#GrandExperience with the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. #Experiencegr
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. However, I did receive a free accommodations and services, from the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC guidelines.
The Night Helper Blog had the opportunity to spend a fabulous weekend getaway in Grand Rapids, Michigan inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, one of the most prestigious hotels in the world courtesy of a special PR representatives (Stephanie) who made sure we didn’t need or want for anything. This hotel is second to none and provides abundant of history and cultures for its guest and residents of Grand Rapids. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is located right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids and very close to all of Grand Rapids fabulous attractions. Before I tell you about the amazing adventure we had let me give you a little background of this beautiful hotel
In 1913 the cornerstone of the Pantlind hotel was laid, and initial construction of the hotel began. Consider other important milestones of the year 1913 to gain some perspective: It was the year of President Gerald R. Ford’s birthday, the first year of the income tax and the inspiration for the name of The 1913 Room – now known as Ruth’s Chris.
In 1916 The Pantlind hotel reopened after extensive renovations. Fashioned after English Adams architecture by designers Warren and Wetmore, the hotel’s special details included one of the world’s largest gold-leaf ceilings and two of what are, quite seriously, the world’s most stunning chandeliers, both located in the Pantlind lobby.
In 1925 By this time, the former Pantlind hotel was not only the hottest hotel going in West Michigan, it was ranked “One of the 10 Finest Hotels in America.”
In 1979 after the hotel, along with downtown Grand Rapids, fell from favor as people discovered the suburbs, The Amway Corporation acquired the historic Pantlind and carefully restored it to its former glory.
While in 1981 Amway Grand Plaza opened, adding the Glass Tower in 1983
In 1995- 2000 along with bringing the Amway Grand Plaza back to its former glory, something else amazing happened along the way; The hotel’s rebirth sparked the resurgence of downtown Grand Rapids.
After reading about this beautiful hotel it was finally our time to experience what Amway Grand Plaza had to offer. We arrived a bit early not knowing how bad the traffic would be while traveling to downtown Grand Rapids we ended up getting there around 2:30pm and check-in time wasn’t until 4pm. We wanted to notify the hotel that we have arrived and to find out the parking arrangements, the front desk associates informed us that our parking was taking care of for the duration of our stay and we could check in and go to our room now if we wanted too. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel here we come!
As we walked through the glass doors we couldn’t help but notice how beautiful this hotel was.
We marveled at how beautiful the hotel was, from the sparkling floors to the colorful wall art, this hotel was the best we’ve seen in a long time.
The lobby area was cut out of a movie, it had music playing while every staff member walked by smiling and greeting you, this place had a very welcoming feel to it, it also didn’t hurt that it was the size of a small mall and even had a few shopping places in the main lobby area.
After spending a half an hour looking around at all the stores and restaurants which included The Kitchen by WolfGang Puck, The Kitchen Counter by WolfGang Puck, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cygnus 27, Lumber Baron Bar, GP Sports, Garden Court Lounge and last but not least a Starbuck.
We went to our rooms and there was no drop off from the lobby area, the rooms were very clean and well maintained, huge TV with a very unique style carpet and painting on the walls, the rooms had a view of the water and other nearby buildings and the Public Museum.
We were greeted with a special package that was put in our name and left for us, inside it had some of the main attraction where we could take on the “Grand Rapids Experience”. Inside we received a visa to cover our food along with passes to all of the Museums and other attractions nearby such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, Public Art Museum, Frederik Meijer Garden, John Ball Zoological Garden and Gerard Ford Museum and a few more.
While we were unable to attend all of the attractions whether because a few of them were close because of time of year or being remodeled, we were able to still enjoy the downtown area and some of the attractions. We visited the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art and the Public Art Museum.
While I enjoyed all of the attractions I must say my favorite was the Public Museum.
After viewing all of the fun activities we could, we had this ideal of just going back to the pool and relaxing, but it was still one more place we wanted to go and it was a comedy show inside B.O.B at Dr. Grin on the third floor. So we decided to go in style, we saw this beautiful horse by the name of Dixie and we took a horse and carriage ride to the comedy show.
We had one more place we wanted to see, one more place we just couldn’t wait to experience and that was the pool. We wanted to go and relax and enjoy this amazing area, which had a workout room overlooking the pool side, oh! and if that wasn’t enough there was a basketball court just past the workout room.
This hotel had it all, from the great room service to the Spa to the bars/ restaurants inside of it. Everyone was courteous and provided great services, this is one of the hotel experiences you dream about having and I must say we had a “Grand Experience” visiting the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Grand Rapids.
Once again, Thanks Stephanie!!!
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. However, I did receive a free accommodations and services, from the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC guidelines.
This Hotel looks amazing!
This place looks absolutely amazingly beautiful. I would love to be abel to stay there.
This would be a great place to visit. I like the looks of the old buildings.
This really looks like a grand place to be as a hotel. I liked the history and historical photos. I appreciated the review.
Wow! It looks amazing and the food looks so yummy! Would love to stay there someday.
Such beautiful pictures!
very nice
would love to ride the carousel
That is an awesome hotel! I struggle financially to do any kind of vacationing but this is one place I would love to visit!
I love staying at vintage hotels that have been brought back to life!
What an awesome hotel. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful or been to a hotel this nice.
Wow this looks like such a gorgeous place to stay..I would never want to go back home
Nice history. Looks like an amazing place!
What an absolutely stunning hotel! Thank you for sharing. This is definitely a place I’d love to visit.
