Bruce F.
Yelp
It's hard to be objective after reading so many reviews of other disappointed guests, but I'd like to share my own first-hand observations, coming from someone who just returned from a equally lackluster experience at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii last week, where I spent over $5,000 for a 3-night stay on an experience that fell far short of expectations.
First, about expectations: The price of Tidelands rooms compared to other lodging in the area should be taken into account. Literally right next door, the Four Seasons is charging over $1,700 for their LEAST costly room. Let me assure you right now--the Tideline is NOT the Four Seasons and for that matter, NOT a luxury resort. Indeed, the Tidelines is not a resort. It is a boutique hotel on a beach for which we paid $400 per night. Spoiler alert, Tidelines is not in Palm Beach as I thought it was before booking. Start with your expectations there and make adjustments as necessary below.
The hotel is a throwback to when boutique hotels began springing up in the late '90's and early '00's. Dark mood lighting, main lobbies on the second floor, hip instrumental music in the lobby, small rooms that feature frustrating "form-over-function" design, etc. All of that. The design aesthetic is very much dated and tired.
To others' complaints about the photos not being representative of actual condition of furnishings, amenities, I would probably agree to an extent; however, I would stop short of calling the photos deceptive. Rooms and views do vary. Our room is ocean view with balcony is exactly as advertised, so no complaint there. If other rooms that are billed as ocean or partial ocean views are not, I cannot comment first-hand, but that would be unforgivable in my view.
I did not get the sense, as others have, that the room was not clean. Being south Florida and truly, right on the beach, the humidity, mold (we didn't see any) an "slippery" floors from humidity or ocean mist (we leave our sliding door open to hear the waves) are to be expected. No, the beach location does not justify a dirty room--Im just saying our room was clean and comfortable, although threadbare. Not a luxury room by any means. Few amenities. No in-room coffee (but really good free coffee in lobby served until at least 11:00 a.m.) Unfortunately, coffee service in lobby turned out to be inconsistent during our stay, one day, empty and filthy with trash and crumbled napkins, the next day, fine, etc.
Deferred maintenance? Absolutely. The Tideline is in need of an overhaul--both from a design and functionality standpoint. It is hard to say how much of the hotel's condition is due to a lack of financial resources or just bad timing (pandemic)--as perhaps Tidelines was due for a facelift, but the pandemic changed those plans due to lack of contractors, supply chain difficulties, skyrocketing materials prices, and labor shortage.
I suspect strongly this hotel is a Marriott/Bonvoy licensee that has not been inspected lately by Marriott, as I do believe Tideline does not meet the standards required in Marriott's licensing agreements from the standpoint of the physical facilities. For that matter, I don't consider Tidelines as meeting those high standards, either.
Our service both at check-in and in the dining facilities met our expectations. No problem here, but like everywhere else, including the Fairmont Orchid (see that review), most staffers lack experience and were hired recently and appear to be in training. Not uncommon right now, nor unexpected. No service trip-ups is a win.
We had favorable experience with our complimentary breakfast. Basic full breakfast fare met expectations, but did not exceed them. Beautiful setting for breakfast indoors and outside on ocean facing deck. No buffet currently offered during our stay, although the menus provided indicate that buffet used to be an option, perhaps pre-Covid.
I understand for many people, $300-$400 nightly deserves high expectations, but on this island, presently, it seems to be at the low end of the price range, so again, keeping my expectations reasonable.
One reviewer is correct and I will also point out, I didn't realize Tidelands (or the Four Seasons next door) is not in Palm Beach. It's not far away by car, though. The Tideline is in Lake Worth Beach, but is on "the island", 7 miles south of Palm Springs. About a 15-20 minute drive. Not walkable. Its distance to Palm Beach would lead me to select superior lodging either IN Palm Beach (like the Colony or the Breakers) next time - or another nice beach community elsewhere like in Boca Raton or even Juno Beach?
Was Tidelines the worst experience ever? No. Could it have been better in many respects? Absolutely. Its physical condition was most distracting.