User Reviews for Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town Alexandria

Research User Reviews for Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town Alexandria (1-20 of 427)

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Jul 26, 2009 by Matt from Parma,OH
Overall Rating: 6

• Clean, soft bed, TV, good shower, staff were polite in person.

“The hotel itself was okay, not great, just above okay. The staff was polite in person but on the phone was very abrupt. We would ask a question, they would give an answer and then just hang up. For example we asked about the pool, they simply said there isn't one and hung up. This was just one example and technically they did answer the question they just didn't give any sort of explanation which would have been nice. As many others have pointed out if you want internet add 10$/night to whatever price you get and if you park there add 20$/night on top of that. Our biggest problem came from the shuttle service from Ronald Reagan Airport back to the hotel after a long day sight seeing in Washington D.C. It was our first day using the service and we returned to the exact spot the driver told us he would pick us up at. The time for pickup came and went. When we called the hotel they said that the shuttle had been at both gates and there was nobody there and then they promptly hung up. So we waited a little longer and then the next pickup time came and left, so we called again and got the same answer and an immediate hang up. When we asked an airport employee if we were at the right gate they figured out that we were at the wrong level with the same gate number (FYI it’s the lower gate). Our morning drop off shuttle had taken us to a different spot to help out some other traveler catch their outgoing flight. This should not have been a problem except he informed those of us riding that this was also the pickup spot! The information sheet from the hotel only said the pickup gate numbers, not a word about upper and lower levels. After we learned this little detail everything else went smoothly. Unfortunately this experience left me and my wife quite angry as this could have been easily figured out if we wouldn't have been brushed off so quickly when we called. Twice! Instead”

Jul 13, 2009 by Joan from Neosho,MO
Overall Rating: 10

• Comfortable beds and view.
• Nothing.

“The view from my cozy, comfortable room was amazing. I got in late because of flight delays and it was 10:59 but the evening room service staff went out of their way to make sure I got food before they closed. Great hotel, great staff, fantastic location.”

Apr 23, 2009 by Dennis from Apo,AE
Overall Rating: 6

• Nice room.
• Charged for internet in room and in business center.

“The hotel was nice with a good location within walking distance of Old-Town Alexandria. However, a 3 star hotel should not charge for internet in the room and the business center.”

Nov 12, 2008 by Fran from Ringoes,NJ
Overall Rating: 7

• Nice room.

“Good hotel for short stay, had free shuttle service to old Town Alexandria.”

Jul 7, 2008 by Robert from Reynoldsburg, OH
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[10]

• Location was great, in a historic area, safe area.
• 1-2 elevators broke at some times, so long waits to get to room.

“Hotel was generally nice and in a good area, but the elevators were broken sometimes (only 3 of them), so it took a while to get up or downstairs. Also, they could have picked a better time to test their fire alarms!”

Jun 7, 2008 by Melissa from Millington, TN
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• Shuttle to metro was great.
• Need laundry room.

“Nice hotel. Pleased with decor, room size, layout, and location. Pool needed to be heated because it was on the roof and windy.”

Jun 2, 2008 by Herb from Athens, GA
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[9] • Location:[8]

• I had a breakfast at the hotel it was not the quality I expected.

“Overall it was a very excellent place.”

May 14, 2008 by Phyllis from Hughson, CA
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[9]

• Location and beds and pillows. Overall look.
• We were told we would be picked up and we were not. We had to get a taxi after waiting over an hour.

“This hotel was doing construction while we were there, but still was a very nice experience, except for being left without transportation.”

May 7, 2008 by Seok from White Plains, NY
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[9] • Location:[10]

• Very clean and quiet.
• Pay parking fee.

“In general, this hotel is good. I can use it again if I visit same area.”

Apr 29, 2008 by Vicki from Dover, NH
Overall Rating: 7
Cleanliness:[5] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• Great location.
• Undergoing lobby construction and the gym was closed.

“Nice hotel in a beautiful town.”