I love it when someone restores a old buildings, they tear so many down now and it seems like our history is gone
Wow! Such cool history. Looks like an amazing place!
Thanks for sharing, we love hearing about the history of places we visit. We’ve never been to Grand Rapids, but do want to stay there when we do go. So far we have visited every state and now we are working back to the areas’ history The Amway has everything you would want to do all in one area. Your pictures are great, they really did a great job in the restorations.
what what an amazing story of this hotel looks fabulous to stay at . Love too go there someday
Wow it has old time elegance along with a lot of modern features
What a great story and the hotel is still very amazing. Thanks for sharing.
They did a spectacular job restoring the Grand Am Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids Michigan. The spa and restaurants are what I would partake in the most. The food from one of the restaurants looks delicious with a layer of mashed potatoes, steak and a stack of onion rings gracing the top. The nearby museums are attractive, too.
Absolutely Stunning I’m Jealous!! I’ve never been Lucky enough or could afford to stay somewhere so Extravegent and by the looks of all your photos You had a Wonderful stay there Thank you for sharing your photos
Wow! That is a place I want to spend a night or two at!
I’ve never been to Michigan. I’d stay at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
History us hard to find except in older buildings and enriched cities/neighborhoods.
This one looks like it would be worth traveling to Grand Rapids to learn more about its history.
What a beautiful place.
Wow! What a stay. I have never been anywhere like that but I would love to one of these days.
Such a interesting story! Thanks
Impressive place! And it has a lot of history as well.
I love seeing how the building was originally constructed!
I love looking back at old photographs!! 🙂
I’m glad you received something for this awesome review & pics!! We are only a few hours away from this hotel. I think it is worth the drive to stay somewhere this AWESOME!! We are empty nesters and try to get away for 3 day weekends when we can. I am telling my husband (& family) about the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Thanks for the info!!! I wonder if it is in one of my Rewards Programs??
You took some great photos and really captured the rich history at this hotel. I would just love to stay there!
wow looks like an awesome trip!
Wow, I love the photography and the renovations. Looks like an amazing place.
Wow this looks amazing. Something for the whole family and the rooms look so nice. The history behind was cool 🙂
What a first class hotel this is and the pictures look so dazzling and lush. What great accommodations.
Don’t you just learning about the History of places? Oh I do, and the hotel is beautiful!
Such a beautiful place to stay. I love old restored buildings and houses. It would be hard to choose a place to eat with all the great choices.
A lot of history there! Beautiful! Enjoyed reading the story behind it! Thank you!
I would love to stay there on vacation =]] it looks beautiful!
I love the historic photo’s . I think the grand hotels of that era were so skillfully designed and grand in their own right . Lovely !
I think this Hotel is very Beautiful. I would absolutely love to stay here. Gorgeous
Wow, that chandy in the lobby is quite impressive. The whole place is very beautiful.
What a Magnificent Hotel the “Amway Grand Plaza”.. It is the Most Magnificent & Beautiful Hotel I have ever seen!! Looking straight ahead when you walk in there Is this Gorgeous Center seating area with the Beautful
Rich green circular seats. I just love the Dark Green and artistic Rug that runs up the 2 Sided stair case ! I would just love to go to this awesome hotel for a week and just look around at all the Wonderful Décor and maybe do some shopping at the Hotel shops!!
What a grand place to stay in. Love looking through the years of evolution. The main lobby is just breathtaking in itself.
The hotel is lovely, I liked the pictures and the history. Looks like there is plenty to do too!
What a beautiful place and I have fully enjoyed your photos.
what a beautiful building I like that it has history to it
This looks like a really nice place to stay. I would stay here.
Looks like a lovely hotel! Thanks for the post 🙂
A grand Hotel, I would like to visit it.
It looks nice. Thanks
The lobby looks lovely. The shower is modern and well-maintained. There are some fun places to visit nearby. The pool looks really small though maybe it was just the angle of the picture.
that looks so nice and elegant,,looks and sound very expensive
This sounds like a great place to stay when we go on vacation
I love cool hotels like this one… would be awesome to visit.
WWwhat beautiful pictures of an amazing looking hotel!
This place does sound grand, my husband and I could use a get away at some place like this for a little break.
Oh that looks so beautiful! I love all the little details! We have never been to Michigan, but hope to vacation there someday!
I would love to visit this hotel, it looks and sounds amazing.
Wow, what a great place to stay. It sure has a lot of history to it. I would love to stay at a hotel like this. The food looked yummy too.
Wow, I would love to visit this hotel!
This reminds me of a place we stayed in Hot Springs AR. Beautiful old hotel, with all the shops in the basement and places to eat. It also had the hot baths from the springs you could partake in.
Your photos are spectacular and invite me to visit such luxuries.
Very Nice, I remember when all the hotels and movie theaters were much more grand like this. It sounds like a wonderful time.
Wonderful story and that hotel is gorgeous.This looks like fun!
What an amazing Hotel it’s so beautiful thanks for sharing!
It’s nice. All rooms pretty much look the same. Usually, the lobby is much nicer than the individual rooms.
How great is the hotel. It looks like there were many renovations over the years.
What a great history thru pictures and then the hotel looks like a lovely place to stay.
cool hotel
Wow! This looks like a really lovely hotel and a very cultural experience. 🙂
This hotel looks amazing and I love the history of it as well.
What an amazing story and those chandeliers are amazing! I would love to stay there just for the history!