Crowne Plaza Blue Ash - Cincinnati, USA 

The Blue Ash suburb of Cincinnati is home to a vast number of office complexes - there may be more businesses headquartered here than in downtown Cincinnati at this point. This also means a vast number of business travelers and over the years hotels have sprung up to serve this market. We used to live near this property and remember it as a box-like Best Western with loads of rooms and, er, a parking lot. We moved away and missed its stint as a Clarion. It's now a Crowne Plaza and although still a large collection of rectangles they have done their best to spruce up the outside with paint, stonework and shutters. Inside is very nicely appointed but nothing too posh as the foot traffic would wear down expensive carpet and furniture very quickly. A serviceable lounge is inside the entryway and a large enclosed atrium hosts a buffet/catering/bar area along with the pool. Service was knowledgeable and prompt without being obsequious and was a case study in how training front-line people pays off. Many hotels hire the wrong kind of people (i.e., the kind that don't like dealing with the public in the first place) or give them only basic training and then stick them out on a late-night island to deal with guests and their wants/needs. One demerit: we were running late and called ahead to confirm our reservation and advise them that we were still planning on staying that night. We also wanted to confirm our bed/room type and the usual game of "let's me see if it's still available" started up. Of course hotels are in the business of maximizing their occupancy rates but why do they bother asking for room preference during the reservations process when they have no intention of recording and/or honoring it? Log-rolling with desk clerks over bed/room type is the last thing a tired traveler wants to do yet hotels continue to oversell certain rooms and leave the desk clerks to play the bait-and-switch game. Enough. The rooms were clean although the shower/tub was in poor shape and showing its age. The bed had the upgraded mattress but the pillows were of the usual pancake-flat hotel variety. An adequate number of TV channels were available. The fitness center was adequate although one of the three treadmills was inoperative. A daily-fee pass to TriHealth (a massive workout/rehab facility) across the street was avaialble. We had the distinct advantage of visiting a business-travel hotel on a weekend so it was very quiet given the low occupancy rate. We did not eat at the atrium buffet. A BP gas station/convenience store and a Bob Evans are steps away from the front of the hotel for those who want a traditional breakfast or a quick coffee & donut. Price was very reasonable (about $95) given the market and the location (right next to I-71). It is about 20 minutes from downtown but a bit far from the Cincinnati airport (which is in Northern Kentucky). They appear to have shuttle service to both, however. Cincinnati has changed quite a bit in the last 10 years and not always for the better. This property sits in a very well-policed leafy suburb and as a result is safe for solo travelers or families.

All I can say is WOW! This hotel is great! From the outside it doesn't look like anything special but as soon as you walk inside you can tell that this is a great hotel! The staff is extremely friendly, the decor is very modern and contemporary, and the rooms are spacious and very well decorated! There is a beautiful atrium with a large pool and a very nice casual restaurant. My only complaint is that the rooms don't have a closet door, just a sliding curtain, which I thought was kind of cheesy for a Crowne Plaza, but other than that the hotel was great! I have found my new home away from home in Cincinatti!