Apr 27, 2008 by Odis from Gastonia, NC
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• The room was clean and bed very comfortable!
• Would like more restaurants to be closer.

“Friendly and helpful staff, clean room that was far more than what we expected! Would stay there again.”

Apr 26, 2008 by Claudia from Knoxville, TN
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[9] • Location:[10]

• Great shuttle service; very nice, comfortable beds.

“I was very worried about staying here due to the other reviews about the construction going on, but when we were there, the construction was apparently nearly done. The rooms were very nice & clean, beautiful views!! Wonderful area, Montgomery Park was right next door, so that made my 4 year old very happy. The hotel has a small welcoming bag on your bed that has a relaxation CD (nature sounds, etc), a silky sleep eye mask, lavender linen spray for your sheets, and even earplugs, for those that have spouses that snore! We had a great experience at the Crowne Plaza, right down to the shuttle service. We had barely missed the shuttle to the metro, so the concierge ended up taking us, just so we wouldn't have to wait 20 min for the next one to come!”

Apr 20, 2008 by Jillaine from Seal Harbor, LA
Overall Rating: 6
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[5] • Location:[7]

• Bedding in the crowned plaza hotels are very comfortable and home feeling.
• Did not like to pay extra for parking when they had plenty of parking for guests and conference goers.

“Over all it was pretty good. I was just unhappy not getting the room we wanted.”

Apr 19, 2008 by Mary from Altoona, WI
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[10] • Location:[9]

• Very accommodating. If we had an issue that needed attention they handled it immediately.
• The Hotel restaurant was not good. Very poor service even when we were the only ones in there! Food was poor also.

“This hotel was so nice. The people went out of their way to see that we had everything we needed. If I were to go to DC again I would stay there again.”

Apr 17, 2008 by Amy from Bend, OR
Overall Rating: 2
Cleanliness:[3] • Staff:[6] • Location:[7]

• Hotel was conveniently located.
• Dirty rooms, shuttle drivers rude, staff not accommodating.

“I called the hotel twice to insure a room with two beds since there were 4 in our party. They didn't reserve a room. We ended up getting a room that wasn't completed in the remodel with wet carpet. Room service never left us towels when they cleaned. Would not recommend this Crowne Plaza.”

Apr 16, 2008 by Tina from Acworth, GA
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[8] • Location:[7]

• I liked the closeness to the airport and King St. for food and shopping.
• The wait for the shuttles was long. Need one more van running.

“Potomac River view from room was nice. The room was comfortable (bed was way comfy) and clean. TV was an LCD. Ice Machine went down and water was never available in the machine. The restaurant and bar is good to have in a pinch. The Bartender was moody though when I peaked in to possibly have a snack with my kids early in the day. I left. Having a shuttle to the metro was convenient but you have to time it right since they only have one van running back and forth. Front desk was very nice.”

Apr 7, 2008 by Sherri from Tulsa, OK
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[4] • Staff:[8] • Location:[8]

• Shuttle service to subway was very convenient.
• Rooms are worn and dirty.

“Friendly staff. Not convenient to restaurants. Train noise is terrible.”

Apr 7, 2008 by Nathan from Wauconda, IL
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[8] • Location:[7]

• Nice and clean rooms.
• Construction still going on.

