Post #327470 by tikiwinebear on Wed, Aug 22, 2007 4:10 PM

This is our second year at Tiki Oasis, so I can't compare it to the Caliente events. Since I knew most of the hotels in the San Diego area, I don't think Otto could have found a better choice - enough rooms, enough outside space for a stage, enough room outside to set up a Vendor showcase, tropical settings with a giant swimming pool, and spacious enough rooms to host room crawls for thirsty rum drinkers. The only other possibility would have been either Humphrey's/Half Moon Inn or the Catamaran (on Mission Bay). But, I know H/HMI doesn't have enough rooms to accommodate all of the Tiki Oasis goers; but a point in their favor is that they are across the round-a-bout from the Bali Hai restaurant.

The front desk staff at Crowne Plaza was fantastic. The guy who checked us in reviewed our reservations and all the special requests we had (quiet room, need a refrigerator, etc) and gave us 3 options on the room. I am also a member of Priority Club, which gives kissy points if you stay at any of their affiliate hotels, and he was able to locate my registration number so I got the 7200 points for the stay there. I spoke with a desk clerk upon checkout and she admitted their staff was scared due to all the noise complaints they had last year, though we would be taking up the entire hotel. But she admitted we were "orderly" and they loved us and welcome us back next year.

Housekeeping was also above average and was always able to find time when we weren't in the room to clean it; they didn't want to clean when it was convenient for them. The trash cans around the buildings could have been emptied a few more times, but there was never any trash laying around or obstacles to avoid. The ice machines couldn't accommodate our needs either (enough said on that point).

We too had a couple difficulties with the Food & Beverage service staff. On the most part, when a hotel knows it is running 80%+ it needs to review any planned, group dining events. Tiki Oasis goers were on their own for all meals, thus they should have understood all food outlets would be slammed, and staff their servers accordingly. With the upstairs "coffee shop" closed, they had to rely on their main dining room, the sushi bar, and the grilling cart outside by the pool for all of us rum drinks to get some nourishment. When the waiter has to tell the hostess and manager of the restaurant where the division of his station (tables) is, then you know something is wrong.

Our first experience in the dining room wasn't too bad, but a table next to us, in a different waiters station, had to get the manager's attention when they hadn't even been served drinks after 40 minutes. My second experience was waiting 25 minutes before my server acknowledged my existence. Lastly, at the sushi bar, we waited 20 minutes to pay our bill while there was a line of people waiting to get a table. But, we never went unfed, the food was good, and the staff always seemed to smooth out the problems before we left.

I would definitely stay at the Crowne Plaza again. But, I would not rely on their Food & Beverage outlets for most of my meals. San Diego is packed with wonderful restaurants and delivery services to help keep the blood sugars regulated after all that rum! I can only see things improving each year we return.

Myke