Hunter S.
Yelp
TLDR: my stay started with a greater than 10 minute wait to get on the elevator and my bed full of hair that didn't belong to me and and ended with the valet pulling up with my Jeep making a horrendous screaming noise because he had engaged 4WD and had the parking brake fully engaged. Everything else in between was mediocre.
I really struggled writing this review for many reasons. I know that we are all struggling during the pandemic. I know businesses are short staffed and the supply chain is disrupted. I know we are all tired and the hospitality business is extremely difficult.
I also know some of the issues I had with this stay are just personal preference, and some were just due to human error.
But it comes down to the fact that I am not sure I would even give this hotel another chance. It was an experience that negative.
First, something that was not necessarily in the hotel's control. This hotel is in the theater district, and I arrived just after a theater production let out. The lobby bar was absolutely packed and the music was booming, to the point the front desk attendant could barely hear me to check me in. And then I had to wait over 10 minutes to get onto the elevator to get to my room because the line was that long. People were taking their masks off and yelling right into my face, trying to talk to someone else. Again, not all of this is in hotel control, but this is not the type of experience I want to have.
The second issue is one that is absolutely in hotel control, but the thing that sticks in my mind most prominently. After a long day of work and a long drive, I laid down across the bed and noticed long, dark strands of hair spread across the duvet. I got up and started looking at the linens and found multiple types of hair from multiple people, both regular hair and pubic hair, all over the bed and pillows (I uploaded photos). The vents also had a lot of dust and the tub wasn't completely cleaned. Those things, ok, maybe I could overlook, but the bed? No way.
I had upgraded to a suite and was extremely surprised that this premium room was this poorly cleaned. I used a lint roller and cleaned it as well as I could, because I arrived late and was so tired.
The hotel did comp me some Bonvoy points, and promised me a "deep clean," though that really just meant new linens, but nothing else. While I appreciate the hotel was apologetic and made moves to correct and compensate, no one wants to pay for a dirty suite. I have stayed in luxury hotels like the Four Seasons and Waldorf hotels and have stayed in Marriotts of all types, and have never experienced something like this.
Also on the first night, they weren't offering room service, and it was so late that I ended up paying almost 10 dollars for some nuts from the snack bar out of desperation. Not all their fault, but this just continued to evolve into a less than wonderful experience.
I ordered room service one night, and while the steak was a little cold and I didn't receive a knife with which to cut it, the man who delivered my steak was extremely professional and gracious. If this is standard, not worth the cost.
I also had some of the mixed drink options from the bar. The markup on the liquor isn't as high as the markup on the wine. A 60 dollar bottle of Kim Crawford? Whew! I ended up buying my own wine from a great little shop down the street, Bacco's (reviewed separately).
All of this, and my review was still up in the air as to three or four stars (I try to be generous with my reviews).
When I checked out of valet, the man who seemed to be the head valet was courteous and remembered that I drove a green jeep. Then my stay was closed with a massive stressful event. One of the valet workers drove up in my Jeep with it making a horrendous screaming sound, and everyone just started staring. The valet was clearly terrified, and I ran over to the Jeep to find he had put it into four wheel drive. After I actually got into the jeep, I also saw HE HAD DRIVEN ALL THAT WAY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON and it was the brake that was dragging. I drive a vintage Jeep. Yes, it is a 2000. But it has an automatic, clearly labeled gear shift like every other vehicle, and the other lever is clearly for 4WD engagement only, and the Jeep's emergency brake is like any other auto's and in the same place. There was no reason to pull any other lever than the one to put it into drive.
I in no way want any consequence against the valet team. If anything, the valet team were some of the most courteous people on site. And again, he was clearly confused and terrified and extremely apologetic. I still tipped the guy. But maybe some education?
I expected this to be a little more luxurious. Not Four Seasons or Waldorf luxurious, but I wanted "nice." From beginning to end, this was not a good experience for me. At least I know the staff mean well and most of them are trying their best.