Over 40 years ago, I lived in Suffern and knew this place as the Holidome. I was back in town for…read moremy 50th High School Reunion. It has been completely remodeled. While I never stayed overnight back then, we often came to the bar or for special events. I will let you know about the room, the staff, the atrium, the grounds and the food served at the reunion.
More and more hotels are going towards hard floors instead of carpeting. This was one of them. Everything was spotless and the bed was comfortable. There were two things that were not great. Since the room overlooked the atrium, late night groups congregated and were a bit noisy. It would have been nice if they enforced quiet hours. The other was another minor issue. I could not find the refrigerator because it was not in a logical place. There was a small kitchenette off in the corner. The refrigerator was not there, it was under the TV in the main room. Curious.
Staff was very helpful but there was one error that almost caused an embarrassing situation. They assigned me to a room that was already occupied by another guest. A staff member came running up to stop me just as my room key was just inches from the door lock..
Expansive and central to the hotel was a beautiful atrium. It included a koi pond, a small bar, fountains, a floral wall and many, many seating areas for parties or receptions. It was noisy. The weekend of our HS reunion, staff mentioned how crazy busy they were. On my arrival there were two wedding receptions in full swing. I was tempted to, but did not pick up a plate and walk through one of the buffet areas.
Weather could not have been any better for an outdoor stroll. Gardens, a fountain, lawns, and pavilions were all around the grounds. All were so beautiful I took many photos. There was one large sculpture in one of the yards. People congregated on lawns, playing outdoor games and enjoying the quiet, even though the NY State Thruway was just beyond the tree line.
At the reunion, there was a nice buffet. Instead of sampling all the dishes, I opted for chicken, salmon and some rice. Chicken and salmon were nicely seasoned and moist. Coupled with the rice, the meal had a nice mouth feel and flavor. When I finished my plate, I wanted to see what dessert they had. There was none, but then again, I left early because I was tired. They probably brought those out again.
However, I actually did get to taste a dessert morsel. Flashback to my thoughts about crashing the buffet line at the wedding reception. Deception was not on my mind, but as I was passing by a dessert buffet, I commented to a young lady that the ice cream bar looked good. The server immediately offered me a bowl. I made it clear that I was not with the party. He said he did not care. So I picked up a petite-fours. It was very good.
Overall, the stay was a nice experience. The room was clean, the staff helpful, the atrium and grounds beautiful, and the food was very good especially for buffet service. While I may never get back to the part of the country, if I do I will stay here again, but ask for a room on the far side, away from the atrium noise.