Something's crook in Tallarook.
Look, sometimes it is not just possible to pin point the exact problem with accommodation. The entrance, the room and the general environment at first glance seems to be in keeping with the 'Wellness' brochures and hotel paraphernalia.
Trouble is, in the end the feelings win out. Much was promised but little delivered. Even with the discounted room rates due to attending a 'Supernatural' weekend, the place seemed to exude an unhealthy atmosphere and left us feeling psychically ill at best.
Pity. The conference was great in spite of this. The fans made the most of what seemed like a hotel and staff who didn't really want us 'low life' there. We couldn't interest the staff in making us a hot chocolate at 10:45 on a Saturday in spite of them being happy to serve drunken hunks who had nothing to do with the 'weirdos' attending the conference.
In the Australian parlance we would term such people 'wankers'. Perhaps pretentious is a better use of the English language. Trying to charge us $US10 a minute for a call to family in Australia was ridiculously exorbitant.
When I pointed this out and that I intended to can the place in an internet review if they didn't life their game, the manager on duty agreed to drop the rate from $100 to $50 for my partners calls back to her mother and sister.
Beware. The room rate appears cheap, but it is easy to ramp up your costs by 100% if attention is not paid to the details of the small print. You get the room only for the rate quoted. The $5 discount for foregoing towel changing is only if you would be stupid enough to rent a room from them again, or the same chain. Another terminological inexactitude.
Whatever, I am happier with hotels who state clearly up front what is, and is not included in the price. Why beat around the bush except to take money from t eh pockets of the unsuspecting. I will not be staying again at any of the Westin Hotels.