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Staying in a hotel with travel anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can be difficult. You never know what you’re going to get, and sometimes it’s a disaster. When we visited Cedar Point, we had the opportunity to stay at the Cedar Point Express Hotel and absolutely loved it (watch the video tour of our room!).
Five Reasons to Stay at the Cedar Point Express Hotel
Before we go into our review, we thought we\’d share a bullet list of the five reasons to stay at the Cedar Point Express Hotel. In our fast-paced society, we love to scan, so in case you don\’t read the whole thing, here they are:
- It\’s been recently renovated
- The price is right (especially for families!)
- You\’ll get a good night\’s sleep because of soundproofing
- The pool and patio area is fantastic
- Cedar Point is just five minutes away and you can get in an hour early
Now, if you\’re interested in a more in-depth discussion about why these things are important, please keep reading!
First Impressions
Arriving well after midnight, we walked in to find the lobby empty. It was great because it gave us a chance to look around before checking in. It\’s amazing how different a place can look without all the crowds. What struck us most was how bright and clean everything was. It was very welcoming and I immediately felt less worried about what we\’d find in our hotel room.
The Cedar Point Express Hotel was recently renovated, and the decor is perfect. The neutral palette looks fresh and calming, while the punches of green and blue tied the theme back to the eponymous amusement park.
Tired from a full day of traveling, we were relieved that the front desk attendant was very friendly and courteous. He answered all of our questions, joked about how loud the music was for that time of night and gave us some good tips for the next day. He made us feel like we were in good hands.
Guest Room
We were surprised by how roomy our accommodations were. Not only were there two queen beds, but there was a small table and chairs. That could really come in handy if you’re traveling with kids! I know my grandmother and I had many a breakfast on tables just like that one when we\’d travel. You just don\’t see them much anymore.
What is common in most hotels nowadays, however, are a large flat-screen televisions and there was one situated atop a generous chest of drawers. We didn\’t unpack because we were only staying overnight, but I did peek inside. It looked clean!
The bathroom was well appointed and even had hooks in the shower for drying off bathing suits and clothing. Considering the fact that Cedar Point has a water park and the hotel has a beautiful pool, that can really come in handy.
The carpet was clean, but that was probably because of the recent renovations. We really loved that the wall art was framed pictures of Cedar Point rides. It was a nice touch and helped us get in the mood for a day of thrill rides!
Soundproofing
A huge source of travel anxiety and stress for us is not being able to sleep in a noisy hotel. One of our very worst experiences was at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles (never again), so this always makes us worried. After a full day of traveling, who wouldn\’t want to be able to lay their head down and recharge their batteries?
We’re happy to report that, despite the fact that we were on the first floor near the lobby, we didn’t hear a peep. Not even the music that seemed very loud when we were at the front desk. That’s pretty incredible considering the majority of Cedar Point’s business comes from families with children (who tend to be pretty noisy). We got up early, but we were grateful for a good night’s rest before a day at the park!
Amenities
One of our favorite things about staying at an official Cedar Point hotel is that you get into the park an hour early! The theme park is ridiculously popular — people come from all over to visit — so the lines can get very long. Being able to get a jump on the traffic is a major advantage to stay at a Cedar Point property. On our day at the park, we had already ridden Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster before the general public had even walked through the gates! High five!
The Cedar Point Express Hotel also has a beautiful, large enclosed pool area. We walked out there after we checked in and we were impressed. Small kids can\’t easily wander off from a ground-level room, for example, and fall into the pool. It was very well designed with families in mind.
You’ll also find table sets shaded by red and yellow umbrellas on the expansive patio. The outdoor spaces truly felt festive and summery! It was a lot more elevated an experience than we ever expected from a theme park, let alone one in Sandusky, Ohio!
Overall Grade
Located less than a five minute’s drive from Cedar Point’s main gate, it’s hard to beat the convenience and affordability of the Cedar Point Express Hotel. There were a number of things in the immediate surrounding area, including McDonald\’s and Dairy Queen, where you could get a quick bite while taking a break from the roller coasters. Truly, it’s perfect for budget-conscious families who want to get the most value for their dollar.
For us, it also met all of the criteria needed to fight off travel anxiety. Our room was very clean, well-maintained, and soundproof. After taking a couple crazy flights from Idaho, we felt comfortable which allowed us to decompress and get a full night’s rest. We\’ve stayed in a lot of theme park hotels, and this was definitely among the best. We hope to be back at Cedar Point (and the Express Hotel) soon!
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