“My family and I had the opportunity to stay at this hotel during the cherry blossoms festival week in Washington, DC. This hotel is now the Crowne Plaza Alexandria Old Town. I am guessing that because of the new management, improvements and restorations were needed to be done in order to live up to the name. Fortunately, by the time we got there, the only work being done was the repainting of the hallways. Otherwise, this is a very nice and comfortable hotel to stay at. The rooms are clean and spacious. The beds are doubles, with the plush comforters. The amenities are very modern, Plasma TVs and alarms. The staff were also very helpful and courteous. The hotel is situated in Old Town Alexandria, which is about two blocks away from the Potomac river. The hotel is in a residential neighborhood lined up with charming row houses. There aren't a lot of restaurants, but there are about 4-5 within a 3-block radius. If you want a bigger selection oif restaurants, I suggest driving, if you are driving, to King Street or take Route 1 southbound, when it becomes Richmond Highway. We didn't drive to Washington, DC but rather took the Metro trains, which are cheap, fast and clean. You should be in DC within 10-15 minutes. Take the hotel shuttle bus, for free, and get off at Reagan Int Airport and take either the blue or yellow line, depending on where you are going. If you want to go to the Smithsonian museums, get off the the L'Enfant stop on the yellow line. If you want to go to the Tidal basin, Washington and Lincoln monuments, take the blue line and get off at the Smithsonian stop. Either way, the ride costs less that two dollars each way. Also, only 10 miles from the hotel is Mt Vernon, the home of George Washington. That is a must see! There is plenty of parking at the hotel. I highly recommend staying here.”

Apr 2, 2008 by Brad from Foxboro, MA
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[6] • Staff:[7] • Location:[5]

• The room was clean and comfortable.
• No travel brochures in lobby. No coffee in lobby after morning.

“This is a converted old Holiday. It is being renovated, but it appears to be just a paint and paper renovation. Unlike the amenities that I am accustomed to at other hotels, there were few, if any, here. For the traveler, no brochures in the lobby; no free guest coffee in the lobby after morning. The hotel offers a shuttle service to the airport and metro, a drive of approx. 15 minutes. The room was comfortable and exceptionally clean and the staff was efficient and friendly. Overall, I would rate this as no higher than a 2 star.”

Apr 2, 2008 by Kelly from Owosso, MI
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[7] • Location:[8]

• Great view and location. Nice overall hotel.
• Construction dust and mess. Staff was ok.

“Our view was great on the 7th floor, but would probably be even better on a higher floor. The internet service was fine on the 7th floor, maybe a little slow compared to what I am used to, but it was fine for what I needed it for. The shuttle to the airport and Metro was great. There were not a lot of restaurants within walking distance that were open after 5, so we tried the room service. The room service and pizza were pretty good. I did have to ask for housekeeping to give me new glasses after 2 days, and they just wiped out the ones that I had. There are a lot of nice parks and trails within walking distance. They are doing renovations, but other than the lobby being re-wallpapered and painted, and our room being dusty, it wasn't a huge inconvenience. I didn't notice that there was a $15 per day charge for parking, so be prepared for that when you make your reservation. The room was very comfortable and clean, other than the dust. All in all, we had a great stay.”

Mar 31, 2008 by Cj from Durham, NC
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[8] • Location:[10]

• Attractive renovations. Great bed. Great location.
• The bathroom fan was on same switch as light, noisy and ineffective in reducing steam.

“Convenient to the George Washington Parkway and destinations in Old Town Alexandria and Washington DC. Renovations were going on when we were there, and we were on a floor that had just been finished. Our room was very clean and comfortable. We had a decent view of Washington (7th floor--a higher floor would have had a better view). The amenities were lovely and management seemed intent on making a good night's sleep possible (earplugs, a sleep CD and lavender spray for the bedding). Although the hotel is close to DCA (airport), we had no trouble with noise. The only irritant was a noisy bathroom fan that came on every time the light was on (only one switch). The bathroom was small so families with young children might find it a bit cramped. We were very pleased with our accommodations and especially with the location.”

Mar 31, 2008 by Rich from Oshkosh, WY
Overall Rating: 2
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[6] • Location:[8]

• Remodeling the hotel.
• Remodeling the hotel but not completed.

“I over paid for this hotel room. I was to receive complimentary breakfast buffet but was billed for my breakfast.”

Mar 26, 2008 by Marilyn from Brookings, SD
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• It was wonderful. The location was perfect.
• I loved everything.

“This hotel had everything for the business traveler. This would also be a wonderful hotel for a romantic get a way or for a family vacation to Washington DC.”

