Virginia Beach/Norfolk
Dec 22, 2003, 11:31 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA MM Lifetime Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 451
i've spent tens of weeks in this area on business. i'm usually limited to govt. rate on hotel rooms. so here are my thoughts:
Sheraton Norfolk: average rooms, bad food, good people
Marriott Courtyard (Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach: great rooms (all face the ocean), good food, good people.
Sheraton VA Beach: good people, bad rooms, average food
Marriott Courtyard VA Beach (on Newtown Road) - only, if the other stuff is sold out.
Marriott Courtyard Norfolk: clean rooms, but parking is a pain, and the staff leaves much to be desired.
For me these days, I've been staying at the Sheraton in Norfolk. I've switched to the SPG program and love it. If you're a Hilton type person, there's a Hilton at the Norfolk airport which is pretty good (and despite the name it is fairly convenient).
Sheraton Norfolk: average rooms, bad food, good people
Marriott Courtyard (Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach: great rooms (all face the ocean), good food, good people.
Sheraton VA Beach: good people, bad rooms, average food
Marriott Courtyard VA Beach (on Newtown Road) - only, if the other stuff is sold out.
Marriott Courtyard Norfolk: clean rooms, but parking is a pain, and the staff leaves much to be desired.
For me these days, I've been staying at the Sheraton in Norfolk. I've switched to the SPG program and love it. If you're a Hilton type person, there's a Hilton at the Norfolk airport which is pretty good (and despite the name it is fairly convenient).
Dec 22, 2003, 11:36 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Seattle, WA;HH Diamond, Avis PS, DL PM & 1MM ... back to travelling the globe consulting aerospace engineering
Posts: 749
A lot depends on where you're working/visiting while there. Are you planning to physically be at VA Beach or ???
But even more important than where to stay is that -
I-64 West = North
I-64 East = South
When you leave ORF, failure to catch this sublte interstate nomenclature will definitely lead you on a city-wide tour.
GMF
But even more important than where to stay is that -
I-64 West = North
I-64 East = South
When you leave ORF, failure to catch this sublte interstate nomenclature will definitely lead you on a city-wide tour.
GMF
Dec 22, 2003, 11:44 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 2
business in Norfolk, want to stay at the beach
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by goldmedallionflyer:
A lot depends on where you're working/visiting while there. Are you planning to physically be at VA Beach or ???
But even more important than where to stay is that -
I-64 West = North
I-64 East = South
When you leave ORF, failure to catch this sublte interstate nomenclature will definitely lead you on a city-wide tour.
GMF</font>
A lot depends on where you're working/visiting while there. Are you planning to physically be at VA Beach or ???
But even more important than where to stay is that -
I-64 West = North
I-64 East = South
When you leave ORF, failure to catch this sublte interstate nomenclature will definitely lead you on a city-wide tour.
GMF</font>
Dec 23, 2003, 6:46 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Seattle, WA;HH Diamond, Avis PS, DL PM & 1MM ... back to travelling the globe consulting aerospace engineering
Posts: 749
And don't forget that most of the beach businesses are closed down for the season. It's a pretty dead place during the off season.
I was digging through my previous initeraries to see what was worth recommending to you ... the more I reviewed these, the more convinced I became that I have nothing to recommend out that way. There is a Sheraton on the beach, but I have not stayed there before.
There is also great property on the harbor in Norfolk, and it's a reasonable drive along the coast to VA beach when you want to visit a beachside ghost town in the winter.
If I had to choose between these two for a stay between Nov - April, the Norfolk Waterside would definitely be they way to go.
GMF
I was digging through my previous initeraries to see what was worth recommending to you ... the more I reviewed these, the more convinced I became that I have nothing to recommend out that way. There is a Sheraton on the beach, but I have not stayed there before.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Ocean Front and 36th Street
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
Phone (757) 425-9000 Fax (757) 428-5352
</font>
Ocean Front and 36th Street
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
Phone (757) 425-9000 Fax (757) 428-5352
</font>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
777 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Phone (757) 622-6664 Fax (757) 625-8271
</font>
777 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Phone (757) 622-6664 Fax (757) 625-8271
</font>
GMF
Dec 23, 2003, 6:46 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Georgia
Programs: DL, US
Posts: 707
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jan_az:
Are you SURE???
