Nice Hotel, but there are nicer places in Jacksonville for Less
My family and I stayed here this past weekend and had a good overnight stay. We had a riverview balcony which was nice and the room was fine, but you could tell it was an older hotel and had that older "feel" too. The bed slept fine and felt newer and the room was ample. The front desk personnel were friendly and professional, but like other reviewers have said I had trouble reaching someone by phone when trying to call customer service too. It took me about three attempts and letting it ring a lot before someone picked up. We ran into multiple employees at the hotel and each one greeted us politely and professionally and was pleased with their level of hospitality. The bathroom shower could use a good scrup down as you could tell the age was taking it's toll on certain areas. I've stayed at about 5 different hotels in the Jacksonville area recently and would rate them based on my experience as Staybridge Suites #1, Hotel Indigo #2, Holiday Inn Jax Beach #3, Crown Plaza #4, and Quality Inn at the Airport #5 of the ones I've stayed at. All were fine, and realize the Crown Plaza is geared more towards the higher end level of customers, but you can get more for your money and a newer, nicer hotel elsewhere. I would have rated the Crown Plaza about equal with my stay at the Holiday Inn at Jacksonville Beach if the price was less. We ate at the hotel restaurant as well for Breakfast and it was fine other than the Waffle and Pancake Batter was horrible. I can't understand why so many hotels buy substandard batter and syrup when it is so cheap to buy quality batter at SAMS or elswhere which would easily pay for itself in a good breakfast experience and make you want to return for breakfast again in the first place, but if I do return and get breakfast again it will be without the nasty waffles or pancakes until they address this issue. Everything else on the breakfast buffet was good and it costs about $13.50 per person. They also have room service at reasonable rates as well. Also, Valet parking is $14 a day and self parking can be as high as $10 a day at this hotel so be prepared for that. If you are in the mood for high end eating for dinner there is a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the hotel as well. This hotel is pretty much in the center of Jacksonville and you can easily get to pretty much everywhere you would want to visit with 15 to 25 minutes assuming traffic is not an issue. Also, if you've never been to this hotel I recommend you checking in and then go self part under the hotel and then take your bags to your room because the elevator goes down to the parking garage under the hotel and you don't have to pull everything through the lobby.