IL Rockford Clock Tower Resort

[SinatraFan]

At first I was a little baffled reading the reviews of the Clock Tower Resort; they were pretty bad. But as a Priceline customer I apply different standards. Their standard price is $144; I stayed for under $50 and saw a receipt (not meant for me) that said $44, so it might be a good guess that 44 is the Priceline threshold. And at that rate, this hotel is just fine. If I had booked at a high price and expected a full waterpark and stuff like that, I would have been disappointed. The rooms are quite large and have exposed brick walls and low ceilings which works for me, giving it a cozy yet spacious and resort-y feeling. But if you are used to Hyatts and Hiltons and a more modern feel, you may describe it the way some have, as dark and dreary. It is a very large place, spread out so much that they give you a map so you can find your room! I had no problems with the staff or the cleaning people while there, and on Tuesdays they have a free buffet for all guests, including beer and wine. It was all very good. I did not check out the waterpark but I saw the indoor and outdoor pools and they looked fine and people seemed to be enjoying them. The location of the Clock Tower Resort is in the "Hotel District" - a lot of places all within less than a half mile. This is fairly far from downtown Rockford but so are all the good hotels.

No microwave, no fridge, and not many television channels. I can't remember if there was internet access.

So if you book this place at a good price and like a change from more standard 2.5 star hotels, this is a good option. If you have a big family and expect something like the Wisconsin Dells and you pay rack rate, you won't be too happy.