Have you checked the bridge at rush hour
Norfork to VA Beach will take over an hour in rush hour traffic- just an FYI</font>
Are you SURE???
Have you checked the bridge at rush hour
Norfork to VA Beach will take over an hour in rush hour traffic- just an FYI</font>
You don't have to cross any bridges to get from Norfolk to Va Beach. Now if you had to cross the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel, then traffic would be a mess.
Dec 23, 2003, 6:54 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA MM Lifetime Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 451
yeah, it all depends on your preference.
i had long assignment last winter where I stayed every weekend from early January till late March at the marriott courtyard on the beach. i loved it. i watched the sunrise every morning. the place was very quiet and peaceful and i didn't mind the commute.
however, now that i've "been there, done that". i stay primarily at the Sheraton Waterside as was recommended above by the other poster. the SPG program is far better and the location is great. There's many good restaurants to walk to and a large Mall which isn't too far away. You can walk there easily in good weather.
i had long assignment last winter where I stayed every weekend from early January till late March at the marriott courtyard on the beach. i loved it. i watched the sunrise every morning. the place was very quiet and peaceful and i didn't mind the commute.
however, now that i've "been there, done that". i stay primarily at the Sheraton Waterside as was recommended above by the other poster. the SPG program is far better and the location is great. There's many good restaurants to walk to and a large Mall which isn't too far away. You can walk there easily in good weather.
Dec 23, 2003, 8:13 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
stayed at the Turtle Cay on 600 Atlantic Avenue, VA Beach on Saturday. Very nice suites ($500/night) although the staff are pretty surly
Dec 24, 2003, 1:14 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
I've spent the past four months in Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth (all around that area and part of the region -- Tidewater) and currently stay at the Renaissance Portsmouth. I've stayed at both Sheraton's and while the one in Norfolk has a good location I thought the rooms had very thin walls -- I didn't think my neighbors were unreasonably loud but I could hear them like they were in my room. The one in Virginia Beach is fine -- it's just old and somewhat run down.
The beach is fun to stay at for a few nights, but traffic, even w/o bridges and tunnels (with them, it's impossible) makes me usually want to stay close to work. I know many folks stay in 'Virginia Beach' but not the beach per se -- the city of Virginia Beach is humongous .. there's a new Hilton Garden Inn that I hear is nice.
enjoy
The beach is fun to stay at for a few nights, but traffic, even w/o bridges and tunnels (with them, it's impossible) makes me usually want to stay close to work. I know many folks stay in 'Virginia Beach' but not the beach per se -- the city of Virginia Beach is humongous .. there's a new Hilton Garden Inn that I hear is nice.
enjoy
Dec 24, 2003, 10:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL Plat, MR Gold, US Gold, AA Gold, Hyatt Plat, SW same as everyone else!
Posts: 104
Norfolk Marriott is nice. A bit pricey, though. Its right downtown and only 2 blocks from the waterfront. There is a great restaurant across the street from the destroyer (?) on the waterfront. I can't remember the name, but I ate there a month ago and it was very good! Excellent foie gras and terrific wine list and waitstaff!
Dec 25, 2003, 9:32 am
#13
Join Date: May 2001
Programs: UA 2MM, DL MM
Posts: 3,144
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hershmeister:
Norfolk Marriott is nice. A bit pricey, though. Its right downtown and only 2 blocks from the waterfront. There is a great restaurant across the street from the destroyer (?) on the waterfront. I can't remember the name, but I ate there a month ago and it was very good! Excellent foie gras and terrific wine list and waitstaff!</font>
Norfolk Marriott is nice. A bit pricey, though. Its right downtown and only 2 blocks from the waterfront. There is a great restaurant across the street from the destroyer (?) on the waterfront. I can't remember the name, but I ate there a month ago and it was very good! Excellent foie gras and terrific wine list and waitstaff!</font>
On the hotel question - the beach is depressing this time of year unless you like walking/running in the morning. Downtown Norfolk is a much better location for after hours activities. The Granby street eateries are a delight with a wide variety of foods (try Bodega for a "tapas" style dinner) and in 5 minutes you can be at Ghent with it's own unique charms.
Dec 27, 2003, 11:02 pm
#15
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
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runningshoes - Is Doumar's still in business? I was working with a client a few years ago and went in for an Egg-o-Doumar breakfast almost every morning 