and regressed to cold almost immediately. The furnishings were quaint and charming; nice wicker chairs and end tables. The telephone did not work at all. The restaurant, Chumley's, is grossly overpriced and the food acceptable but not worth what we paid. The breakfast buffet at Cafe Soleil was very good, a nice variety of fresh fruits and a chef making omelettes to order.
Underground rooms!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We arrived at about 7:30 pm after a tough flight from the west coast and were given rooms that were underground! No windows and a funky long hallway to get there. There were two sets of steps to go down even after we entered the room, which was musty. There seem to be quite a number of underground rooms. The friendly staff told us there were no other rooms available at all (there was a large conference staying at the hotel), but that we could move the next day. The new room was adequate, nothing special but it had a window!!! We stayed there one night -- the bathroom ceiling started to leak the next day, apparently as a result of something wrong with the upstairs bathroom. We moved again, this time to a room that had a nicer view and a very comfortable "sleep-number" bed. The hotel seems to do a large conference business, so the lobby was always very full.
not worth it
by TripAdvisor Member lugg6
Our family of 6 stayed at this hotel while my husband was attending a conference at the hotel. The kids are 17,15, 13, and 10 so we booked two rooms. We asked for non-smoking but got one smoking room (threw the kids in there) and we were two floors up in a non-smoking. We asked for rooms closer together but said they couldn't accomodate us. We were also told to be quiet as there was a large group staying at the hotel and they were studying for a test (sitting for PA bar exams). The lobby was packed with this group most of the time we were there and didn't even bother to use the elevators because of this large group. Beds were saggy (agree with another reviewer), the bathrooms were very, very small and we also experienced the lack of hot water. Rooms were spacious, but that is about all they had going for them.
We had gone along to shop and enjoy the pool. The pool itself was well-kept; clean and the water temp perfect for the hot days we were there. The area surrounding the pool was not well-groomed. The weeds were taking over and no flowers planted (but tubs sat empty and a flat of annuals were laying dead by the fence). The pool is at the back of the grounds so you had to walk through the delivery area and dumpsters to get there. There was a ping-pong table, but no equipment- even when we asked at the front desk. Towels were a hit-or-miss on whether or not they would be available.
We used the fitness facility and all equipment was in working order. It is a rather large facility with lots of weight training equipment. There was also a racquetball court but no information posted about where or if you could get equipment or where to pick up a key to even use the room.
Communication at the front desk seems to be a major problem.
Upon arrival my husband went to the front desk and asked where they were serving lunch as we had paid for it with the conference fees. The staff directed us to the wrong area, where my husband and kids(I was out trying to find a parking place) stood in a line for several minutes before someone told them they couldn't eat there as this was a conferenc meal - but wasn't our conference. We ate at overpriced Chumley's and tried to relax. The kids and I took the shuttle the next morning to the mall. The gentleman that took us over was very accomodating and gave me a business card to call when we were ready to be picked up. The directions at the front desk were that they shuttle ran hourly - on the hour to depart the hotel and picking up at the mall 15 minutes past the hour. I thought, "oh, well, he's the driver." So about 15 minutes before we wanted to be picked up I called the hotel and they said they would send a driver. We waited about 20 and I called again. This time I was told the shuttle would arrive at 15 minutes past the hour. So after 40 minutes of sitting in a hot, hot parking lot(read kids ages again to get the full picture) we were picked up. This driver was also very kind, but I'm still not sure whether you call to get a shuttle or they adhere to the hourly routine.
While our stay wasn't unbearable, you ought to be able to do better for your money.
Desparately needing a refurb
by TripAdvisor Member barolobrain
I stayed here one night which was booked by the business in advance. The rooms, extremely tired and in need of a refurbishment. Casement type A/C unit had two settings, on and extremely noisy and off. Carpeting looked like something that had been thrown out by someone else and then retrieved by owernship and installed in the room.
Good news, broadband connection was excellent. No mini-bar but room service was quick and the simple meal was decent. Breakfast the next morning was good as well. Nice location, plentiful parking, decent service, bad physical plant.
Poorly Maintained & Over Priced!
by TripAdvisor Member M&KStewart
My husband and I stayed her on our wedding night Sept. 23rd 2006. We rented the "Fantasy Suite" Love, Persian Style and as soon as we walked in we knew that this room would never do. It was nothing like what we saw on line and the bed was smaller than our own at home. I immediately called down to the front desk and requested another room. We were moved to " Nature's Kingdom" and at first glance the room seemed ok. However, after settling in we realized that the jacuzzi was old and cracked on the inside. It wasn't until we went to use the bathroom and the toilet was broken that we really got frustrated. We were sitting on the bed on our wedding night wonder if we should even stay there when we noticed a dirty champagne glass on the headboard! This room was overpriced, didn't even have a fridge and it was not cleaned properly. This hotel should be ashamed of itself for charging so much and not maintaining itself properly. Not to mention you take your life in your hands when you step onto their elevators! Never Again.... do yourself a favor and stay somewhere else!
