WDWDN Travel Reviews

Recently my family and I found ourselves traveling out east from Central Illinois.  We were celebrating our daughter’s birthday and high school graduation and wanted to make it memorable.  Part of that memory was a stay at the amazing Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey.

This hotel is located just 30 minutes from Newark International Airport and 25 miles from New York City.  It was immediately apparent as we approached the building why this hotel is called “The Castle.”  WOW!  The architecture is unbelievable.  This is not your average chain hotel along the highway.  Not even close!  You just have to see it in person to really appreciate the unique style. You will be blown away!

We were greeted by the friendly staff and were quickly checked in and given our room keys.  We decided to explore a bit and took a walk around the gorgeous lobby.  Everything is top notch with plenty of spaces to meet friends and family and to relax and unwind.  Since we missed dinner on our travels, we couldn’t wait to get our bags dropped off and head to the new restaurant, AMUSE.  This restaurant had a menu with options for even the pickiest eater as well as a full service bar.  Since we had been in the car for over 14 hours, we were not in our formal attire….which was fine because AMUSE had everyone from weary travelers to romantic couples to business women and men and and those who just wanted a cocktail at the bar. AMUSE  took the stress off of all of our shoulders after fighting traffic, construction, and crazy drivers all day long.

After dinner, we ventured back to the room to finally put our feet up.  Our room was on the 6th floor so we had access to the Sheraton Club Lounge.  My daughter and I grabbed a cup of coffee for the room.  The perfect nightcap for us. The Sheraton Club Lounge allows guests to get  complimentary hot and cold breakfast daily, evening hors d’oeuvres, and a variety of drink options.  We missed the evening hors d’oeuvere hours, but were excited for breakfast the next morning.

Don’t worry though if you are not staying on the Club Level because there are plenty of amenities throughout the property like indoor and outdoor pools, a sun deck, tennis courts and racquetball, nearby golf, a fitness center, and a business center.  The list could go on and on.  As far as our actual room, I don’t even know where to start.  The room was so spacious, comfortable, and immaculate.  I doubt one speck of dust could have been found!  The bathroom was large and there was plenty of counter space for all of our supplies.  The bed was literally plush and the pillows were perfect.  I guarantee a great night’s sleep.

Finally, our trip was made extra special because of the outstanding service provided by the staff of the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel.  They went out of their way to make this a special trip for our daughter.  She was greeted with a lovely graduation surprise waiting for her in the room that she will never forget.  I can’t stop thinking about her smile that evening.  We owe that smile to Russell Clarke and the amazing team at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel.

I just can’t say enough good things about our stay. I highly recommend that you stay at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel next time you are traveling to the Newark/New York City area. I know I am looking forward to going back.

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If you are planning a vacation before the kids go back to school, then I have the destination for you.  The Drury Inn and Suites Orlando has everything that you could want when you are away from home.  We were lucky enough to stay there just last week while traveling through the Orlando, Florida area.

The hotel is very easy to find as it is literally right off of the interstate.  After driving for many hours this was a welcome site.  We were greeted by the friendly staff as soon as we entered the lobby.  Chris at the front desk was extremely helpful as he explained the amenities and how the nearby attraction shuttle service worked.  The check-in process was smooth and quick.  We found a parking space in the large lot (parking is free), got our bags, and dropped them off in the room.

What a nice surprise to see that spacious room!  There was an amazingly comfortable bed (I need to get that mattress for my house), a work station area, and a large bathroom.  Because we checked in around 6 pm, we were able to enjoy “Kickback” in the lobby area.  We were given drink tickets for the bar and were able to eat from the free buffet.  On that night they were serving baked potatoes, pasta, hot dogs, salad, and more.  This is a definite perk!  There were plenty of tables and the staff was helpful and friendly.

After enjoying “Kickback” we decided to use the free shuttle to Universal Studios Florida.  The bus arrived right on time literally steps from the front door and the ride was only about 5 minutes.  This was so much easier than driving ourselves.  Because the buses are actually scheduled, there is no guessing when it might roll in.  We used the free shuttle to return to the Drury Inn and Suites Orlando at the end of the night.  It was a bit crowded, but manageable.

After a great night sleep (did I mention the awesome mattress), we headed downstairs for the free breakfast buffet.  This was more than your typical hotel breakfast.  There were hot items like scrambled eggs, waffles, sausage, and breakfast potatoes plus cereal, bagels, and more.  Again there were plenty of tables to choose from.  This was a terrific way to start the day.

Our stay at the Drury Inn and Suites Orlando was all that we expected and more.  We have stayed at Drury hotels in the Midwest, but this was our first time using Drury Inn and Suites Orlando.  I highly recommend it if you are traveling with the family, for business, or for a romantic getaway.  You won’t be disappointed.

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*We were provided a complimentary night’s stay during our review.

Heading to the East Coast?  Not sure where to stay?  Well, if you are going to the New Jersey/New York area, I have to recommend THE KENILWORTH in Kenilworth, NJ.  Just 30 minutes from New York City, this is the perfect location for exploring the area.  Literally right off of the Garden State Parkway, THE KENILWORTH was easy to find.  (This was especially important for us after driving for 14 hours from the Midwest.) 

When we entered the hotel we were greeted by the friendly staff.  The lobby has a modern feel to it.  It was very clean and sharp looking.

There is a lobby lounge that was quite inviting after a long drive.  We were pleasantly surprised to be given 2 drink vouchers for The Trellis Bar.  That was a nice perk for sure.

Parking was very convenient with plenty of spaces on both sides of the building.  Our room was spacious with 2 beds, a small refrigerator, microwave, and television. The bathroom was very elegant.

We were personally impressed because we love the look of tile floor that looks like hardwood.  It certainly had a modern style to it as well.

THE KENILWORTH also has banquet and meeting rooms, a business center, fitness center, and a laundry room.  Because of its close proximity to New York City and the Newark International Airport, you simply cannot go wrong with a stay at THE KENILWORTH.  A quick drive will take you to some of the most iconic tourist attractions in the United States.

Check out http://www.kenilworthinn.com to learn about various packages that can make your stay even more memorable.  Try THE KENILWORTH…you won’t be disappointed.

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