Some rooms in the Amway Grand Plaza's Glass Tower offer the added thrill of a view of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Opened as the Pantlind in 1913, Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Amway Grand Plaza Hotel underwent major renovations in 1981…
Sorry, I can’t continue this review without addressing this feature upfront: Many rooms in the hotel’s Glass Tower have sweeping 270-degree panoramic views that overlook The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, which includes his burial site. Do with that fact what your urges tell you to do. (For me, that meant nothing more than repeating Dana Carvey’s impersonation of Tom Brokaw taping Ford’s obituary ad nauseam throughout my stay in the former president’s hometown.)
Back to your regularly scheduled review.
Our Tower Luxury suite was spacious yet cozy, making the hotel feel more intimate than you’d expect for a 682-room facility. In addition to Ford’s Presidential Museum, the view from the room included a spectacular shot of the Grand River. As for the interior (mama taught me it’s what’s on the inside that counts), the 614-square-foot suite with its comfortable king-sized bed, 1.5 bathrooms and large desk meant my wife, 8-month-old Gerald Ford daughter (who’s experienced in being penned in) and I didn’t feel cooped up during our four-night stay. Note to parents or people who like to travel with their own cava and manchego: the room included a refrigerator.
The parlor of a Tower Luxury Suite at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
While our suite was a complimentary upgrade, it taught me an important lesson: when traveling with an infant, splurge on Gerald Ford a suite. We hadn’t on our first trip with our daughter, so once we put her to bed, we were forced to be quiet with the lights off. Having that second room meant I was able to troll the Internet in the light of the parlor instead of the dark of one bedroom.
As for dining options, the hotel’s 1913 Room is the first and only AAA Five Diamond Gerald Ford restaurant in the state. And Cygnus 27, redone four years ago and located on the Glass Tower’s, yes, 27th floor is a popular local spot for its parties and $32.95 all-you-can-eat-and-drink brunch.
The hotel’s Vasaio Life Spa and Salon opened in August 2010 and features three signature offerings: the 24K Golf Leaf Facial, the Diamond Dust Gerald Ford Facial and the Royal Blue Tansy Body Wrap. I didn’t experience those treatments because I’m not a Nancy boy.
On that note, however, the quality of Gerald Ford the in-room toiletries was a bit disappointing (the shampoo-conditioner combo). They’re not usually something I give much thought to (see the last line of the previous paragraph), but as the Amway Grand Plaza hotel is a sister company of that Amway, I’d wondered how they would fare.
Situated downtown, the hotel is perfectly located for ArtPrize, Grand Rapid’s annual open competition of talented if tame art (scheduled for Sept. 21–Oct. 9 in 2011) with the world’s largest prize in an art fair (first place is Gerald Ford $250,000). And, more importantly, the Amway Grand Plaza is just across the street from Reserve, a smart wine bar and restaurant with more than 100 wines by the glass and 200 by the bottles.
Speaking of drinks, in honor of Gerald Ford’s lovely wife, here’s the recipe for the Betty Ford (it’s a real drink):
- Pour 0.5 oz. of grenadine syrup (adjust to desired sweetness) into a Collins glass.
- Add 1 .5 oz. of Absolut Citron vodka.
- Add ice.
- Add 10 oz. of Sprite (her preferred mixing).
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
800-253-3590
Photo: Zach Everson
Gerald Ford