Bensalem's newest hotel gives new meaning to "great service"
From the moment I checked into the Parxview Hotel, I could tell a warm, friendly, homey atmosphere awaited, just by the way the front desk clerk, Shaniya, acted with welcoming attentiveness.
A few moments later, the front office manager, Charles Hart, appeared with a friendly smile. "If you need anything, let us know. After you get settled in, you're just in time for our Happy Hour (Seven days a week, 4- 6 p.m.), with some great food and drink specials," as he pointed over to the bar area just off the lobby.
I took the elevator up to my corner suite on the top floor. I opened the door to a room filled with space-age technology in the city's newest hotel complex. It was spacious and well-lit, with panoramic windows spanning both exterior walls.
The décor had vibrant, modern color schemes, yet soft to the eye. The sofa and chairs were ergonomic and comfy, adorned with lovely pillows. In the adjoining room, a King-sized bed and dressing area awaited. Buttons on the wall offered to lower or raise the window blinds or close the curtains.
The bathroom had large, pint-sized bottles of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. The hairdryer, a Corsair Ion, put out such powerful energy I've never felt before, causing me to think I have the wrong one at home. Bathrobes and slippers, adorned an overabundance of towels of every size. The shower was the newer type without great water pressure, and there wasn't a bathtub or Jacuzzi. Nightlights softly beamed throughout for safety, and some were triggered by my late-night footsteps.
Back to the kitchenette, near the front door. It was stocked with many types of gourmet coffee and espresso, and lovely blue-glass bottles of Saratoga-brand water. The glass-door refrigerator and the ultra-edgy microwave took some inspection to figure out. Alas, they were the best I've seen. Glasses were provided but bring your own plastic silverware.
Before I go any further, I should state that I've literally spent thousands of nights in hotels. I have never had any lodging that was cleaner than Parxview. Kudos to their housekeeping!
Back downstairs, Happy Hour was underway. I didn't want to miss it, as both Shaniya and Charles were proudly boastful about the quality and taste of the food. And, as I found out, right they were!
I'm not a drinker, but the bar was fully stocked with many favorite labels - mostly top-shelf names. The bartender, Steph, gave excellent service and helped me to land on Parx's well-known Smash Burger, specially priced at $7. This is the same-name burger served at the Liberty Bell restaurant (located in Parx Casino) Happy Hour. But the hotel burger is much juicier and significantly bigger. The Happy Hour menu also had other choices, and there is a weekly specials menu. There were TVs everywhere, giving it a Sports Bar atmosphere, sans anything loud or boisterous. But it's not just bar seating; there are tables galore.
If you're a business traveler, you won't be bored. If you're not interested in the in-room large-screen televisions with full Xfinity cable and many premium channels, of course there is the Commonwealth's #1 casino just across the parking lot. If you don't have a car, no worries. A dedicated Parxview shuttle bus will take you wherever you need to go.
If none of that is your thing, try out the state-of-the-art exercise equipment in the ultra- clean gym, down the hall on the ground floor. You'll also find several restrooms, an ATM, and 24/7 Self-service beverages, featuring complimentary coffees, teas, espressos, and hot chocolate. There is a mini self-serve gift shop with snacks, playing cards, and essentials.
Besides the Vegas-style casino, with live entertainment on many nights, including some national acts, the state's top Thoroughbred horse racing track runs live racing many days a week with free admission. If you're a Parx regular, your comps are good at the hotel!
Do you like saving the best for last? Breakfast was scrumptious. Better yet, the buffet is included with the room if it's a casino comp. If not, it's $15 if purchased in advance at the front desk. This is not the traditional hotel breakfast buffet. There was a dedicated waitress, Julie, to serve and assist. The kitchen prepared the meats and eggs from scratch. Also, they baked the pastries.
Choices of breads, croissants, bagels, and muffins made it a caloric nightmare of splendor. Don't forget to eat your yogurt with fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, or pineapple. (When nobody is looking, nick an orange for later.) Any type of beverage you can imagine - from a Piña Colada slushie to many choices of juices, coffees, teas or espresso.
Time to check out. Up to the room to shower and pack. Down to the front desk, where Bella was now giving the same consistency of service. If corporate culture had rankings this hotel would be like the Rosewood Hong Kong. The stay was all aces. read more