Desmond Albany, Albany

We visit The Desmond every October for a business meeting. It is a quaint and charming hotel. We live in Florida now and I really look forward to visiting in the Fall a most beautiful time of year in this area.

I loved the charming rooms, landscaped atriums, and indoor pool. The Scrimshaw restaurant was delicious. It was really really nice. Definitely coming back next time I am in Albany on business.

I liked everything. I am a representative of the New York City Delagation and i participate in the Highlight program of BEAM1 IN Aspira. It was beautiful. The service and the cleanliness of the rooms were great. Im going again this year of 2008. I am in the debate team and i will debate for a bill to be passed through. I look forward to seeing the service again.

Never stayed there (most likely never will) but did eat Thanksgiving dinner there this year. A fly was frozen in an ice cube but I didn't notice it until the ice had melted. Talk about a feeling in the pit of your stomach. Manager didn't even apologize. He only said "Well I hope they brought you another drink." Also had to pay an 18% gratuity which was included in the bill. The Desmond in my opinion is more like a Motel 6 on steroids. My apologies to Motel 6.

Overall, an average hotel near the airport and set up mostly as a business conference center. Rooms were large enough and reasonably furnished, with free wireless internet. Bathroom was in need of updating, though not badly. Fitness center was contained within an indoor pool area and was a major disappointment. Equipment was old and rusty from humidity in the room and no one should expect to endure a serious workout in such a subpar facility.

... enough said. I had no idea that was why I woke up with large, itchy spots ... I thought I was just having some type of allergic reaction, and had never thought of bed bugs. Hotel was contacted after I got home, and they denied the room had them. I'm still getting over the trauma of it all.

Family reunion .... booked 5 rooms for 5 days. Had my daughter's wedding here in July 2002 and it was wonderful. Stayed here 1 night in March 06..also OK. However, this visit - Nov 22 - 25th 2006- our room had trash under the bed. They sent the maid to clean it and she found the middle leg of the king bed broken... Bed sagged in the middle all night....Maintenance came and fixed it the next day. After they left, took a shower and only a trickle of water came out of the shower head, and water gushed out of the lower faucet which filled up the tub.....but the tub did not drain!!!!!!! Complained and was given another room which was OK. Another BIG problem is no exhaust fans in the bathrooms (none of the 5 we rented had one). Lobby is TOO small for such a large hotel....when there are weddings in the courtyard (there were 2 plus various smaller parties when we were there) there is no place guests can sit and talk except in individual rooms. Simpson's Restaurant is VERY SLOW to serve....I think maybe the kitchen is too small for the number of patrons. Breakfast is good and is reasonably priced. We did not find the quality of food for dinner to be good. The food was bland and the prime rib was very fatty. They seem to cater to weddings and conventions, but for a small group or individual the Desmond is not the best choice. The day we left there was a Bridal Show no one told us about when we made our reservations..... they took up the lobby, both courtyards, and even the billard room. Any hotel guest staying there was unable to use these "amenities" they paid dearly for.

The front desk person who checked me in was very unprofessional. As I complained about her rudeness to a supervisor, she was trying to cover her up rather than simply admit and apologize. Also I heard (at least) 3 false alarms go off on one night, even while I was eating expensive dinner at a restaurant in the hotel. Food was so-so, I thought it was waste of money. I found hairs around the tub and toilet as I entered the bathroom first time after checked in.

I've stayed at the Desmond a number of times and it is one of the finest hotels I've ever been to. The room was comfortable, the atmosphere outstanding and the food - delicious. The staff is wonderful and accomodating, no pun intended. If there was one complaint: Too few elevators.

When I checked in there was no information given concerning internet access. When I called from my room about a Lan cord, they said no one was free to bring one to me, and I'd have to come down and get one myself. I said I would come in the morning. When I went down at 7:00 a.m. to get a cord, they said it would be a $20 deposit to get a cord, and they would put it on my bill. I had to go back to my room and get my credit card, since the hotel is not authorized to put charges on my school's credit card, which is what was used to hold the reservation. As I walked away, the man at the desk made snotty remarks about me to another person at the desk. I feel like I'm in the ghetto--and the treatment is like a cheap hotel. I am very disappointed, and will not stay in a Desmond hotel again. By the way, in the past year I have stayed for approximately 50 to 60 nights in hotels, and this is the worst service and treatment I have ever seen. Why not just say up front when you register for your room, Do you need a computer access cord, and be informed that there is a deposit. That would be the time to do it.