I like Homewood but... Ice is an issue?
Apr 16, 2010, 8:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ohio
Programs: PC Plat, HH Diamond, *wood Gold, United Silver, DL Plat, IC Gold, Hertz. #1, AMX Plat
Posts: 167
I like Homewood but... Ice is an issue?
Never in all motel/hotel stays have I been told to go buy ice if I needed it for my room. Yes, we have a full fridge with icemaker that we turned on when we got to the room, making 12 cubes an hour. Called the desk. They need the ice from the machine was for breakfast!? The desk actually said "head to the gas station". I am not filling a cooler, just the ice bucket.
OK, rant over.
OK, rant over.
Apr 16, 2010, 8:21 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Based upon your description, they don't seem too keen on earning their precious 10's?
Must've been a real run on the stuff if they couldn't spare a few cubes?
Must've been a real run on the stuff if they couldn't spare a few cubes?
Apr 16, 2010, 11:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: STL
Programs: HHONORS, AA, Delta, Southwest, Avis, Emerald Club
Posts: 120
That's pretty unfortunate. Make sure you let them know your disatisfaction in your reviews.
I've stayed at a few homewoods, and I know equipment varies at locations, but I've always had good luck with the ice makers in the room.
I've stayed at a few homewoods, and I know equipment varies at locations, but I've always had good luck with the ice makers in the room.
Apr 17, 2010, 7:30 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond, National Executive, SkyTeam Elite
Posts: 13
That's pretty ridiculous. If the hotel was having issues with their ice makers they should have gone to the gas station and purchased a number of bags of ice themselves and made it available to the guests.
Apr 17, 2010, 7:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 639
Apr 18, 2010, 10:21 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Connecticut
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 342
Although I like most Homewood's as I like the breakfeast, evening reception (some are exceptional) and the ability to have space in the room and the kitchen.
The reality is that these are mostly independently owned and when I have had a bad experience and have voiced my opinion, they don't really care about Hilton status (have been Diamond for about three years) nor do they seem to worried about telling them I would complain to HHonors.
I feel that they think they are giving you everything they can up front and small incidentals are the responsibility of the guest.
I guess you look at the positives of the given anemities and hope everything else is minor.
But giving one guest Ice seems like something that they could accomodate. This must be a premium at the hotel you stayed at....strange!
The reality is that these are mostly independently owned and when I have had a bad experience and have voiced my opinion, they don't really care about Hilton status (have been Diamond for about three years) nor do they seem to worried about telling them I would complain to HHonors.
I feel that they think they are giving you everything they can up front and small incidentals are the responsibility of the guest.
I guess you look at the positives of the given anemities and hope everything else is minor.
But giving one guest Ice seems like something that they could accomodate. This must be a premium at the hotel you stayed at....strange!
Apr 18, 2010, 9:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
I thought those commercial ice makers make the stuff pretty much instantaneously and don't store it. Running out of ice is saying they have run out of electricity and water.
Apr 18, 2010, 10:01 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Did someone have the ice machine blocked off for breakfast staff only? Was there really only 1 ice machine? I don't stay at many home woods, but the last one had at least 2 on the ground floor.
Apr 18, 2010, 10:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
I really doubt the hotel was using the refrigerator trays for the breakfast area. I'm guessing there was one commercial icemaker, but they weren't letting the OP use it because they were "saving the ice", right?
http://home.howstuffworks.com/icemaker2.htm
http://home.howstuffworks.com/icemaker2.htm
Apr 19, 2010, 4:28 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Johnstown, PA
Programs: UA P, Delta SL, US SL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IHG PL AMB, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 928
One of my favorite Homewood's is in Orlando and the icemaker works fine. The problem is the water. The Orlando water from the tap is nasty, full of sulpher. You can smell it when you shower and definately taste it. My solution is just to buy some cheap plastic ice cube trays and use bottled water. Of course this is for a long term stay.
The water and ice at some of the other Orlando locations seems better. Perhaps they have some kind of filtering. I stay at this location because it is very close to where I am working. They also have an excellant meal 4 nights a week. Note that the other hotels in the area that I have stayed in also have the nasty water.
The water and ice at some of the other Orlando locations seems better. Perhaps they have some kind of filtering. I stay at this location because it is very close to where I am working. They also have an excellant meal 4 nights a week. Note that the other hotels in the area that I have stayed in also have the nasty water.