Castle on the Hudson, Tarrytown

This was my worthest ever experince , I had to stay with my wife for her birthday, the front desk supervisor was so bad, she was not welcoming us at it should be. the resturant staff forgot our coffee and it was in the bill they were ignoring our table we had to wait few times for water to fill up. No one contacted us for our complains. the suite was so nice, service was so bad.

Well, I booked 2 months in advance on the phone. I had called several times to ask questions as this was a trip booked soley for my 8 year old daughter who wanted to stay in a castle & feel like a "princess". The 4th of July is my favorite holiday so instead of sending Olivia to my mom's for the week as we usually do, we planned this trip (exclusively for her enjoyment). We usually go to Jamaica, Punta Cana or Mexico (our trip coast us $1,500 on average AND is ALL-INCLUSIVE for the week as well, including air-fare). When we arrived at the castle...we were greeted by a snobby hostess who asked again for my credit card (I had already given them my card no. to hold my reservation) and I explained I didn't want to pay by credit card alone. She ran my card anyway saying that "it didn't work, do I have another card?" & I said "work for what?" and she replies "for the security deposit we require" so I said run it again and I dialed my bank in front of her to check my balance ( it was $1,500 and the room would have totaled $1,125 for 3 nights @340.00 a night) She then returns my card snootily and says "did you have another card?" I asked "Why, I have plenty to cover my cost of our stay on THAT card?" and only then she proceeded to tell me that they required DOUBLE the total of your stay upon check -in and that I would get the balance owed back to me 3-4 days after check-out! This proved to be quite embarrassing for everyone (but mostly ME!) being that I had only deposited enough into that account for the cost of the hotel $ some spending $ as well (because your stay includes absolutely NOTHING more than a bed). She became even more rude when (after driving 3 hours to get there and we were tired and ready to relax) I suggested they might have told me that IMPOTANT information in any of my 4 calls to the Castle to inquire about the cost and said "Mam, we would NEVER disclose that to our guest because it would NEVER be a concern for them". WHAT? How pretentious! Well, I understand that you need be well-off "so to say" to stay there...but until this little add-on, I was fine! My daughter started crying saying, "Mommy, do we have to go home now?" Needless to say, after scrounging ALL of my cash and her swiping away ALL $1,500 on my card we were "approved" to stay. I now had a $9.00 balance in my checking account until I got home to make a deposit! You don't actually stay, by the way, "IN" the castle but in an "add-on" hotel that is attatched "to" the castle, NOR do you even get a tour of this castle. Just a view of it as you pull up to it...that's it. The restaurant that IS in the castle we had reservations for but had to cancel because I had NO $ left for it and was glad anyway because they waited to tell me it was a $74.00 pre-fix price per person, UNTIL I was checking in! The best part of our trip...was the FREE fireworks display that we drove 20 min. to see at the Kensico Dam. We did enjoy the pool one day but but there prices were INSANE for anything to eat or drink at the pool! The maids and valet staff were the friendliest and anyone (ALL 3 nights) at the desk or the lobby that worked there were simply rude and stuffy. ( I'm thinking they themselves can probably NOT afford to stay where they work!) I would NEVER go again to "The Castle On The Hudson" but I would definately consider going to a "REAL" castle...but I would add only another grand to my my trip and fly to IRELAND to be in one! They left ALOT to be desired......thankfully, my 8 year old has not a clue after check-in of our total & utter disappointment in this so- called "vacation".

ONCE WE PULLED UP TO THE VALET PARKING, THE SERVICE WAS NON-STOP, BAGS, ROOM CHECK IN, TURN DOWN YOUR BED BEFORE DINNER... ROOM SERVICE BREATH TAKING VIEWS OF THE HUDSON RIVER. AT DINNER IT WAS A FANTASITIC DISPLAY OF CURTIOUS AND CONSTANT CARTERING_ WITH A WOOD BURING FIREPLACE AND GOURMET FOOD THE GOTHIC ACCENT WAS JUST RIGHT_ MEN SPORT JACKET REQUIRED_ MOST OF THEM WORE SUITS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE 4 DIAMOND RATING IS DESERVED.. IF YOU GOT IT DO IT....