We've stayed at the Grenada since Propower II, and we will be there again this year.
Let me give you my spill on the place, since I'm one of the few who have been stubborn (or stupid?) enough to stay there every year. But have also visited each hotel in one form or another... hey I like to see where the partys are at!
So about the Grenada:
THE GOOD
it is older, but in my opinon, the bigger bang for your buck (i.e. you get what you pay for) Kitchen, full-fsize fridge, dish washing machine, pots, pans, utinsles, microwave...ect, ect.
No free breakfast at any other hotel in the area can top the thursday & Friday morning breakfast that the Grenada has to offer... sorry, but if I have my choice, I'll take the "Denny's" style breaklfast @ the Grenada. I HATE continental breakfasts! I can eat a bagle and cearel any given day, bring on the MEAT!!!!
Living in luxury. I'm on vacation when I come to progpower, I'm not there to pinch penny's, and coop myself up for week in a shanty small room with 4+ other peopel and only a large bed. The Grenada is quite plush with MANY ammenaties unlike any other hotel + more. If you want to save your money for CD's and such... you will want a diffrent Hotel. This place is pricey.
Happy hour!!!!!
if you don't drink, then this is unimportant, but I'm all for free booze, and the Grenada doesn't spare the whip when it comes to giving you free drinks at 5:00pm. So if you like to tip back a few free drinks with freinds, tjis is your hotel! We always hit happy hour and get lit like roman candles for only a few dollars in tips.... its fun for the whole family! You just can't beat it.
Bands - you have a very, VERY good chance of hanging with the bands, just like at the Fairfield, assuming Glenn still books them there like the years past. (of ocourse you never know) If this is a big thing for you, then you will want to book the Grenada, if you are not a fan boy like me... then you might want to go were there are no party's, as it WILL get loud.
free shuttle bewteen 8am-3pm on the weekdays.. use this to gather supplies when you arrive!
THE BAD
It is an old building, thus you might run into some problems, for example: we had a really good leak in our room...right in the light socket!! This was during the hurricane ofcourse... but it got pretty messy. Also the heating/air conditioning isn't the greatest , and if you have a large room, it can get cold at night real fast if you are sleeping in the room with the pull-out couch.
The elevator sucks. ask anyone whos stayed/visited... you'll be taking the stairs 90% of the time if you are in a hurry. Me, one other attnddee and Mike Terrana all got stuck on it twice and got "lost" on the wrong levels because it took so long to get to the particluar floors. Pretty funny at the time... but really annoying when it happens so often.
They lock the doors after 11:00pm, so if you don't have a key-card to get in, you will have to have someone that's inside, let you in, or ring for thefront desk, and they will probably read you the riot act if you are not a guest there.
They have "bumped" peoples reservations before... there has never been a good explination to this by the hotel themsleves, and they have had a diffrent excuse every time, but it seems to always be those that arrive on Thursdays (Friday last year.. only two groups of people) that get "bumped" . So be weary of this!!!!
THE UGLY
The Hall-Nazi
The first year we were there, we had no issues, year #2 it was becoming a small problem, buy by year #4 they had cracked down hard on the partying. This is more or less why the party had moved to the Fairfiled by year #4. After midnight, They had some big mo' fo' security guy walking the halls, and bangning on doors (or waliking into the room if they are open) and telling people to keep the noise down, or they would be kicked out. Then you would have the front desk chewing out the people on the front porch who were smoking, to keep the "Volume level to a minimum" because it's disturbing other customers.
keep in mind, on year #3 and #4 they had conventions going on (kind of like the one that's happening at the Faifrield this year) and the Grenada was where a majority of the NON-propower attendees were staying. this of course was the reason they had such a strict hall-nazi, and there were no party's of any rela value.
However, it looks like the Grenada is going to be taken over by a majority PP attendees, much like year II and III, which might make it lean it to be party central once again, just like the first time we came to the festival. ahhh... the memories.
This post wasn't to sway anyone in any direction.. jsut to let you know what your in for both good and bad.
well, hopefully that helps some of you make a choice one way or the other. maybe we'll see you at the Grenada for happy hour!
\m/
Dustin
