Bristol, England with a 4yo
Sep 5th, 2011, 02:13 PM
#42
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Well we had a pretty fabulous time in Bristol, Anneliese was asking when we can go again before we'd even got home 
Didn't unfortunately make it to the Kite Festival, staying at the zoo till closing on the Saturday put paid to that idea. On the Sunday we visited the SS Great Britain around lunchtime and then went and had a look round HMS Ledbury, which was a real bonus
Weather was ok on the Saturday and then turned warm by the evening, Sunday was warm and sunny but turned to rain around dinner time which meant we only ventured as far as Cabot Circus for dinner.
Today it was raining most of the day but we went to @Bristol, monday afternoons in termtime, they let under 5s in free and parents/carers go half price, total bargain at £5.67!
The only downside is that i've come home with a cold
but i suspect that was more the constant change in the weather
The City Centre Marriott was pretty good, we managed to get a room on the top floor, only letdown was that rooms are advertised as having a refrigerator but they were formally the minibar and are alarmed so you can't store personal food/drink in them but for most people that probably wouldnt matter
Didn't unfortunately make it to the Kite Festival, staying at the zoo till closing on the Saturday put paid to that idea. On the Sunday we visited the SS Great Britain around lunchtime and then went and had a look round HMS Ledbury, which was a real bonus
Weather was ok on the Saturday and then turned warm by the evening, Sunday was warm and sunny but turned to rain around dinner time which meant we only ventured as far as Cabot Circus for dinner.
Today it was raining most of the day but we went to @Bristol, monday afternoons in termtime, they let under 5s in free and parents/carers go half price, total bargain at £5.67!
The only downside is that i've come home with a cold
but i suspect that was more the constant change in the weatherThe City Centre Marriott was pretty good, we managed to get a room on the top floor, only letdown was that rooms are advertised as having a refrigerator but they were formally the minibar and are alarmed so you can't store personal food/drink in them but for most people that probably wouldnt matter
Sep 5th, 2011, 02:34 PM
#43
only letdown was that rooms are advertised as having a refrigerator but they were formally the minibar and are alarmed so you can't store personal food/drink in them but for most people that probably wouldn't matter>>
what? an alarm goes off when you put things IN?
how does that work?
glad you had such a good time. any zoo highlights?
what? an alarm goes off when you put things IN?
how does that work?
glad you had such a good time. any zoo highlights?
Sep 5th, 2011, 02:57 PM
#44
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Its one of the annoying mini bars (they can be stocked but you'll be charged for everything if you ask them) when they were stocked even touching an item would cause you to be charged. The alarm went off when i opened it it was disguised as a cuboard with no indication of what it was :/
Housekeeping explained that if you put personal food/drink in the fridge also sold by Marriott they wouldn't be able to differentiate between it being "theirs" or yours bought from a shop so it didn't really seem worth the effort..
The Penguins and the Seals were the main highlight at the zoo, they have a Seal Pup at the moment, was soooo cute!!
Anneliese enjoyed the playground, the water fun and face painting we spent 6 and a half hours there so definately got our money's worth 
it was disguised as a cuboard with no indication of what it was :/Housekeeping explained that if you put personal food/drink in the fridge also sold by Marriott they wouldn't be able to differentiate between it being "theirs" or yours bought from a shop so it didn't really seem worth the effort..
The Penguins and the Seals were the main highlight at the zoo, they have a Seal Pup at the moment, was soooo cute!!
Anneliese enjoyed the playground, the water fun and face painting
we spent 6 and a half hours there so definately got our money's worth
Sep 5th, 2011, 03:03 PM
#45
haven't come across that sort before - i'll look out for them now!
a seal pup - I'll have to tell DD. it might come in useful at her interview, you never know.
6 1/2 hours at the zoo is pretty good - money's worth indeed.
a seal pup - I'll have to tell DD. it might come in useful at her interview, you never know.
6 1/2 hours at the zoo is pretty good - money's worth indeed.
Sep 5th, 2011, 03:43 PM
#46
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I'd heard about them but not come accross them, i didn't stay anywhere in the US that had a mini bar, just standard refrigerators
Apparently Hilton's have the same type. I wouldn't have minded so much if it had actually been stocked, instead they invited you to choose the items required and then you'd have to pay for all of them whether you used them or not, needless to say Sainsbury's down the street was more than sufficient
Apparently Hilton's have the same type. I wouldn't have minded so much if it had actually been stocked, instead they invited you to choose the items required and then you'd have to pay for all of them whether you used them or not, needless to say Sainsbury's down the street was more than sufficient
Sep 6th, 2011, 02:02 AM
#47
I wouldn't have minded so much if it had actually been stocked, instead they invited you to choose the items required and then you'd have to pay for all of them whether you used them or not,>>
I've certainly never come across a mini-bar like that. mostly you use what you want and pay just for that when you leave. I agree that Sainsbury's is greatly preferable, and i should think that very few people would bother at all - that, or drink the lot!
I've certainly never come across a mini-bar like that. mostly you use what you want and pay just for that when you leave. I agree that Sainsbury's is greatly preferable, and i should think that very few people would bother at all - that, or drink the lot!
Sep 9th, 2011, 05:06 PM
#48
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Typically i already have a little girl asking when we can next go to Bristol, although as i'd like to visit the Bristol Museum and the M Shed i think a solo trip (just me) would be better What are the christmas markets in Bath like anyone? are they worth visiting?
What are the christmas markets in Bath like anyone? are they worth visiting?