Mar 26, 2008 by Carla from Arlington, TX
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[5] • Location:[5]

• Just a safe place to stay.
• Too far from attractions, service was spotty.

“Nondescript hotel with adequate amenities only. A solid hour to downtown attractions if using hotel shuttle/metro. Shuttle did not stop at airport and left us stranded (we watched it go by!). Room door got stuck (battery died) and we sat for nearly an hour in the hall as hotel staff tried to open it with large coat hanger.”

Mar 19, 2008 by Joy from Old Lyme, CT
Overall Rating: 6
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[9]

• Good bed and pillows.
• Housekeeping was not quite up to par.

“We started out with a sink that was clogged up. Finally got another room. Took two days to have a new light bulb put into the light next to the closet. Housekeeping neglected to give us towels one day, soap and shampoo the next. Otherwise, it was a fine stay. Breakfast is a little too expensive, and the parking charge is not visitor-friendly.”

Mar 17, 2008 by Kathleen from Scott Afb, VA
Overall Rating: 7
Cleanliness:[4] • Staff:[7] • Location:[8]

• The bed was comfortable and the room was clean.
• The hotel is under renovation and I got paint on my coat.

“Nice hotel but right now it smells like paint everywhere.”

Mar 16, 2008 by Ahmed from Bridgeport, CT
Overall Rating: 2
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[6] • Location:[8]

• It's clean but very noisy.
• Very noisy in the morning and also during the day coz there are trains passing from nearby the hotel.

“Very noisy in the morning and also during the day coz there are trains passing from nearby the hotel.”

Mar 15, 2008 by Karen from Wilno, ON CA
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[8] • Location:[8]

• Spacious room with large window.
• Room temperature was hard to control.

“The Crowne Plaza has been very nicely renovated with up-to-date decor and very comfortable rooms. Our large room had plenty of storage for two people's gear, a desk and chair, and a small table with two armchairs. Very comfortable for sleeping, in keeping with the company's stated goals. The biggest drawbacks are the pool's being seasonal only and the slow elevator service (at one time only one of three was working). Rather than pay to park at the hotel, use the free overnight street parking.”

Mar 12, 2008 by Renae -. from Sarasota, FL
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[8] • Location:[10]

• Great water view.
• Did not allow us to check in until 3:00 PM no early check in.

“This hotel exceeded my expectations.”

Mar 11, 2008 by Ashley from Williamsburg, VA
Overall Rating: 3
Cleanliness:[2] • Staff:[2] • Location:[6]

• Breakfast was decent. Location was fine.

“Gross, poor quality, had to move rooms due to A/C issues.”

Mar 8, 2008 by Gary from Downs, KS
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[6]

• Clean and friendly and close to King Street and Potomac for those on vacation. Good access to Regan Airport and Metro with twice per hour shuttle.
• One hour shuttle and metro for downtown DC business was difficult. Hotel was being re molded, but soon to be completed.

“We had business meetings in DC which were a challenge to connect to, but the price difference from downtown hotel DC made this a good choice. The rooms where very nice and the staff helpful. It would be a great hotel for a family if they wanted to visit Old Alexandria, Mount Vernon, the Potomac sights, and etc. Access to Reagan and metro was good. A little bit "out of the way" kind of Hotel.”

Feb 29, 2008 by Mike from Milton, PA
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[9] • Location:[8]

• Nice bed/ room.
• Ongoing renovations.

“Will be a nice 3-star hotel when all the renovations are finished.”

Feb 27, 2008 by Cheryl from Chicago, IL
Overall Rating: 0
Cleanliness:[4] • Staff:[10] • Location:[6]

• The beds were phenomenal! very comfortable room.
• Climate control difficult.

“The hotel staff was excellent. Hotel is remodeling, so great value, and you can excuse the appearance and function of some of the facilities, especially for the price. The temperature, heating/automatic air was difficult to regulate. Overall a great experience though!”

Feb 11, 2008 by Alex from Willowbrook, IL
Overall Rating: 1
Cleanliness:[1] • Staff:[1] • Location:[1]

• I hate it.
• NA.

