3rd Time in Tower Suites; 1st in Xtreme. Not impressed.
While the atmosphere is wonderful, there's always a part of me that can't help but want just a little more. The staff here have always been nothing but friendly. But there's just that sour taste that I keep leaving with seriously has me reconsidering my next trip.
I was a little dismayed that I paid for a second room, for a total of more than $1000 per night, after the lady taking my reservation said the maximum occupancy was two. Upon check-in, I was informed that my third guest could have slept on the couch and didn't need the extra bed. I know it sounds cheap; but that's where he wanted to sleep originally and money does, of course, speak very loudly when taking a trip like this one.
As I said in my title, this trip is my third in a year to this hotel. I've stayed on the 33rd and 34th floors before. Both of those stays left me with a sour taste in my mouth. On the 33rd floor in September 2011, the curtains were painted to the walls, the tile was coming off the shower, and table had all sorts of molded food crumbs and a giant crack. So In February 2012, I stayed on the 34th floor. Mind you, there was absolutely NO security latch on the door. The result... as I was stepping out of the shower, room service opened my door and tried delivering a wine and cheese platter to someone named Karen. Nevermind me standing there naked... just take it away. They still tried charging for the platter at checkout, too. I learned then that you had better unplug the room phones at night because you'll get someone else's courtesy wakeup call at 6 am.
So on this trip I splurged a little for the Xtreme Suite. Again, I wasn't allowed two people in the bed and one on the couch. So I had to get the extra bed. But like I said, that changed at check in. Imagine being told that I needed to spend extra only to be told a few months later that I didn't have to. Not fun. I also tried confirming the room layout again a week before checking. I was told that it was a two bedroom, one bath. It was a two bedroom, 2.5 bath. Can anyone in reservations get the story straight?
But the part I seriously enjoyed doing was arguing about the internet. Apparently, if you book online you get free internet. Well, that's what I tried to do. But in order to book this room, you HAVE to call. So in the end, I managed to get one voucher code for one of our internet capable devices. I didn't enjoy everyone coming over to use my laptop when they each brought one of their own. If you plan on traveling with others, be prepared to pay extra for the internet if you can't manage to get a voucher code.
The room itself felt pleasant. It wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the 33rd and 34th with their very slow heat and a/c. This one was responsive.
The fit and finish, however, still left much to be desired. The toilet in the master bath leaked, so every now and again while sleeping you hear the toilet filing back up. The bathtub leaked while trying to take a relaxing bath. As I was the first to take a bath, imagine me turning my head and seeing pubic hairs dancing around the top of the tub. I wasn't really excited anymore. Housekeeping apparently missed them. There was a good amount of mold growing around the air vent in the bedroom. Just like on the 33rd, the tile was falling out of the shower in the second room. One of the light globes in the room was broken and there were other burned out bulbs.
The sheets in the second bedroom had a few odd looking blood stains. Not sure where they came from.
Getting off the elevator, one of the signs had apparently lost a few of the letters, so the repair was to write on it with black marker. So classy!
The pool table was a nice addition, though the cue sticks are in need of repair. Some of them have no tips!
The paneling on the door was coming apart and the base molding looked like it had seen better days. Be careful not to brush your toe on this loose panel.
The closeup mirror in the bathroom was loose and not securely tightly to the wall, so a little difficult to use.
Be careful not to bump the cord going to the arcade game. The outlet in the wall is very loose and will give you a nice little shock.
The table under the TV needs to seriously be refinished.
The security needs to be upped a little bit. There is a keycard reader in the elevator, but anyone can use the elevator to get to the tower rooms. On my February trip and this trip we've had drunk people banging on the doors or loitering at the elevator. I mentioned it then and was told the problem would be rectified. Apparently, in seven months they couldn't fix it. But at least the side doors are locked after 11 now.
Great job on valeting my luggage when I arrived. Just wasn't sure why I got some lady's purse instead of my laptop bag.
The view up there is great, other than the dirty windows which I think really can't be helped. If you're considering a stay towards the top of the hotel, consider just getting a tower suite and saving yourself some cash. The Xtreme suite didn't really feel very extreme to me at all. A little bigger with a pool table and mini arcade machine.