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Now that I've been there...
The hotel is NOT that bad... They were ready for us, checked us in at the concierge desk, offered us all bottled water, and set up the morning van all in about 2 minutes.
Got an envelope with a welcome letter to COEX crews from Management stating everything they offer us including:
-15% off at the Hotel Restaurant
-Hotel/LAX shuttles run every 20 minutes on the hour.
-Heated pool
-Fitness center with recently updated equipment
-Complimentary High Speed Wireless in the rooms and lobby as well as complimentarty use fo the business center if you do not have a computer.
-Crew Lounge in room 717 with Fridge, Microwave, TV,and extra seating.
Right around the corner is an internet bar/cafe, a Subway, and a McD's in the parking lot for the quick b-fast sandwich before the morning shuttle, etc... but the BEST part by far is the Ocean Express Shuttle!
This shuttle is a red trolly style bus that leaves from the front of the Clarion Hotel (Just around the corner of the HI, about a 30 second walk). It leaves every hour on the hour and is FREE (save a buck tip for the driver). It drops you at several places on the way to the beach including one stop in front of a 24 hour fitness, but the best stop is #8 Manhattan Beach. This is a super nice beach stop with a pier, white sandy beaches, walking/running paths, and a wonderful street life which includes several microbrewery's, pubs, restaurants, sushi-bars, stores, etc... beach volleyball is an option too (lot's of nets set up on the beach), one of the stores (it's a deli/grocery store) sold volleyballs so there ya go.
We hit a greek restaurant for appetizers, then a microbrewery for drinks while the FA went shopping, then met back up and hit the beach and pier, then back up the street for shopping, and hit the Octopus Sushi Bar for dinner, then back out to another bar, and lastly we topped it off with Ice Cream for all while waiting for the return shuttle...
To me it is better than the Santa Monica Pier shuttle from the raddison because there is so much more variety and many different stops, and it runs every hour and much later in the day, so the scheduling flexibility is better AND it doesn't get caught on the friggin' 405 for an hour.
Anyway, clean rooms, wake-up call on time, and no complaints on my end with the staff...
Here is a link to the shuttle schedule:
http://www.gatewaytola.org/pdf/ocean_express_summer.pdf with more info at http://www.gatewaytola.org/oceanexpress.html
The ninth stop looked really nice as well. It was a nice outdoor Mall area with some great retaurants, theater, and shops nearby. We didn't hit this stop just saw it on the way back.
So there ya go... just like in Mexico... GET OUT and explore and you may find that this is not such a bad place... and possibly... dare I say it... Better than the old one.
Bob
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