You Get The Room You Pay For In This Hotel!

Stowehof Inn:  434 Edson Hill Road, Stowe VT 05672

Rate: One Bed Queen; Bought at $89 thru Hotwire; Available at Groupon for 2 nights at $200

Amenities: Indoor and Outdoor Pool, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Restaurant, Chess, Library

Rating: 3.5/5

We went on a road trip to Vermont without hotel reservations so me and my husband tried to find good deals online. I told him there's one at Groupon for 2 nights but we'll only stay for the night so we can't get it. Then we tried Hotwire with their lowest possible promotion - get one of the 3-star hotels in the area. When we arrived there, it looked familiar, and oh yes, we were able to book the same place they're trying to sell in Groupon! We got lucky, I told my husband.

We arrived at Stowehof Inn after 6PM and the receptionist told my husband there was no available room anymore but one so we took it. My husband was also told how come we were able to purchase it at a very low price, when their rooms are normally $100+. My husband didn't know what to say but "It was from Hotwire". Then we went out for dinner. As soon as we get back, my husband started complaining that it was hot. Then we realized the AC was not working and we were with a 2-year old. MY OH MY, THEY DIDN'T TELL US OUR ROOM DO NOT HAVE AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM! Sorry for the caps lock, just imagine me screaming. My husband tried to tell the receptionist but was sarcastically told, "Is there no electric fan up there?" or something like that. That is not the best customer service-oriented person I expected from a physically good-looking inn and who claims to have a great hospitality service. It is not right that we get that kind of room even if we were able to get it at a low price. It is not our fault. We tried to contact Hotwire to and they were not able to help us. Oh well, we just have to get through the night and we're totally out! That was the only not-so-good thing that happened though. I just told my husband to forget it.

The Room

According to the book provided in the room, the inn was renovated. Maybe not our room since in the first place, the AC's not working. The wallpapers were old as well as the paint. Some paint on the door's frame were chipping and I thought the lock was hard to manipulate. Good thing the bed sheet and all looked clean. I always bring a lint roller with me and I thought I didn't need it. As you can see, there's a small table where the TV and electric fan was placed. The window in the corner was the only window in the room and the view was the way to the entrance and the parking area. It's not awful, just weird. That door you can see leads to the bathroom. Need to mention that there were hangers in the dresser but there's no ironing board. Maybe because it's not an office area.

The Bathroom

Ample amount of towels were provided. There were shampoos and conditioners as well as lotion. It looks nice in the picture but the toiled and the basin's not updated. I can't sit in the seat, actually. Even if I use sanitizers already. Also, you can't leave your kid along in the bathtub because it was slippery. My daughter slipped and almost hit her head, good thing I held her in my arms. My husband told me to use the towel and place it in the tub so we won't get into any accident. I hope they provide tub mats to avoid untoward incidents. 

Breakfast
The next best free hotel breakfast I've ever had. There's this I think famous restaurant within the inn and I think that's where we were served breakfast. There were four options of the main dish, unlike the usual two. I thought the bacon and pancakes+syrup were homemade, even the eggs tasted different, by that I mean great! There was coffee and Swiss Miss branded hot chocolate and single-served Kellogs cereals for kids.

You dine in a plain white cloth covered round table with up to four chairs with the view of green grass, mountains and the outdoor pool. The people you'll get to be with looks pleasant and even the servers that morning were great! I wonder ho my husband met the night before.

Parking
The parking near the inn is always full so you have to walk like 500 feet to get to the other lot. It rained during our two days in Vermont so you'll have to walk through an unpaved walkway and if you're not careful, you'll get your feet soaked in mud. LOL. I think that's one thing they need to work on.

Amenities
My husband and little one tried the pools. The outdoor pool was okay but there were insects floating and swimming. It's tolerable though. Maybe it's normal because it's outside and there are lots of trees. The indoor pool was not heated. The sauna was too hot. Didn't try all the other amenities mentioned above.

