Bumping this thread for the purpose of posting a report on our Memorial Day weekend stay at this property.

First, many thanks to Yyzflyer, Bonzaiflyer, Tymike1 (apologies to any I've missed), for their advice/guidance that caused us to go ahead and make a reservation.

We live in northern NYC so we arrived in Pittsford after approximately a about 5 and a half hour drive.

FIRST IMPRESSION: Public areas suggested a well-maintained and scrupulously clean facility. For lack of a better word, I'd call the design theme to be "classic" executed in marble, mahogany and brass.

CHECK-IN: Warmly, efficiently and expeditiously executed by the front desk.

Platinum status recognized verbally; presented (continental) breakfast coupons (upon which actualy status was noted - never saw that previously AND included the notation "Gratuitiy Included"). EEO Complimentary Weekend accepted with comment "Don't worry, we know how these are supposed to be handled." We had requested a King room with a view of the Erie Canal and that's what they assigned to us. I don't think we were upgraded, but it didn't matter, our's was super-luxe with regard to appointments and servicing.

GUEST ROOM: I'd judge it to be slighty more than standard-sized though not immediately noticeable as such. There was the standard Marriott Armoire containing the TV, mini-bar and coffee maker, but in a departure from standard, a complimentary safe large enough to accomodate a lap top. Wired high-speed internet was available in the room (at no charge), but since the wife ruled this to be a "no-internet/no-homework weekend I never took advantage of it. (There is a laptop available in the lobby that can be used - at no charge). The armoir contains four drawers. There are an additional four drawers in a low-rise settee in front of the window, so storage space is substantially more than standard.

The closet is lit and contained an abundant number of hangers.

The bed (ah, the bed)! Personal opinion - the Del Monte Ren has outdone *wood's legendary Heavenly Bed.

First off, there's no pillow top; this one's a featherbed with a mattress "umpteen" inches thick. There are five large down pillows and one decorative one (one of those "cylinder" jobs - don't know what you'd call it.)

It's topped by a gold comforter which we removed since it was made redundant due to the extra-thick duvet sandwiched in linen of some extraordinarily high, heretofore uncharted threadcount (the wife's term).

Bathroom, like the bedroom, was slightly larger than usual.

It's marble, excellently lit, stocked with high-quality toiletries ("Bio-something") and what appears to be Restoration Hardware fixtures. Water pressure is excellent, hot water abundant and the tub is large enough for comfortable soaking (though we prefer showers and didn't try it out). Towels were thick and of high quality.

Rooms are serviced twice each day - they picked up that we didn't want the comforter on the bed and left it where we stored it - neatly folded. Not only are they not into this "green room" thing, but room servicing included replacing the robes on a daily basis - something I've never experienced before.

Each night, at turndown fresh robes were left along with the mints and a card with the next day's weather forecast.

As a side note, we're into the habit of tipping housekeeping on a daily basis. For starters it assures that the person who did the work each day gets a fair share of the gratuitiy and for completely selfish reasons, we seem to get something a little above standard service (without asking. extra towels and bath amenties and something beyond "refreshing of the room" in the evening.
(Besides, these people have an exceedingly difficult, physically demanding job, we know that they are the most easily "stiffed" and frankly, since we feel sorry for them, do not have to do what they do to put food on the table, and moreover, can afford it, when it is deserved, as it was in this case, we tip generously.)

DINING: This hotel has one restaurant, the well-regarded Erie Grill, previously praised by other FT posters.

Our complimentary coupons were marked "Continental Breakfast" but our server (who noticed them lying on our table) quickly informed us that we were entitled to anything on the menu. Not being particulary hungry that first morning (we'd eaten at PF Chang's in the nearby East View Mall).

So, we ordered "continentals" - w/muffin for the wife; bagel for me. We already had our fresh-squeezed OJ and were served coffee and were admiring the view of the Erie Canal from the window next to our table when our breakfasts arrived.

Yikes! I have never, ever, seen continental breakfasts this large! (BTW, they were priced at $8 on the menu.) We both received good-sized servings of frest fruit, cantaloupe, honey dew, pineapple, fresh raspberries, black berries and blue berries. Her "muffin" was actually TWO huge ones and I recived two toasted bagels with enough cream cheese to cause an instant heart attack.

(If that was "continental breakfast" I could just imagine the size of a traditional one.) It was so good the next morning we chose the continental again, only this time breakfast pastry for me (yep, two huge ones; very fresh and warm) and a split for the wife; one muffin/one pastry (along with the previously-noted fresh fruit, coffee and OJ.

Our last morning we we opted for a change. The wife selected belgian "vanilla malt" waffles which came with fruit and some sort of cream (and maple syrup) and I went with a couple of eggs with toast and potatos.

We were all set to try the Erie Grill for dinner (and use our "free entree" EEO coupon, but alas, the restaurant was reserved for private functions our remaining two nights.)

As an alternative, we ate one night at a restaurant named the Schoen Place (something) and the other at a pub a few doors down and across North Main from the hotel.

OTHER: One afternoon the wife opted to wallow in the hotel's spa (she really liked it) and I thought I'd swim some laps.

No soap, the small indoor pool was dominated by families replete with kids.

Normally I don't care, can ignore all of it and do my thing, but the diminutive pool made that impossible. There was no corner that was free from the screaming, splashing and horse play.

I don't blame the kids because they are kids. The parents though should understand that their partaking and encouraging this kind of behavior is really gauche in the context of a property such as the Del Monte.

We did get out over the weekend (the weather not being as bad as first forecasted).

Pittsford's a charming little town; a throwback to when life was less complicated (and more civil). For a New Yorker, the absence of unnecessary horn-honking and road rage was something that was hard to get used to, but undeniably wonderful. The Erie Canal towpath and Schoen Place evoked another time and made without effort you felt yourself "chilling out" and calming down.

After experencing it I can well understand why the Ren Del Monte is so well regarded by the other FT'rs.