Sheraton St. John's: Newfoundland's BEST Hotel? You Decide!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a messy, honest, funny, and highly personal review. Forget those dry, corporate reviews – this is gonna be the real deal. We're talking about EVERYTHING, from the blissful to the "are you serious?" and everything in between. Think of it as a stream-of-consciousness travel diary, peppered with my slightly-obsessive attention to detail (it's a gift, I swear).
Let's Call This Place "The Grand Splurge" (Because, You Know, It's Trying To Be)
So, "The Grand Splurge." Yeah, okay. They’re aiming high. Luxury is a promise, a whispered expectation, a vibe. This review, like the hotel itself, is going to be a journey. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype, shall we?
(SEO/Metadata Alert: Yes, I will be peppering keywords throughout, but in a way that doesn't make your eyeballs glaze over. Promise.)
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Like My Mood Swings
Alright, let's get this out of the way first. The Grand Splurge says it’s accessible. "Facilities for disabled guests" are mentioned. But what actually did that mean? I went looking for some answers, because I wanted to feel like I was in a movie.
Wheelchair accessible: Well, the lobby seemed okay, with wide enough pathways. The elevators worked (thank GOODNESS). But… getting to the pool? The ramps were a little steep. And the spa? Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to navigate it in a wheelchair. It looks good, but the actual details are missing. The grand design of the outside seemed like there would be a problem.
Elevators: Yes, elevators! Good.
Facilities for disabled guests: A vague promise. I'd need to do a deep dive and probably call ahead to get the real scoop.
Overall Accessibility Vibe: Could be better, could be worse. Needs a closer look. Score: Mediocre.
On-Site Restaurants/Lounges & Dining: From Buffet Bliss To "Where's My Soup?"
This is where things get interesting. The food situation is crucial, right?
- Restaurants: Multiple, supposedly offering "International cuisine" and "Asian cuisine." I saw a "Vegetarian restaurant" too, which is always a plus. The a la carte menu in the "main" restaurant was impressive, at least on paper.
- Buffet in Restaurant: A buffet is available. I love a buffet. But then I also hate a buffet. It is always a balancing act.
- Breakfast (buffet/takeaway): The breakfast buffet had a lot going for it. The usual suspects – eggs, bacon, pastries. And an “Asian breakfast” nook! The variety was impressive. They also offer a “breakfast takeaway service” for those of us who are perpetually late. Great for getting back to bed.
- Room service: (24-hour) YES. This is a crucial factor for a hotel to gain points. Especially after a long flight, or a late night enjoying the "Happy Hour" at the bar.
- Bars & Happy Hour: The poolside bar was tempting, with a "Happy Hour" that…well, it was happy alright.
- Coffee Shop: I didn't see a dedicated coffee shop, which is a minus in my book. Coffee is LIFE.
- A la carte in restaurant: I did eat a la carte, and enjoyed it. It could have perhaps done with a little more salt, but the options were plentiful.
- Desserts in restaurant: Desserts were available, as they should be.
The Food Anecdote: Lost in Soup (and a little dignity) I'm going to have to admit that the soup in the restaurant was pretty much a non event. I ordered some soup and it took over 30 minutes to serve. I felt like I was in a Kafka novel.
Food Score: Decent, but with room for improvement. That soup incident… I still haven’t forgiven you, Grand Splurge.
Ways to Relax (and Maybe Get Rid of That Soup Debacle):
Ah, relaxation… The Grand Splurge claims to be all about it.
- Pool with view: The outdoor pool was stunning. Definitely a highlight.
- Spa/sauna/steamroom: Ah the Spa. It's an escape, or it's meant to be. I did enjoy a massage (more on that later).
- Gym/fitness: The fitness center was present and functional.
- Massage: The massage… oh, the massage! I indulged. It was divine. I may have drifted off into a blissful nap. Worth every penny.
- Body scrub/Body wrap: Didn't try them, but they were on the menu, which is a good sign.
Relaxation Score: Pretty darn good. The pool and the massage saved the day.
Cleanliness & Safety: Hygienic Heaven (Mostly)
This is a biggie, especially in our current climate.
