Never in my entire life have I encountered feces in a swimming pool! I have heard about it happening at our local YMCA and they shut down the pool, drained it, cleaned it, had it inspected, and then re-opened.

Upon our very first visit to the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, we checked in a chilly afternoon, as a PC member got a free upgrade to ocean view, went to our room and changed into swim clothes, and immediately tried the now vacated heated swimming pool. My 9 year old son walks to the deep end and discovers a LARGE piece of feces in the bottom of the deep end.

We used several of the tissue thin hand towel sized swimming pool towels to dry off and keep my 4 year old from freezing. Quickly back to the room to change, and back down to the front desk to alert.

I asked to speak with the manager, Danny Quintara, as noted on the MANAGER ON DUTY sign at the front desk. Gabriela tells me she's the manager because Danny has gone home for the day. I said we're going to need a lot of soap, shampoo, and towels to clean the four of us, and a sponge/loofah. She apologizes for our encounter, but has no sponge/loofah. She offers breakfast coupons. I thank her and tell her she needs to put up a sign at the pool. She said she'd call someone to "fish it out". That's nasty!

Normally we stay at the Marriott down the road, but thought we'd give your hotel a try. Now, I understand it may be beyond their control to keep people from using the pool as a toilet, but I never want to enter into a pool I know has only been cleaned by "fish it out" guidelines!