This hotel stay was a bit of a dichotomy!
I’d been chatting with the front desk via App about early arrival and was asked to send an email to the front desk manager which went unanswered.
Upon arrival about 0800 I identified myself as Lifetime Titanium and that I’d asked for an early check in if something available.
More concerned after flying all night, was for early checking in for a nap and a shower than an upgrade. Clerk was not welcoming and said “it’s only eight o’clock. I expressed in knew the time but reiterated my prior Chat actions. She repeated again “it’s only eight o’clock “. She said she had a handicap room (I don’t like taking handicap rooms in case someone needs them), and ask if it was indeed the only room in the entire 50 story building. She again repeated for the third time “it’s only 8 o’clock“ this time, accompanied by real attitude and an eye roll. I asked to speak with the manager on duty. She stepped away behind the desk, and then began to berate me to what I thought was the MOD, but in reality it was just another Desk club. Ultimately, with managers help, and the help from another very friendly desk clerk, I was able to get into my room by 9 AM.
The property itself is a mix of old and new. If I didn’t know better, except for the direct select elevators, I would easily think I was standing in a Sheraton in 1992.
The room itself was very clean, but the room was quite dated, while the Shower appeared to have received an upgrade, the bathroom vanity hit me between my knees and my hips. Ancient!
Of course the very wonderful and comfortable Sheraton bed awaited me for my nap. As shown in the photos, the windows don’t look like they’ve been washed in several years.
Be careful in booking this property, I did not notice that there is a $35 (plus tax) “destination fee“ which is another way for them to get money like they do as a “resort fee”. that $35 minus the tax is credited in food and beverage, but ties you to the hotel for food.
The evening restaurant, the library, was an odd mishmash of various chairs, tables and furniture, that looked like an afterthought from a conference room. Power cords draped across the floors and pillars. On the flipside, the food itself was very good with great portions and well prepared and presented.
Breakfast was great too with an assortment of hot dishes, along with freshly cut, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, etc.! Yogurts, and muesli, cold cereal, as well as oatmeal were available.
My server happened to be quite friendly and welcoming, but the exchange between other servers, the hostess, and breakfast guests was kind of a cross between the Seinfeld “Soup Nazi”, And the old episode of Saturday Night Live with John Bellucci “no Pepsi! Coke, Coke”. I will say, the line for the breakfast was crazy, considering the fact that they weren’t that busy inside, but again I think there were issues with the servers.
This was literally a one night round-trip turn from the West Coast to New York City to boost my point value with the airline
For what it was, it was quite acceptable, But business travelers might give pause with the $35 a day “destination fee“ as well as the pre-turn-of-the-century lobby, seating, and signage.