“Hotel under construction, paint smell everywhere except lobby. Stayed there for 1 hour, then left and rented room at another hotel. .”

Jan 24, 2008 by Nathan from Wilmington, NC
Overall Rating: 7
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[8] • Location:[8]

• It is conveniently located to old town Alexandria and DC. The Potomac river is right there and so is a great bike path.
• It was being refurbished and we were not made aware of the noise, dust, unsightliness.

“Great hotel once they get it all fixed up. Until then get ready for some noise.”

Jan 23, 2008 by H from Laurel, MT
Overall Rating: 3
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[8] • Location:[6]

• I liked the lavender linen spray, the cleaning service, the shower, and the blankets.
• Construction noise, dust, fumes.

“The hotel would have been really wonderful except that the construction really caused me difficulty breathing. Plus, the extra surprise charge for parking was unacceptable.”

Jan 21, 2008 by Cg from Glen Ellyn, IL
Overall Rating: 1
Cleanliness:[2] • Staff:[10] • Location:[5]

• Location.
• Under CONSTRUCTION! Should not have to pay!

“I was stuck at a hotel under construction, with drills and JACKHAMMERS baring 6:30 am to 7:00 at night!”

Jan 17, 2008 by Ed from Morgantown, WV
Overall Rating: 1
Cleanliness:[1] • Staff:[4] • Location:[3]

• Front desk staff seemed friendly.
• Major renovation underway. Not a 3 or 4 star hotel at this time!

“The parking garage was closed. The entrance was not clearly marked due to renovations. It was a mess. Dirt and dust everywhere. Construction workers smoking at front door. TV did not function well. The front desk thought that I wanted a smoking room - I did not. Overall, I was very disappointed.”

Jan 10, 2008 by Chris from Roanoke, VA
Overall Rating: 4
Cleanliness:[6] • Staff:[2] • Location:[5]

• Manager helpful.
• Serious renovations in progress, public area a mess.

“Serious renovations in progress, public area a mess. Should not be open to guests at this time.”

Jan 8, 2008 by Margaret from Arlington, VA
Overall Rating: 3
Cleanliness:[3] • Staff:[7] • Location:[4]

• Pleasant staff.
• Under construction, rundown, loud, attention to detail very weak.

“Until the Crown Plaza is done with its reno, I would avoid it. Once you get there, it's hard to find the entrance through all the tarps and hanging wires. The elevators are constantly occupied by contractors hauling construction materials. The banging and sawing is annoying. The plans for the reno look nice and much needed. Hopefully the service will improve after the renovation as well. The staff is very pleasant but the attention to detail is lacking. For example, I ordered room service and when finished put the tray outside my door. It was still there in the morning when I left for work and it was still there in the evening when I came back to my room! I even asked if I should call to have someone come retrieve my tray when I was done and was told no. Also I wouldn't get a glass of water with my meal unless I asked for it; and they would substitute items with no notice. The fruit was well past edible and overall the room service experience was distasteful. Finally, the hotel seemed very empty and yet at 2:30am they put a family with a small child in the room next to me - instead of spacing them out from other guests. Needless to say, I did not sleep the rest of the night. Sorry to say, I will not return to the Crown Plaza Old Town.”

Jan 5, 2008 by A from Woodbridge, VA
Overall Rating: 1
Cleanliness:[3] • Staff:[4] • Location:[1]

• NA.
• It's being renovated, location isn't convenient.

“This hotel once renovation is complete will be nice, but as for now it's a total mess. The location isn't convenient for night life and the Hotel personnel can be a bit short at times. The loud noise of construction not to mention the overbearing fumes that trickle into the hallways tend to be a bit irritating.”

Jan 4, 2008 by Worth from Moncks Corner, SC
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• The entire staff was helpful and friendly.
• Contraction on the exterior. Started before 8am. Thank goodness we were already up and moving.