If you want to know what our room number was so you can avoid it, just comment on this post so I can PM you.

Having tried this inn, do you think we'll come back? Well, maybe, but if I am going to recommend this to my friends, I'm going to tell them to at least avoid Room Number... ;)

*Approximate only and rates were available during the July 4th weekend; Other fees and taxes exclusive

DISCLAIMER I was not compensated in anyway to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

Rain 903 Restaurant and Lounge at Sheraton Hotel

Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Budget: $20-$40/person
Address: 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204

It was my husband's birthday and we wanted to celebrate it somewhere nice. We thought of somewhere near and that we haven't tried. We thought Rain 903 would be the perfect place, unfortunately, we were dismayed. I thought the place was great though, I love the ambiance, perfect for dates!

Food
Wherever there's calamari, we try it. The one you'll see in the photo looks crispy, but don't be fooled. It doesn't have the crispiness I expected from something that was fried. Also, according to the menu, it's "Tender Calamari & Zesty Banana Peppers served with Cocktail Sauce", maybe it's the banana peppers I didn't like. I also thought it was salty, rather extra salty.

My husband ordered Filet Mignon and the presentation was really nice but I'd say our home-cooked style is better. The meat was blunt according to my husband and I tried it too to confirm. I am not sure whether they marinate it or not but I hope they do something about it because filet minon's are supposed to be tasty, right? He finished it though because it was a bit pricey. He didn't finish the mashed potato so I did it for him so as not to waste anything. I normally like food with sauces but that thing that looked like gravy, I am not a fan of it.

Filet Mignon

Crispy Calamari and  Soup, Salad and Sandwich

I forgot to ask what the ingredient of the soup was because I've tasted that before and I really don't like it. I think it's the reddish orange powder, if you know what it is please inform me. The first time I tasted it from somewhere else, the powder was just on top, this time, it was mixed! Can't do anything to remove it so I decided not to eat it at all, I just tasted it once. So, what was left for me to eat? The 1/2 sandwich was supposed to be "white cheddar, tomato and bacon" which, if I'm not mistaken, became only cheddar and tomato. They must have forgotten the bacon! I am 90% sure of it because sandwich was the only thing left for me and so I am excited to finish it. Plus, bacon is one of my favorite sandwich ingredients! If they did put a bacon, they probably placed 1/3 of a tiny strip because when I opened the sandwich at 2/3, I didn't see any bacon at all. I showed it to my husband and he told our server. Our server did check and she replaced it, we had to wait several minutes though before the sandwich was replaced! Again, the toasted bread [sandwich] was salty! Oh my, the only thing that wasn't salty in our order was wine! LOL.

Cleanliness
It was great, I didn't have to use a hand sanitizer to wipe dirt off the table. It was carpeted and I saw no crumbs on the floor. Didn't see smudges on the utensils too, which was great.

Kid-Friendliness
They have a wide selection from the kid's menu but there's no mac and cheese. Good thing they have pizza. At least my little one can share it with me to make me feel full. If you look at their kid's menu online, I think it hasn't been updated yet,because I didn't see any pizza in there.

They have high chairs ready and they provide kid's menu with the usual activities on it but they don't have crayons.

Customer Service
We were treated nicely by our server and the other personnel there but I thought the food preparation was slow.

Complimentary Stuff
Bread. I am not sure if they're strict about it but a personnel there asked us if we wanted to have some. I thought we'll be given a loaf that was sliced, instead, we were given a basket with two pieces bread, my little one was not even included in the count. I'd say it was good and they serve it warm. I wish they gave us six.

So, having tried and tested it, are we going back? Even if I gave them a 2.5 rating, maybe, because Sheraton Hotel, where this restaurant is, is connected to the mall. Also, only if I'm not with my husband, maybe with a girlfriend if I wanted to drink. In case I'm going to order a food, I'll request that they do not make it salty and I'll ask for at least two breads per person! Maybe that will make things better.

DISCLAIMER

I was not compensated in anyway to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.