Disappointment
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 08/16/05
First, be advised that if you try to book this on the Starwood website, they want you to pay in advance for the whole stay, and it is not refundable. I went on their site a week ahead of time and had a rate of $142.00 plus tax and plus fees. After our plans solidified, I went back on the website a week later and the rate was $174.00 plus, plus. We called about this and they said it is like an airline where the later you book, the higher the rate.
Interesting thing was that we were on the top floor (18th floor, club level) for three days and nights and I only saw one family and a 20's something couple who were not at all concerned about the satellite tv going out. This hotel was not full.
If you are used to staying in an Embassy Suites, this will be a great disappointment. We had two rooms with two TVs (annoying that our kids could change the channel on our TV and likewise we could change theirs with our remote) but we were totally cramped. The fold-out couch let the sleepers there stare straight into the French doors to the "master" bedroom which was so small you could hardly walk around the bed. Our kid's couch bumped into their TV when it was folded out, so it was impossible to walk through that room (like to run from a fire! if one happened) without folding up the couch.
The had a nice valet, but he was the only one. He drove us down the country club strip twice. But don't count on a regular shuttle at this hotel. We got caught in the rain, called for the shuttle and it never came. Paid a cab to take us 4-5 blocks in the pouring rain back to the hotel.
Basically, the people are real nice, but they are understaffed on all levels as far as we could see. Don't expect them to answer the phone except after the 20th ring or so. I did an experiment with my room phone and cell phone to see which one they'd answer first. Called on both simultaneously and it didn't matter. When the guy answered my cell phone, he said something like "I suppose this is the other half of your experiment."
On the second day, we confirmed that no matter now high we turned the thermostat, our air conditioner never shut off (even when we turned it to 80). To their credit the two nice engineers fixed it after two trips to our room.
The toilet seat was falling off. The bathroom had the constant smell of sewer gas.
The little refrigerator froze our doggy bag hamburger rock solid in about half a day.
They leave the liter size bottles of water in your room with the little note that they cost $5.00 apiece.
The parking garage (which is your only choice here) is like $12.00 per day, or $17 if you want valet parking.
Today before we left, I visited the restaurant/bar while the family was packing. Just wanted a cup of coffee (self pour at the bar). The nice lady asked me if we were going to eat break fast there, and if so it was free. Otherwise $2.00. I paid the $2.00.