- Anti-viral cleaning products/Daily disinfection in common areas/Rooms sanitized between stays/Professional-grade sanitizing services: They claimed to do all of this. I saw staff wiping things down. The hotel definitely smelled of a slightly aggressive cleaning product at times. Better safe than sorry, I thought.
- Hand sanitizer: Located near the elevators, which is smart.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to be, but I didn't witness any major emergencies (thankfully).
- Safe dining setup: The tables in the restaurant were spaced apart.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Check.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly observed.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Good.
Safety/Cleanliness Score: Reassuring, but I always keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the bag.
Internet: The Digital Lifeline (or, Lack Thereof)
Essential, right?
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Woohoo!
- Internet access – wireless: Yes, this was the best bit!
- Internet [LAN]: Also provided, but who even uses LAN anymore?
- Internet services: They had them (duh).
Internet Score: Top marks! Wifi worked well.
Things to Do (Besides Eat & Sleep):
What else is on offer?
- Facilities for disabled guests: They were mentioned, but need a more thorough investigation.
- Fitness Center: I saw it.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Present.
- Meetings/banquet facilities: They had them.
- Terrace: Lovely.
Things to Do Score: Decent.
Services and Conveniences: The Perks (and the Occasional Glitch)
Let’s dive into the practicalities.
- Air conditioning in public area/rooms: Crucial!
- Business facilities: They had a business center with "Xerox/fax in business center". Who even uses a fax machine anymore?
- Cash withdrawal: There was an ATM, which is always handy.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent. My room was always spotless.
- Elevator: Essential.
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: Available.
- Luggage storage: Yup.
- Currency exchange: Present.
Services Score: Mostly excellent.
For the Kids: Kid-Friendliness?
I didn’t have any kids with me, but I did see a few families.
- Babysitting service: Available.
- Family/child friendly: Seemed to be.
Kid Score: Seems okay for families.
Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning/Alarm clock/Bathroom phone/Bathtub/Blackout curtains/Coffee/tea maker/Complimentary tea/Daily housekeeping/Desk/Extra long bed/Free bottled water/Hair dryer/High floor/In-room safe box/Internet access – wireless/Ironing facilities/Laptop workspace/Linens/Mini bar/Mirror/Non-smoking/On-demand movies/Private bathroom/Reading light/Refrigerator/Satellite/cable channels/Scale/Seating area/Separate shower/bathtub/Shower/Slippers/Smoke detector/Socket near the bed/Sofa/Soundproofing/Telephone/Toiletries/Towels/Umbrella/Visual alarm/Wake-up service/Wi-Fi [free]/Window that opens. The basics were there, and in good order.**
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: They offered it.
- Car park [free of charge/on-site]: Yes, and ample.
- **
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is St. John's, Newfoundland, baby, and we're doin' things my way. And "my way" involves a healthy dose of chaos, a splash of opinion, and a whole lot of coffee to keep this train chugging along. You’ve been warned.
ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND: A MESSY, GLORIOUS ADVENTURE (Sheraton Hotel Basecamp)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Cod Conspiracy
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Arrive at St. John's International (YYT). Okay, first impressions? The airport is…cozy. Small, friendly, feels like you might accidentally bump into someone you know. Grab that rental car. Pray to whatever deity you believe in that you get the automatic transmission. I've heard tales of the Newfoundland hills and a manual… shudders.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Check into the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland. It's… well, it is a Sheraton. Clean, comfortable, predictable. Honestly, sometimes predictability is a godsend after the travel gauntlet. The view from the window… sigh. Okay, maybe a little gushing here. The view? Harbour. Ships. That iconic jellybean row houses peeking through the fog. Gorgeous. Seriously. Breathe. Maybe take a picture? Don't forget to tip the bellhop.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Head out into Water Street. This is where the real fun begins. First thing? Find food. And preferably, find food that involves the legendary Newfoundland cod. I'm on a mission. I've heard stories of the "Cod Almighty." It's a religious experience, they say.
- Dinner (7:30 PM): Decide on a dive bar. I'm aiming for the historic George Street (more like drunk street, but I love it).
