J. Manuel G.
Google
As owner of an independent 5-star resort in Asia (Plantation Bay, “a Real Resort with a Real Spa”), I have a lot of sympathy for independent hotels, but felt that I was not correctly treated here.
First, the location is very very good, right in the center of Old Santa Fe and surrounded by restaurants and art galleries, some churches.
I chose a Vista King, which for about $535 (including a $35 resort fee when there’s no resort to speak of) I assumed would deliver value for money at least in room fittings and view.
It turned out that my patio area had no privacy and overlooked a parking lot. So much for Vista.
The room itself was very tired-looking, not like the booking.com photo at all, and so was the hotel, with a generally depressing interior appearance, though the outside looks great. Again speaking as a professional hotelier, I would venture the entire hotel hasn’t been remodeled in at least 40 years. The bathroom layout is poor and the fixtures were several plumbing generations old. The bed was comfortable but too high off the floor. Many elements were not consistent with a 4-star description, such as a fireplace with just a candle in it, plain painted-plywood doors and panels, lamps with Daylight bulbs, just one electrical outlet for the credenza holding the refrigerator, the coffee-maker, and a lamp (so to run the coffee-maker I had to unplug the lamp).
The staff are pleasant and efficient, which made up a bit, but I felt I was overcharged. If my room was not typical of the hotel, then the front desk staff gave me a “last-to-sell” room on the assumption that as an Asian I wouldn’t know any better.
I do know better. I’m going to keep calling out every hotel that gives me an inferior room for the price, and/or an inferior room because of my race.