The Wyndham at Anaheim Garden Grove

I’ve spent many a conference week in and around the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County California, so I when I had the opportunity to stay a night at the Wyndham at Anaheim Garden Grove, I expected more of the same: vanilla and boring, catering to either the convention center guests or the Disneyland goers.

But, I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. The Wyndham at Anaheim Garden Grove has given this hotel a seriously modern facelift. From the moment you walk in the door, you see dynamic glass art, modern tiles and furniture, and stunning glass globe chandelier.

 Next you’ll notice the staff – I don’t know if it’s because they are so close to Disney (aka: the happiest place on earth) or what – but the staff is beyond friendly and super helpful. My waiter that evening, Hector, not only introduced himself, but asked my name and called me by it during my dining experience – a nice, genuine touch.

After I checked in and headed to the elevator, the next thing that caught my eye was the pool. It was 104F when I checked in, so the pool area looked like a desert oasis – complete with luxe cabanas (free and first come, first served) poolside and quaint bistro tables. Unfortunately for me, I’m here for work, so no relaxing poolside this trip.

Now because I came for work, Wi-Fi was a must and I’m happy to report that no matter where I was on the property – I got a full strength signal. Love that. Beyond the Wi-Fi, should you need to get some work done in a pinch, there is a small, no-frills, business center, with 3 PC workstations, a variety of phone chargers, a printer, and a fax.

Next up to the room – all of which are non-smoking {yay!} – mine was more cozy and definitely less modern than the main areas of the hotel, but for a single traveler, the room was a-ok: pillowtop king bed, 2 seater sofa, desk and chair, TV, small fridge, coffee maker, in-room safe, an alarm clock, lots of plugs for chargers – and a really strong A/C unit.

The bathroom was small and a little dark, but SUPER clean bathroom and was stocked with Bath & Body Works® True Blue® Spa branded facial and body soap, shampoo, shower cream, lotion, mouthwash, showercap, a vanity kit (cotton balls, q-tips), and hairdryer. They also had a comfy robe to relax in after a long day and a scale to see how much damage you did to your diet while travelling.

If you are here on business and find yourself with some down time, in addition to the pool and fitness center, there is a Disney desk onsite with shuttle service to all of the Disney related attractions.

There is also plenty of dining on the property: For sit down meals, head to the California Grill & Bar for some delicious food and a well-stocked bar. If a café is more your style or you want something to ‘grab and go,’ stop in to the Blend Café for some organic coffee, fresh paninis, or some locally sourced gelato.

Also on site is the Trinitas Wine bar, with a great selection of wines and 8 draft beers, 7 of which are local craft beers. I was lucky enough to have the Dir of Food and Beverage for the Wyndham at Anaheim Garden Grove, Paul Maddison, walk me through the nuances of onsite dining, which you can read about here.

Also, as a solo-female traveler, safety is always a priority and both the immediate area and property felt extremely safe. 

Overall, my stay was nice and a good option for a business traveler – I was definitely wowed by the upgrades they made in the public areas of the hotel and look forward to checking out the hotel again as they move those modern enhancements into the guest rooms starting in late 2015/early 2016.

Special thanks to the Wyndham Anaheim Garden Grove for the accommodations.  All opinions are my own.