Alton Towers Hotel, Staffordshire*
Alton Towers Resort, Alton, Staffordshire
The female crew of the Elliott and the Barker family, stayed at Alton Towers Resort for couple of days (thank you Dads looking after the little two!) as a special treat for the girls. The girls (Eve 8, Lottie 6, Emily 9 and Hannah 6) as to be expected were very excited and this turned into shrieks of delight when we checked in at reception. With bags safely checked in and having booked ourselves in for an evening meal in the in the Secret Garden Restaurant, we hoped on board the adjacent monorail for the start of our adventure.
For further details of our fun day out at Alton Towers Theme Park and Waterpark please check out our blog feature. But needless to say it was a good job we were staying for the full two days, as there was so much to entertain the kids and sometimes one ride on an attraction was never enough. Hannah's "Mum... can we go on again" after the Enterprise ride set the tone of the day. Staying at the Alton Towers Hotel you are allowed into the park an hour before the park officially opens (early ride time not available during Scarefest, adrenalin week and February half-term).
The Accommodation
The fun themed Explorer rooms sleep a family of four to five with a comfy double bed and bunk beds or two single beds. All rooms have a 26" flat screen LCD TV, tea and coffee making facilities and an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. The rooms were clean, quirky and fun and the welcome goodies and cartons of juices were gratefully polished off.
For guests wanting an extra special treat there are 12 magnificently themed rooms. My particular favourite was the Benjamin Bunny room but the girls loved the Sleepover room. All of the rooms have lots of surprising features, some of which are hidden and will require a little bit of exploring. Because of the limited availability, these themed rooms get booked up early. So to avoid disappointment please call 0871 222 9950.
Family facilities room
These were found on every floor of the hotel and were ideal for those days when you returned to the hotel thoroughly drenched from the Battle Galleons ride or a duff day's weather. Just pop your wet clothes into the dryer and no need to worry about damp clothes in the morning.
Children's Entertainment
There is fabulous evening entertainment for all ages and especially the children. Every night Alton Towers Hotel becomes a stage for some fantastic family entertainment. Whether it's meeting Pirate Bill or dancing the night away to popular hits performed by live vocalist, it's a great way to end your day.
Food and Drink
There are two options for your evening meal. You can either book your family into Flambo's for a buffet style eat as much as you like at a fixed price (based next door in the Splash Landings Hotel) or for a more formal 3 course meal we checked into the Secret Garden Restaurant located on the ground floor of the Alton Towers Hotel. The food was definitely tasty and I have never seen so many polished off plates. Please note this restaurant is not a fast food place and if you expect quick service you're best off with Flambo's. In between courses the girls kept popping out to view the resident entertainment that was of a high standard - especially the singing group, which inspired their ambitions of pop stardom.
The Secret Garden Restaurant is open for breakfast between 7.30 am and 10 am, serving buffet style English breakfast. There was a wide variety to tempt those early morning taste buds. You can choose from a selection of breakfast favourites of cereals, pastries, fruits and of course the traditional cooked breakfast, all washed down with a choice of tea, coffee and fruit juices.
Lasting Impressions
I think you can say it was an enjoyable two days break, jam packed full of fantastic fun and family times. Both Joanne and I felt exhausted after our adrenaline packed weekend - a good sign and in hindsight should have checked ourselves into the spa before setting back for home. The girls of course are already asking to go back for more. Next time it's the Dads turn!