- Evening (9:00 PM): Live music. Screech-ins? Maybe. I'm ready to be roasted with a few drams of rum.
Day 2: Cabot Tower and Emotional Avalanche
- Morning (9:00 AM): Rise and shine! Coffee. Glorious, life-giving coffee. (Sheraton, come on, step up your coffee game). Head up to Signal Hill and Cabot Tower. This is where the whole "history" thing comes in. Cabot sailed the seas, blah blah blah. The view, though. That's the important part. On a clear day (which seems rare, let's be honest) you can see forever.
- Morning (10:30 AM): Cabot Tower: It really is something to see. I went here when I was a kid, the stone walls were a marvel. Now, I'm more focused on the view. My friend, her parents were married in the tower itself. Whoa.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM): Lunch! I'm thinking a pub, somewhere cozy, with a chance of more cod. I am committed to this cod journey. It's personal now. Someone please get me a cod sandwich!
- Afternoon (1:30 PM): I'm going to wander around the shops. St. John's has some gorgeous boutiques and unique art galleries. This is where I try to stop being a tourist, and become a pretend local.
- Afternoon (3:30 PM): The Rooms. Okay, this is the high-brow, culture part of the trip. An amazing building, I'm trying to find some local art to find something to bring back.
- Evening (6:00 PM): My friend and I are going to go to The Duke of Duckworth. I'm so excited, I've heard amazing things about the food and the ambiance.
- Evening (8:00 PM): Dessert. No one in St. John's can tell me where the best place is, I'm going to wing it.
Day 3: Day Trip to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve & Sea of Emotions
- Morning (8:00 AM): Breakfast at the hotel (sigh, more coffee needed). Head out on the road and down towards the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The puffins are the main event. Puffins are basically adorable, brightly coloured penguins that fly.
- Morning (10:00 AM): The boat tour. Hold on tight! I'm on a boat rocking and rolling through the wide open sea. The waves are really coming at us, but I'll make it. I might hurl, but I'm going to see puffins.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM): If I survive the boat ride (and the potential seasickness), we are going to have lunch at a cute local spot, hopefully with a view.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): My friend and I are going to wander along the coast. The cliffs, the air, the sheer grandeur of the place… it hits you. I start to feel a bit overwhelmed. This trip is amazing.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Back in St. John's. I'm exhausted, in a good way. Dinner. Maybe a quieter, more intimate restaurant this time. I won't be drunk, I promise.
- Evening (9:00 PM): If I have any energy left, a nightcap at The Blue Room. Or, you know, collapsing face-first into the comfy Sheraton bed. The lure of the hotel bed is powerful.
Day 4: Last Morning Mishap and Bitter Goodbyes
- Morning (9:00 AM): Last breakfast! I'm regretting not having more cod. Seriously.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Souvenir shopping. Gotta get those essential "I LOVE NEWFOUNDLAND" t-shirts and that ridiculously oversized hat.
- Morning (11:00 AM): Packing. This is my least favourite part. This is where the trip becomes real.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM): Last bite of seafood. This is likely going to be goodbye. I'm thinking about going to that restaurant I saw, because I'm a sucker.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Heading to the airport. This is going to be emotional.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Security checks! I have to get rid of liquid. Goodbye to the last bit of Newfoundland. This place is a treasure.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Final thoughts… This trip was an adventure. Messy, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. I'll be back. Oh, yes. I'll be back.
Post-Trip Reflection:
Okay, I'm going to level with you. This itinerary, as planned, is probably not going to happen exactly as scripted. Life happens. Rain happens. The call of a cozy pub with live music is strong. But that's the beauty of it, right? Embrace the chaos. Get lost. Laugh. And for the love of all that is holy, eat the cod.
Escape to Paradise: Baan Porjai Guesthouse, Koh Lanta
So, what *is* this thing? Like, what are we even doing here?
Alright, let's get the basics out of the way. Essentially, this is meant to be a place where I answer questions about… well, whatever you can throw at me. Think of it as an extremely informal, somewhat cynical, and possibly rambling guide. It's like having a chat with your (slightly opinionated) friend over a terrible cup of coffee. Except, you know, I'm the friend and the coffee is the internet. And, frankly, I'm probably going to go off on tangents. Fair warning.