“We enjoyed our stay at the Crowned Plaza hotel. We were there the week after Christmas. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. The hotel's concierge was excellent. You couldn't ask for a better staff. When we needed to find a place, they printed directions. The shuttle drivers were friendly and helpful as well, sometimes giving suggestions on where to go. The only driving we did the entire trip was to dine in Alexandria in the evening. We used the hotel's shuttle to the airport for the metro. The beds were very comfortable. The view from the room was excellent. There was some light construction going on. Out of the 6 days we were there. Only one day they started at 7:45 am. And we were already awake. A lot of the local hotels were doing some type of work. Probably because it's the off season. We would definitely recommend this hotel.”

Jan 3, 2008 by Alice from Bethesda, MD
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[2] • Staff:[6] • Location:[5]

• Room was fairly nice and had a lovely view. Location was pleasant.
• Paint smell in halls; dirty, slow, jerky elevators, terrible service in restaurant, noise and debris from construction.

“Once the renovations are complete this may well be a nice 3 star hotel. Right now there is mess all over, the hallways smell of paint, the elevators are dirty, a curtain was missing from my room, the hallway walls were scuffed and smeared. I had to share the elevator with paint splattered construction workers. It is not in what I would call old town, though it is a pleasant area near the river. The fitness center is on the garage level and smells of exhaust fumes, not someplace I wanted to be breathing deeply. Staff was pleasant and front desk staff was efficient. They defended the 3-star rating saying that when the renovations were finished it would be really elegant. That doesn't do much good to those staying there now. My room was fairly nice, though the light switch was bent (still worked) and the rug had a stained look (like it might have gotten wet at some point.) There was no construction on my floor and the hallway still smelled of paint and plaster. The smell fortunately did not actually get into my room. The restaurant and room service were extremely inefficient; this may have been due to the holiday weekend or the construction or both.”

Jan 3, 2008 by Karen from Herndon, VA
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[5] • Staff:[8] • Location:[4]

• The lobby was ok.
• The room was outdated and dark with wallpaper coming off the walls, the parking was pay parking, which was not good.

“The room and the bathroom were not very nice and welcoming. They are doing construction, which is definitely needed. Hopefully, they will redo all the rooms as well.”

Jan 2, 2008 by Nicole from Upper Black Eddy, PA
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[9] • Location:[7]

• Good size rooms.
• Restaurant was expensive.

“Very close to the water. Friendly staff. Ample parking in a decent part of town. Not conveniently located for a short walk to the dining area but convenient to access the metro to get into Washington DC.”

Dec 31, 2007 by Helen from Atlanta, GA
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[10]

• The location close to Downtown Alexandria was great.
• Parts of the hotel were under construction and there wasn't a refrigerator in the room.

“Great hotel with a terrific view of the river in Downtown Alexandria. Easy to get to and it was a nice romantic getaway.”

Dec 31, 2007 by Jim from Sun Valley, ID
Overall Rating: 6
Cleanliness:[2] • Staff:[7] • Location:[4]

• NA.
• Construction noise started early in morning.

“Hopefully after construction this hotel will be ok; I would not stay during construction process.”

Dec 29, 2007 by Kasele from Fort Washington, MD
Overall Rating: 7
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[8] • Location:[9]

• Convenient, good price.
• Construction work/noise going on outside very loud at times.

“The price is great. The hotel is nice. They are doing a lot of work at present December 08, so it was a bit of a mess to look at outside. Most of the stay was cool. The noise of the work got really loud on our last morning. I am interested to see what it looks like when they finish.”

Dec 29, 2007 by Sandra from Lynbrook, NY
Overall Rating: 9
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• Bed was most comfortable Ive ever slept in.
• Due to local construction, difficult to get to.

“Wonderful for the money.”

Dec 20, 2007 by Keith from Chantilly, VA
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[8] • Location:[8]

• Very nice rooms.
• Currently undergoing renovation.

“Staff could work on their customer service attitudes.”