Bohemian Hotel Celebration - Autograph Collection
Jan 18, 11, 8:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,447
Bohemian Hotel Celebration - Autograph Collection
I have a 5 night stay this week and overall, I'm less than impressed. It's a nice hotel in a decent location, but their treatment of MR Elites is poor and the general customer service is also not good.
Location
In the rather twee town of Celebration, 15 minutes from Disney but in a peaceful setting, on a lake with a decent selection of bars and restaurants within walking distance.
For someone who wants to travel to Orlando and avoid the mega hotels that abound, and find a quiet location, this is close to ideal.
Ambience and facilities
Colonial style building with a courtyard at the front. A nice reception area with a bar and a few tables which act as breakfast room and restaurant. It is well done and has a colonial, boutique feel.
Check in & elite treatment
Was fairly awful. There was one couple being checked in just before me, and as they left, I moved onto the seat (you check in sitting down), for the agent to ignore me, pick up a phone and make a call - not a good start.
When she got around to dealing with me, she told me that this was not really a Marriott but owned by Kessler Hotels (there is no Marriott branding anywhere). I did get offered point or Platinum amenity, and a breakfast coupon which, when I read it, offered a $10 credit on breakfast Monday to Friday. As a Continental Breakfast in $12 plus $3 for coffee and juice, it probably does not comply with the "free breakfast" offered to elites by MR.
As the convention I was attending offered breakfast for free, I did not make an issue of it, but it did leave a nasty taste.
Room
No upgrade offered. I did check when I got to the room and Studios were available for the duration of my stay, but I had a pleasant, well furnished lake view room. Again, they didn't seem to live by the letter of the law, but as I'd had a 20 hour journey to get there, all I wanted to do was sleep so I didn't go back down and make a fuss.
Other services
A 22% service charge for room service (plus room to add a tip on the check) seemed steep to someone used to 10 or 15% in Europe.
Valet parking was chaotic, with insufficient staff for the number of cars. On one occasion, they'd brought my car around, gone to get another, and I was able to pick my keys up from the stand, unlock the car and drive away.
Summary
If I were simply a guest, I'd probably enjoy staying there, because of the location and ambience. As a MR Elite, my attitude is never again. There must be hotels in the Orlando area where you are treated better than this, and there certainly can't be any where you're treated worse.
Location
In the rather twee town of Celebration, 15 minutes from Disney but in a peaceful setting, on a lake with a decent selection of bars and restaurants within walking distance.
For someone who wants to travel to Orlando and avoid the mega hotels that abound, and find a quiet location, this is close to ideal.
Ambience and facilities
Colonial style building with a courtyard at the front. A nice reception area with a bar and a few tables which act as breakfast room and restaurant. It is well done and has a colonial, boutique feel.
Check in & elite treatment
Was fairly awful. There was one couple being checked in just before me, and as they left, I moved onto the seat (you check in sitting down), for the agent to ignore me, pick up a phone and make a call - not a good start.
When she got around to dealing with me, she told me that this was not really a Marriott but owned by Kessler Hotels (there is no Marriott branding anywhere). I did get offered point or Platinum amenity, and a breakfast coupon which, when I read it, offered a $10 credit on breakfast Monday to Friday. As a Continental Breakfast in $12 plus $3 for coffee and juice, it probably does not comply with the "free breakfast" offered to elites by MR.
As the convention I was attending offered breakfast for free, I did not make an issue of it, but it did leave a nasty taste.
Room
No upgrade offered. I did check when I got to the room and Studios were available for the duration of my stay, but I had a pleasant, well furnished lake view room. Again, they didn't seem to live by the letter of the law, but as I'd had a 20 hour journey to get there, all I wanted to do was sleep so I didn't go back down and make a fuss.
Other services
A 22% service charge for room service (plus room to add a tip on the check) seemed steep to someone used to 10 or 15% in Europe.
Valet parking was chaotic, with insufficient staff for the number of cars. On one occasion, they'd brought my car around, gone to get another, and I was able to pick my keys up from the stand, unlock the car and drive away.
Summary
If I were simply a guest, I'd probably enjoy staying there, because of the location and ambience. As a MR Elite, my attitude is never again. There must be hotels in the Orlando area where you are treated better than this, and there certainly can't be any where you're treated worse.
Jan 18, 11, 11:50 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 70,572
Thanks for the update! Saw in a different thread that another FTer is staying at this property in May, so will send him a heads up to check out this thread.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Feb 26, 12, 4:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 6
I was in MCO on business and choose this property because I was aware that Disney planned the city of Celebration before ABC purchased them. Rather than to go into that. If I were on vacation I would have been put off by the service also as Platinum member I actually had to point out this fact. The staff is much to to laid back to be even given a 3 star rating. Just remember Kessler ran Days Inn before the Day family ran him off with a big buy $$$ out and thats how he started his boutique hotel chain.
I was upgraded to a lake view, where i am from thats a pond not a lake.
1. Rack rate is 210..00 and NO FLAT SCREEN TV"S...... They were in the process of upgrading the property.
2. I saw the prices on RS and also had a 10.00 off breakfast buffet which I did not use.
3. I paid 109.00 Fed Gov rate as we my company has a contract with the Feds. IMHO, this was a 109.00 a nite hotel because of the lack of service and attitude of the staff.
4. I would stay there again its quite and lots of nice restaurants you can walk to, no chains allowed in Celebration. Its very safe area. And your 5 minutes from I4 and all the Disney you can stomach.
I was upgraded to a lake view, where i am from thats a pond not a lake.
1. Rack rate is 210..00 and NO FLAT SCREEN TV"S...... They were in the process of upgrading the property.
2. I saw the prices on RS and also had a 10.00 off breakfast buffet which I did not use.
3. I paid 109.00 Fed Gov rate as we my company has a contract with the Feds. IMHO, this was a 109.00 a nite hotel because of the lack of service and attitude of the staff.
4. I would stay there again its quite and lots of nice restaurants you can walk to, no chains allowed in Celebration. Its very safe area. And your 5 minutes from I4 and all the Disney you can stomach.
