A Mixed Bag for Big Bucks
I stayed at the Mayflower for three nights during a business trip at a rate of $286 a night -- a price that the front desk said I was lucky to get because of the group negotiation. By the end of the stay, I wasn't so sure who came out ahead.
The hotel was built in 1925 and occupies a terrific location and is often described as an architectural and social landmark. The public spaces are elegant and lovely -- including, for instance, a free-form cherry blossom sculpture during the time I was there -- and they suggest wealth and power. But take the elevators up to the rooms, and you get a different picture.
The rooms seem terribly dated, and the bed was overly soft -- an impression confirmed by at least one other colleague attending the same gathering. It was not exactly shabby, but it seemed as if the dust covers had just been pulled off most of the furniture. Internet service was available at a cost of $12.95 a day -- which seemed the only concession to modernity.
The in-room coffee was excellent, and the TV had a good range of cable channels. But when I opened the window curtains, the only view was of a neighboring building and the mechanical works of the HVAC system. To make things worse, the bang of the Dumpsters began about 5:30 a.m., which was most disturbing.
There was yin and yang: Great Aveda toiletries and a wonderful mezzanine bar that afforded a great view of the lobby area. Yet the drinks seemed watery, and the service was uneven. The food at the hotel, which I experienced three times (a buffet breakfast, a lunch, and a formal dinner) was mediocre, with rubbery Danish at breakfast, an unremarkable chicken breast for lunch, and the exact same menu served that night for dinner. When my wife asked how I liked the dinner, I said, "It was OK, considering they served leftovers."
All in all, I kept wondering about where the Mayflower ever got its great reputation and how the heck it could justify charging upwards of $500 a night. Next time, I will look elsewhere.