So we just returned from 2 nights at this hotel and although it is attractive, we had a rough time. Sorry for the length of this, for the sum-up skip too the end:
Walking in the hotel is very welcoming, and so is the room. We are on a non-smoking floor (all the doors say so) and find our room very clean, well mostly, and with a great view.
As we look over the room, I step out to the balcony to admire the river view and discover the glass someone was using to put out their cigarette butts. Disgusting!
This is one if the nicest rooms aside from the Honeymoon Suite (or so we're told) and it is very nice but I don't know if I would call it a suite. It's more of a large room with a short dividing wall, attractive decor, the 'entertainment center' in the 'living area' also houses a small microwave, and fridge.
Our 'package' ("romantic dinner") includes a gift certificate for one of the local restaurants which is fine, that goes well...we use it for lunch. We get nightly champagne, glasses, chocolate dessert w/red grapes, and bath/mineral salts. Included (for all rooms I think) is the evening reception and breakfast.
We aren't in our room long when the A/C starts making repetitive clicks and sounds to us like it is shorting out. It seems to be cooling fine but we worry about being woken up during the night. So, we stop at the desk to let them know and also about the cig. butts (just so we aren't accused of anything =). The assistant manager responds kindly, and sends a maint. worker up immediately; who suggests he could 'poke at it' and see.....we aren't instilled with a lot of confidence....but we think it best to leave him to his work. An hour or so later we return to a note saying he replaced a part, and that it should work quieter now. It seems to be fine, so we let that go...the trash is still on the balcony......thank goodness it's small and the fresh air drowns out the smell. Oh and on our 'walk' we check out the pool, which is in a nice setting but we wonder if the floaters are just dust or hair???
Next is the evening reception. At previous hotels we have seen a variety of foods of varying quality but usually prolific and appropriately heated. We aren't impressed with the single tray of meatballs that are barely warm and one veggie tray. Neither tray was very large considering the crowd and since it is only a few minutes into the 'cocktail hour'. There seems to be only one person working the 'lounge' as the basement dining room is called. Quickly a line forms for the drinks, for which each room gets 2 tickets nightly (beer, wine or SODA?). At previous encounters with the complimentary 'hospitality' we have seen hotels provide at least a juice or soda. Here we have coffee, and I can't find the water. For a few minutes a few of us are lined up wondering where the staff has gone as we see no one at 'the bar'. Should we help ourselves? We could have but everyone behaves and just wanders around bewildered until someone shows up. We hang out for a 1/2 hr or so to see if the food gets hotter or if something new comes out, neither happens so we leave.
When we return an hour later there is a very disgusting Pasta Salad out, also in limited quantity. I know it's free and all but considering we have seen better at cheaper hotels, we are very disappointed.
The nights prove to be the most disappointing. It's loud/noisy...between the loud a/c unit that wakes us up when it turns itself off (leaving it on fan wakes us too because we get hot) several times, too the hacking neighbor, someone's TV, doors closing in the hallway....well we don't feel rested after either night.
In the morning the selection at breakfast is better but still lukewarm and not appetizing. Even the bread is rationed. Now there's juices included and the water dispenser is filled, but the limited staff seem bored and like the were forced to be there.
After walking around a bit we come back to our room to find it clean but the housekeeper has not removed the dishes from the night before, or taken her tip (which was indeed labeled for her), and the 'cig. butt glass' still there. Our nightly champagne is there with new glasses, and dessert, the bathsalts are not. We have another restless night of sleep and can't wait to leave. I find the assistant manager who we spoke with the day before, to let him know that although the hotel is in a nice location and is pretty, why we would not likely return. I wasn't upset about it but thought that he should be aware of the idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies. He was polite and suggested we try it again, and that he would give us a discount. For the money, even at a discount, I don't think so.
To sum up:
Beautiful to look at,
not comfortable to get a restful nights sleep,
not worth the price.
It seems from the other reviews out there most would disagree, but that's just the story of what happened. There are so many other options, that paying for a view of the river (which if you've never been here isn't very large to begin with) and depending on which side you are on the view of the elevated/busy roadway; isn't worth it.
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