Must be ready to knock down and rebuild
by TripAdvisor Member AWK65
Untrained check in clerks. Went to check in, was told I had no reservation. My mistake for leaving my conformation number at home. Called several other area hotels for hours, then called the reservation line of Radisson, stated I did have a reservation. The room was a theme room, which I did not reserve, but the place was full for some convention. Remote did not work, no windows, no elevator service to the 15th floor. Shower and tub looked like it had been salvaged from a junk yard went to order food with the torn room services booklet. Place I called stated the menu was old, but ordered with help over the phone. The food was terrible, uneatable actually. Talking with others that ordered from the in hotel restaurant they stated the food was as bad. The second night I went to sit at the in room on the floor table, stepped on glass cutting my foot. Called to tell the front desk and asked them to send someone the next morning to clean up, because I could see more on the floor. After returning late the next day still had glass on the floor. This was never resolved. Also “the nice pool pictures”, the pool was green with pool side furniture floating in it. NEVER AGAIN will I stay here.
Nice Hotel...Would Stay Again!
by TripAdvisor Member smitr2002
There is lots of parking. The hotel lobby is very large and the front desk clerk was very nice. I was staying for business so expected to walk into my room to find the usual two double beds next to each other. However, this room had a Bungalow Bamboo theme. One bed was down stairs and the other was on a loft. It was very cute and different. The bathroom was pretty big. Nothing to brag about though. The tub was actually peeling apart...I wouldn't recommend taking a bath. Besides the bath tub it was a very nice room. We ate at Chumleys Restaurant in the hotel for dinner and lunch the next day...very good food. We ate in the cafe also in the hotel for breakfast, you can get the breakfast bar and has all kinds of hot and cold foods, the chef will even make you an omelet right in front of you. I also had a conference that day in one of the ballrooms. Very nice and big. I would definitely stay here again.
Horrible, horrible, horrible
by TripAdvisor Member SpottedCat
I stayed at this hotel in July 06 for business to attend a convention at the convention center (attached to hotel). Let me say, this was by far one of the worst hotels I have ever been in. We were put in 3 difft. rooms before finding one that was even somewhat inhabitable. The bathroom in our very first room was covered in mold and when I took a tissue from the wall dispenser, the entire thing pulled out in my hand. We immediately went to the front desk and were upgraded to a "suite" with temperpidic beds. Sounds great, right? Wrong. We entered that room and found a fire hazard surge protector with multiple plugs plugged in and a colony of spiders canvassing the walls and ceiling. Again, down to the front desk we went. Finally, our third room was okay, but again still not up to standards I hold hotels.
Another problem I had with this hotel were the horrible restaurants food and poor service. The hotel bar, The Blue Grotto had wonderfully nice bartender but there were fruit flies everywhere making enjoying a drink a little impossible. This hotel is also in a terrible area, not close to anything. Supposedly cabs will not come to the hotel, and the hotel shuttle service is undependable and sketchy. The driver argued and lied to our face about not seeing us sitting out front at the shuttle pick up for over an hour.
If you are forced to stay in this area for a conference, rent a car and stay away from the convention center. You will hate feeling like a prisoner of this hotel.
Sleep tight- don't let the bed bugs bite!!
by TripAdvisor Member SENIORONTHEGO
Recently returned from a large reunion group booked at this hotel for
six days, five nights. Breakfast was terrible. Service was very, very
slow because of not enough wait staff. Only good food service worker was at the Chef's Station. Coffee was usually warm, never hot and very strong. Four adults stayed in the room with two double beds but each day we were always short hand towels, bath towels or wash cloths. When this was brought to the attention of the housekeeping supervisor, she said there really wasn't much she could do about it because the people who clean the rooms have no way of knowing how may people are staying in each room. When it was suggested they count
the wash clothes or towels so they would know, the supervisor stated they don't have time to do that because they only gather everything up and can't take the time to count. The food at the banquet dinner at the hotel was served warm or cold. Hot was not available. Meal was
warm, rare piime rib with warm potatoes and cold vegetables. When asked to replace the rare prime rib with a medium or well done the server said they are all the same. Server was also not very personable and did't seem to like his job and seving tables seemed to be a burden on him.
Several tables had to ask for the coffee to be brought out. In many cases, one of the customers at the tables would have to get up and serve the coffee because the servers would bring the coffee pots out and place then on their little tables in the corner after only pouring one or two cups of coffee. Some didn't get coffee because the pot was empty before filling up the coffee cups at the table and the server never returned until cleanup.
Three members in the group had bed bugs in their rooms. Front desk didn't believe it. One person took the bedspread down to the front desk for them to see. Bottom line- find another place to stay and eat- other than the Radission in Valley Forge. They do promote Sleep Number Beds in some of the rooms. We had one and we are sure glad we bought a Temp A Pedic instead of a Sleep Number. These comments were also provided to the hotel on their e-mail customer survey card.
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