Here are a few pointers what we liked and didn't like about the Sheraton Skyline.
- The room was comfortable, medium in size and overlooked the indoor swimming pool.
- The club lounge was a let down. Even though it was brand new at the time - the hotel had gone through a renovation recently, and there hadn't been a club lounge before - it was way too small for too many people having access. The snacks were very few, limited to cookies and tortilla chips with salsa, and there were no juices available, only Coca Cola and other soft drinks. The breakfast was also small and not the quality we expected it to be. The lounge had obstructed views over one of the runways.
- The Italian Restaurant was very good. We even got a table without reserving it. Other guests, who arrived five minutes later, were unlucky, though.
- The staff was friendly, but we had the suspicion they didn't take us serious. We had paid for a late check out, but the check in clerk had keyed the normal check out time of 12.00 hours. As we thought we had a later check out time, we could return any time to our room the next day. Unfortunately the keys didn't work, so we had to return to reception. When we were back at our room we had no access, but only to the club lounge. Off I went again to the reception. When I tried the key at the club lounge it didn't function there, but we had access to our room again. Frustrated and a little bit angry I took the lift to the ground floor for the third time, where the receptionists were already laughing, thinking this was funny. After that everything was programmed correctly.
This was reason enough besides the disappointing club lounge not to stay there anymore.
Now back to the Sheraton Heathrow.
We took the Hoppa Bus H4 from Terminal 1 to the hotel and were surprised, because we weren't let out at the classic front, but at a side entrance. In fact this was because the hotel is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment, and it's urgently needed. No information about the renovation was available on the web page.
At the time the concierge was located in a niche along the floor, which is a good idea, so that lost guests can be directed.
The temporary reception was where normally the restaurant The Terrace and bar is located. The check in was friendly and efficient. A late check out was also granted with a smile.
On our way to the elevators we found an entrance to the courtyard and garden of the hotel and a gift shop / newsagent.
Our Club Room was overlooking the air traffic control tower of Heathrow Airport. We could see planes taking off.
The room showed wear and tear, but was very comfortable, so we didn't mind. It had all the conveniences we could wish for including a mini bar, safe, writing desk, flat screen TV, chairs, comfy bed and a wardrobe.
The bathroom was small with bath tub and shower combined and a sink. It might was a bit outdated, but again it was comfortable.
After we had settled in our room we were hungry, so we decided to try the temporary restaurant, but were told it had closed since lunch service had already ended. After a brief discussion we decided to go out and explore the area. We had seen a McDonalds across the busy road from the Sheraton. It was easier to get to it than thought. The area is definitely car centric. There was also a building site for a new Premier Inn and a fuel station.
McDonalds was good. We had Chicken McNuggets with curry sauce. They tasted differently than in Ireland (a bit spicier).
When we were finished with our meal, we strolled along the road towards the airport. We passed companies associated with aviation and a Chinese Restaurant.
Back at the hotel we visited the club lounge. It offered a small selection of soft drinks and was a modern space. It had a small library, seating areas and so on. At the time we were the only ones, but when I returned during Happy Hour, it was so full I had to sit outside at the landing / reception area of the lounge. There was a choice of red and white wine, beer, liqueurs, nachos and traditional English pies. The quality was good, but nothing special. You may have guessed it already. I'm not a big fan of nachos or pies.
The disadvantage of sitting outside the lounge was that obviously the space wasn't heated, so it was a bit cooler than I would have liked it. I had to insert my key card each time I entered the club lounge and made numerous trips to get the food, wine and cola I wanted, which I found slightly inconvenient and impractical with constantly opening and closing the door. Others maybe disturbed by passing fellow guests, leaving or going to their room.
We also had in room dining. He had a fillet steak, I spaghetti with a spicy seafood sauce. The quality was high and the value good.
After a restful sleep we went to the breakfast at the restaurant. The buffet was adequate, but the food quality average. There were eggs, bread, cold cuts, cheese, fruits, cereals, yogurts, bakery items and much more.
Check out went smoothly. Waiting for the Hoppa Bus was a bit inconvenient again, because due to the renovation we had to wait at the small side entrance, where people wanted to get in and out.
Would we return? Yes, because the hotel is solid, and when the renovation is completed, the hotel is going to be beautiful and up to standard.
©2012
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