Best Western ... not
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 7/15/06
After entering the dreary lobby escaping the chilly July gale force winds which nearly ripped the scarf from my neck, I was greeted while still approaching the front desk by a stiff stoic faced young female clerk with do you have a reservation? This felt like I was sized up and the message to convey was were booked so just turn around and walk back out into the cold wind, otherwise, I would have received a more warm welcoming and courteous greeting.
After proceeding down county fair style funhouse mirrored hallways, I found my room decorated in drab, thoughtless décor plastic sunblocking curtains and mindlessly placed computer desk and chair. The bed was made up with cheap, stiff polyester spread and comforter and provided a most uncomfortable rest.
In calling room service, I was greeted with boisterous laughter by the person answering the phone with loud shouts coming from the background. Upon receiving my much overpriced, no thought given to presentation, meal which also lacked salt and pepper on the tray, I was required to initial on the hand drawn line next to the gratuity amount as well as sign for the meal as a charge to my room. The 18% gratuity is disclosed on the room service menu so I was expecting it; however, to have to initial the amount with no explanation as to the reason or even citing that it was the gratuity amount, just initial here was disturbing.
The next morning to avoid having to use the powdered chemical coffee creamer containing unhealthy hydrogenated oils for the coffee provided in the room, I went down to the Brass Elephant restaurant to get real cream. The full service buffet was in progress but you had to figure out how to get over a raised seating area in the middle of the restaurant to access it. It was completely baffling to me and the older couple who were entered the restaurant along with me. While they were still trying to figure this out, I proceeded around the raised area by walking towards the left and was greeted by an obviously disturbed aged hostess who was telling me with gestures conveying he was upset that he needed my room number (I felt accused of trying to steal food!). However, I politely let him know there was no posting to inform the guests to provide their room numbers before proceeding to the buffet! Nor was the hostess desk situated at the restaurant entrance.
I booked this hotel mainly for the pool access for my teenager and the free parking, however, the SF Bay Area climate is not the typical warm, sunny place to go swimming outdoors and the free parking did not cancel the poor sleeping accommodations and lack of trained customer service oriented staff. Most of the other guests I saw appeared to be in the upper retirement generation age group (70-80) or were much younger with hearty appetite children to feed and perhaps courtesy, a comfortable sleep, and ambiance are not factors in their choice of hotels. I severely regretted this selection and wondered why I had not chosen from the several upscale hotels located within a few hundred yards of this one. Oh yes, I based it on one 5 star review and thought the price was good.