Do you know anything? Like, *actually*? Or are you just making this up as you go along?
Ah, the million-dollar question, isn't it? Look, I'm not going to lie. I'm not a font of all knowledge, a walking encyclopedia, or a professor with a tweed jacket. I’m more like… a really enthusiastic, slightly ADHD-suffering information sponge. I've *seen* a lot, *read* a lot, and probably *forgotten* even more. But! I’ll give you my honest take, and if I don’t know, I’ll admit it. (And possibly go and research it for far too long and end up buying five books on the subject. It happens.)
Okay, fine. Am I allowed ask anything at ALL? Even the dumbest questions?
Absolutely! The dumber the better, honestly. I mean, I thrive on the dumb questions. They're far more entertaining than, y'know, *sensible* ones. Fire away! The only thing I ask (and I'm not entirely sure I can even enforce this, but still)... Please no hate speech, okay? Let's keep the vibes relatively positive. Unless you, like, *really* trigger me. Then all bets are off.
I have this *one* specific and potentially embarrassing problem... Will you judge me?
Look, I'm going to be brutally honest here. Yes. Probably. Okay, *definitely*. But I'll judge with humour - and maybe a little bit of understanding. We all have our weird quirks, embarrassing moments, and things we're slightly ashamed of. Consider this your safe space to spill the tea, provided that tea is about something relatively tame. I'm no therapist but I *am* good at laughing at life's absurdities.
What's the deal with the tangents you mentioned? I hate tangents.
Oh, you do? I just... can't *help* myself, it's an inherent part of my being. Think of them as bonus content! Or, if you're really averse to tangents, brace yourself for the occasional mental hairpin turn. Imagine me as a car, and the tangent is some random roadside attraction. You can either roll your eyes and sigh as we drive by it, or you can revel in the fact that we're seeing some *amazing* crap. Frankly, I like the crap and, usually, I find it way more interesting than the straight path.
How can I be sure *any* of this is factual? You could just be making stuff up, after all...
That’s a valid point, my friend. I could absolutely be making stuff up! And let's face it, sometimes I *do*. I'm not a robot (at least, I *think* I'm not… and the nagging questions of my existence begin). Whenever possible, I'll try to provide sources or at least give you a general idea of where my knowledge is coming from. But hey, if you disagree with something I say, or if you think I got it totally and utterly wrong, please let me know. I love a good debate (as long as it doesn't involve yelling or name-calling). So do your own research, double-check me, and don’t take anything here as gospel. Critical thinking is your friend!
So, what are you *really* passionate about? What will make you *actually* excited and not just giving an half-hearted response?
Oh, now we're talking! The things I'm truly passionate about? Stuff that gets me really excited? That changes every other day, but generally? Well, I'm a sucker for a good story. Historical things, strange facts, the *weird* stuff? I can dive for hours and hours. Also, I'm obsessed with people. Why people do what they do, how they think, how we interact… it's fascinating. And art! Any kind of art. Music, writing, painting... it gives me goosebumps. So, yeah, throw some of that at me. And be sure to tell me too!!
What if I have a really, really, really specific question? Will I be abandoned to the whims of internet obscurity?
Hmm, that's a good question. Look, I'll try my best. I can't promise to be able to answer *every* single thing, especially if it's something I have *no* idea about. I'm not a magic genie, sadly. However, the messier and more specific the question, the better. Give me the details! The more context you provide, the better. And if I *can't* answer it, I'll probably just admit defeat and tell you to ask someone else. Or... I might go on a furious research binge and come at you again with *all* the answers. Sometimes, I surprise myself.
Okay, but seriously, you said you're opinionated. What do you DISLIKE? Any pet peeves?
Oh, where to begin? I *loathe* unnecessary rudeness. Be kind to others. It's. Not. Hard. I also can't stand poorly researched information. You know, the stuff that's factually wrong or just plain misleading. It drives me *bonkers*. I could rant about something for a while, I'll spare you. Also, people who interrupt me. In real life or in the virtual world.
Can I disagree with you? Like, *really* disagree? Will you get mad?
