Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center Master Thread
Crowne Plaza Princeton
What is your Priority Club status?
Diamond Ambassador
Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
The hotel is not located right in Princeton but in a business district ten minutes by car to Princeton. Companies like Munich Re, Siemens, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the James Forrestal Campus of Princeton University are close by.
It is also only 60 minutes to 70 minutes by car to Newark Airport. There is not public transportation available, so you most probably need a car to get there.
Reason for me to stay there, that I want to have a base for trips to Tarrytown, Philadelphia and Allentown without need to change hotels every night. As parking was free and the hotel offered a lap pool and a gym, the CP fit the bill.
The hotel is situated in a kind of park with lots of green. You enter through a covered driveway. The lobby is atrium styled and open plan. The design and ambiance is a bit outdated and more like early 80ies. Maintenance of public spaces could be better and lack a bit of ambiance.
The four check in desk are opposite the entrance. The hotel has a north and south wing with the atrium as central part. The atrium does not cover the whole height of the building though.
On the right side are meeting rooms and also some of the rooms. Behind the check in area is the restaurant “Forrestal Grill” where the breakfast is served and which is open till 22:00. It was not open during the day during my visit and I assume it is only open during the week.
The gym is also on the Mezzanine Level and quite large with a variety of machines. Not the newest and most sophisticated, but good and solid. Unfortunately, only open from 06:00 to 23:00 and not 24/7. Towels and water were provided. A tennis court is available as well as Squash Courts and basketball (with the later currently to be used as storage space)
The pool is open from 09:00 to 22:00 and on the ground floor with an adjacent sun deck with lounge chairs. The lap pool is half Olympic size and thus means you can swim real laps. Unfortunately, there was way too much chlorine in the water (bring your googles!)
The room offer a variety of meeting room and reception areas and has it own Janitor for this part of the hotel which is shared with the Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast. Both hotel are connected by a covered walkway.
The Flight – Martini & Wine Lounge is on the Mezzanine Level and open from 16:30 to 22:00. On the weekend, the menu from the “Forrestal Grill” was available. It is more a bar than a restaurant. I had dinner there on both evenings. Service was good (young and attentive staff) with beer on tap and by the bottle. On the second day, the tap was broken, and they had to serve by the bottle. As bottles were smaller, they reduced the price what I think was fair. Charing to room was possible and earned points
I arrived at the hotel at 17:30 after a longer drive. I was the only guest checking in. The reservation was pulled from the system, and I was asked for ID and credit card. Professional, though not overly friendy. I was asked about my choice of amenity and asked if I like the points, the welcome drinks or breakfast. I receive a voucher and ask if this was for both days and she replied only for the first day. I mentioned that it should be breakfast on both days and started to pol for the rules on my smartphone. She mentioned she checked but after ten seconds she told me, she would give me another voucher for the second day anyway. Me thinks, it was either a try to play dumb or simply not knowing it.
Breakfast is served in the restaurant from 06:30 to 10:30. It is served as buffet but a la cart dishes are available if you pay for it. It is not possible to substitute the buffet for an a la cart dish. The buffet consisted of hased brown or breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages. In addition, cheese and salami, fresh fruit, cereals and bagels were provided. Coffee and juice (orange) were served by staff. Quality was okay, not outstanding.
Staff was not very attentive and cared more tor the TV than the guests, especially on the second day. The design of the restaurant was a bit old fashioned.
The put all guests close together and refused to let one sit a bit further aside.
One receives a bill which is crossed out but the amount suggested to tip not and they put an invoice of two persons on the bill meaning the suggested tip is even higher.
Internet was fast
Check out was quick and fast. Late check was only given till 14:00 without any problems or need to discuss
The hotel offers a concierge level on the fifth floor of the South Wing, which is only open Monday to Thursday. You can access it on all days and there are soft drinks and water available from the fridge. The lounge seems to be very small; it is basically two rooms with an additional room as meeting room
Which room did you book, and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Standard room and received Concierge Level Room. Booked a fully flexible rate with 5k points for around 215 USD per night (including taxes).
How are the rooms?
My room was located on the 5th floor.
The room was large.
After opening the door, one is in a small hallway. To the left was the bathroom with shower, sink and toilet. Shampoo, shower gel and soap were provided as well as body lotion (wall mounted large bottles). Towels (three large and three medium sized and two small ones were available). No slippers and bathrobes were provided. Water pressure was okay.
In the hallway to the bathroom was the closet with safe and hangers.
Th room consist of a bed with bedside tables on both sides. There was also an alarm clock in the right one.
Opposite the bed was a sideboard with fridge and tea and coffee utensils. There was also the TV and the desk with desk lamp and plugs. No USB ports and in general a lack of power outlets at the desk. There was a outlet and USB charging port at one of the bedside tables.
The a/c unit was a window mounted unit but controlled via panel at the wall.
Three lamps, one on the desk, one between the bed and one standing lamp. There were – very rare – spots on the ceiling. This was necessary, as the room was facing the nearby forest with trees very close by and thus the room very dark. There was an armchair.
In general, the room was well maintained but the style was a bit old fashioned, though not out of style.
How is the exec. lounge?
closed for evening reception, but I grabbed some Cokes from the fridge and coffee pads. I knew it, as it is mentioned on the homepage
What was good and what was bad?
Good
large Gym
large pool
staff in bar
size of room
free parking (with separate Diamond Parking close to the entrance)
Bar could be charged to room
Neutral
rooms are dark
use of chlorine in pool
Gym not open 24/7
Bad
Attentiveness of staff at restaurant during breakfast
Lounge not open on the weekend
Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
The rooms are bit dark, but the hotel is in general well connected to roads. They seem to have nicer and brighter rooms to the front. Fitness is not 24/7. Value for money was a mixed bag, but in generel hotels are quite expensive right now and the cities like Washington, New York, Philaldelphia are not exceptions.
For our purpose, it was okay though. I need a base and the larger facitilities like pool and gym was the selling point to me
In so far, I would return, if the rates are affordable, but not so much if the hotel is higher priced.
Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Bathroom of a room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Bathroom of a room on Concierge Level / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Restaurant Forrestal Grill during breakfast / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Restaurant Forrestal Grill during breakfast / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Concierge Lounge / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Lap Pool / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Fitness Center / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Fitness Center / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Fitness Center / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Fitness Center / Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center
Last edited by FLYGVA; Jun 23, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Reason: copied wrong verdict to post