Nov 3rd, 2011, 11:28 AM
#49
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sorry to dig this out again, but am i right in believing that The Royal Marriott is the nicer of the two Marriotta?? Only right now its cheaper than the other for the week between xmas and new year and tempted to grab it!
Nov 3rd, 2011, 11:48 AM
#50
Hi fredandginger,
never stayed at either, but the position of the Royal is very nice, being in Clifton, though the other is closer to main shops etc, For the period you are looking at it is a bit cheaper I think, though when I looked for rooms for 3, the website directed me to Cardiff.
the differential isn't great so i'd go for th one which is most convenient and appeals most.
never stayed at either, but the position of the Royal is very nice, being in Clifton, though the other is closer to main shops etc, For the period you are looking at it is a bit cheaper I think, though when I looked for rooms for 3, the website directed me to Cardiff.
the differential isn't great so i'd go for th one which is most convenient and appeals most.
Nov 3rd, 2011, 01:46 PM
#52
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It is years since I have been in either Marriott, but I would have thought that the Royal is the plusher and more stylish hotel. It is not in Clifton, since it is right next to the Cathedral. It is more convenient for the harbourside and museums, but less good for the shops.
College Green, just by the hotel, is currently occupied by protesters in tents. They may be gone by Christmas, especially if the weather changes, but they might affect your stay. No danger, just inconvenience.
College Green, just by the hotel, is currently occupied by protesters in tents. They may be gone by Christmas, especially if the weather changes, but they might affect your stay. No danger, just inconvenience.
Nov 3rd, 2011, 01:57 PM
#53
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Thats a good point, i'd forgotten about them (i was only by College Green on sunday as well hangs head in shame), I read an article saying they'd hoped they'd leave before Remembrance Sunday but of course they could return :/
We don't seem to spend much time in the shops (i barely went near them at the weekend) spending more time round the harbour area, the only thing that i dislike is that the bed arrangement at the Royal is 1 Queen as opposed to the option of 2 doubles at The City Centre Marriott but the ups outweigh the downs otherwise!
We don't seem to spend much time in the shops (i barely went near them at the weekend) spending more time round the harbour area, the only thing that i dislike is that the bed arrangement at the Royal is 1 Queen as opposed to the option of 2 doubles at The City Centre Marriott but the ups outweigh the downs otherwise!
Nov 3rd, 2011, 02:44 PM
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The Royal IS the nicer of the two. I've just cancelled our room there over Christmas because we're going to be at home. However the reason I'd booked it so early was to make sure we got it!
As far as the room is concerned you should ring the Marriott itself and ask to be put through to that particular hotel. Ask them if they have what you want. In my experience the central booking system books what their computer tells them the hotel offers. I found out some time ago that in Edinburgh for example they have a great room for two adults and children which is one room off another but because it wasn't the standard configuration it wasn't marketed unless you rang the hotel.
As far as the room is concerned you should ring the Marriott itself and ask to be put through to that particular hotel. Ask them if they have what you want. In my experience the central booking system books what their computer tells them the hotel offers. I found out some time ago that in Edinburgh for example they have a great room for two adults and children which is one room off another but because it wasn't the standard configuration it wasn't marketed unless you rang the hotel.
Mar 7th, 2012, 05:04 PM
#55
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Last easter was clearly more of a success than i realised, i didn't even get to offer options this year on where to go Bristol was the given choice! Staying at the Novotel, picked up 3-4-2 offer including breakfast for £183 which didn't seem to bad
Mar 8th, 2012, 12:01 AM
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We stayed at the Novotel in December and would stay there again. If that is 3 nights for £183 it sounds too good to miss.
Since I last posted I've also been to the MShed. Don't think that you have to go there without junior. There were loads and loads of families with young children. The whole experience is geared to families and the food in the cafe was good too.
Since I last posted I've also been to the MShed. Don't think that you have to go there without junior. There were loads and loads of families with young children. The whole experience is geared to families and the food in the cafe was good too.
Mar 8th, 2012, 12:47 AM
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The protesters have now left College Green, but they left it in a mess so the whole area has been returfed. That means that it is not currently accessible, but will be later in the spring, depending on the weather.
Looking back through these posts, I could not see that anyone had mentioned @Bristol. It is a science exploratory down by Millennium Square, aimed at children. Well worth a visit.
Looking back through these posts, I could not see that anyone had mentioned @Bristol. It is a science exploratory down by Millennium Square, aimed at children. Well worth a visit.
Mar 10th, 2012, 07:22 AM
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Yep £183 for 3 nights, when i first saw it (online) i was so surprised that i phoned both Accor and then the hotel to enquire if it was real or not, neither of them could see the deal but advised me to book it, then a few days ago i recieved an email about 3-4-2 at Accor Hotels, clearly they started their offer earliar than the advertising started!
I've been to the Mshed but my daughter hasn't but i agree with it being good for kids, i saw a lot of families there but wasn't sure prior to going how good it was for children!
We went to @Bristol last September, my daughter didn't get much out of it which disappointed me specially considering how much it costs, we were fortunate enough to be there in term time on a Monday when under 5's are admitted free but i'm not sure if i'd pay to visit again
Hmmm will stay away from College Green then, shame they had to leave it in a mess
I've been to the Mshed but my daughter hasn't but i agree with it being good for kids, i saw a lot of families there but wasn't sure prior to going how good it was for children!
We went to @Bristol last September, my daughter didn't get much out of it which disappointed me specially considering how much it costs, we were fortunate enough to be there in term time on a Monday when under 5's are admitted free but i'm not sure if i'd pay to visit again
Hmmm will stay away from College Green then, shame they had to leave it in a mess
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