This hotel was a last minute booking. It's a nice antique hotel. They should have better explainaning on the booking platforms on what the rooms consist of because they have common bathrooms and showers on the floor and not in your room. The rooms are really nice and clean. The lobby holds history like a phone switchboard, a phone booth, an antique barber shop for haircuts, display of back in the day prices and an elevator that you slide the door open and close. The staff was nice and welcoming. Parking is not great since they don't have a parking lot. You have to find parking on the street. Depending on the day it's free to park. If you like antique type hotels, this one would be perfect for you. If not, do your research on what they offer. read more

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Update: The property is wonderful - see original review below. But the included breakfast at Bistro Maxine was not up to the rest of the experience - a poor way to start the day. Walking in the door, I asked for coffee. Not available until I order breakfast with the app, following the seven step instructions on the card. 15 minutes later the coffee came. The app offers six fixed breakfast choices, none of them wonderful. You get one beverage - choice of a number of coffee specialties (good) or orange juice (small - that's what the menu says). Can't have both coffee and orange juice without paying for one of them. My fixed choice included scrambled eggs (if they were two eggs, they were small ones), bacon (two strips - can you spare them?) and salad greens with Italian dressing - for breakfast? One slice of white toast, with jam. Anything else you pay for. This was the free breakfast in a property that charged over $400 for a Queen room. =================== Original review: The meticulously preserved yet comfortable Cardinal Hotel was the unexpected highlight of our visit to Palo Alto. It's 101 years old but in amazingly perfect condition. The lobby is a living museum - original wrought iron light fixtures, faux wood ceramic fireplace and tiled floor. The 1924 switchboard might be the only artifact that's not still in use. The preservation comes at little cost in comfort and function. The vintage elevator appears daunting, with an old-fashioned door you slide open by hand. But once it starts moving, the unexpectedly smooth, quiet ride evinces a modern mechanism. Our bathroom had touches lacking in most modern hotel rooms. The shower/tub had a normal faucet - not one of those single control horrors - and an excellent non-skid surface. The one concession to history is the lack of air conditioning. The ceiling fan and cross ventilation in our deluxe corner room was enough for us. Had it been hotter, we would have avoided the top floor. Some rooms lack an en-suite bathroom, but that only adds to the vintage atmosphere as long as you don't choose one of them. The desk staff was unfailingly pleasant and helpful. read more

I had stayed in this hotel twice and both my experiences were wonderful. The hotel was centrally located in downtown Palo Alto. Location 5/5 There were so many restaurants and cafes within steps from the hotel. Stanford was nearby, accessible by foot or Marguerite. Super convenient. Service 5/5 Hotel staffs were always helpful and attentive. The front desk staff Yadira Cruz was so lovely during my latest visit. She was very kind and super helpful. Room & Amenities 5/5 Room was nice and clean. There is no AC in the rooms but one does not need AC in the area. It was chilly even in June when I was here last year. Heat is more important and the heat in the room works great. I will definitely come back here the next time I visit. Highly recommended! read more

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Not sure why this hotel gets such bad ratings - it is on the older side but the interior is very charming and my room was spotless. It was a little pricey but walking distance to our office, so convenience made up for the price. I got a deluxe room (no shared bathroom) located on the second floor facing Hamilton avenue. It was very quiet - there was a little noise from upstairs and the room next to me but it wasn't an issue. Room was a little stuffy but they provide a dyson fan in the closet that I used during my stay. Overall, if I had to come to the office again for business I would stay here again. read more

Great location, no frills rooms that are spotless and comfortable, with a truly great lobby that recalls a bygone era. The rooms are small, but they are nicely updated and not dusty old antiquey looking and they manage to pack in a slim work station and closet for small luggage. No coffee maker or microwave or fridge in the room - just good to know. I spent a few nights here in 2022 - once when I was moving and my apt wasn't ready, and another time stayed her while traveling for work. I managed to hold a few Zoom meetings in the room and it worked really well. I know some complain about the noise from Ramona street, but most places close down pretty early - around 10:30pm - and then it's pretty chill. And it is so convenient to step out and go to dinner or get coffee - close to all the University Ave action. Because the rooms are pretty tight - just big enough for sleeping, showering and getting ready, I enjoyed having my coffee in the oldey timey lobby, with the vintage furniture, gorgeous fireplace and real 1940's phone booth. The lobby has a "no cell phone" zone which is awesome! You can quietly sit and read or chat (or even scroll but no talking on your phone) to get and give others PEACE and calm. You can also sip your wine in the lobby. On a chilly night, it's cozy to go to the terrific Italian restaurant, L'Osteria, just off the lobby. For a light breakfast, they have an agreement with Bistro Maxine right next door for a free continental breakfast and that was very delicious and generous, although not easy to understand the app and how to order and how to get the breakfast deal. Frustrated with that the first morning caused us to give up and go to Peninsula Creamery for breakfast instead. Both times, I got a room with a private bathroom in the room, so I can't comment on how the other rooms with shared bath work, but the common bathrooms and showers look immaculate and seem available enough (and you save money getting a room with a shared bathroom). Saving the best for last: the staff are great!! Very helpful on the phone and friendly and nice. Also the housekeeping staff do the best job of any hotel because the rooms and bathrooms are observably clean and shiny and they smell clean. MAKE SURE TO TIP THEM! My only quibble is the complimentary coffee in the lobby- they offer it until 10am or so, but a few times when I went to get some at 8 am it was empty. When I asked, they said when it's gone it's gone. At 8am? As most people are just getting up and out? Just make another carafe will ya? That struck an off note as it's pretty sad to want to have a quick cup and it's gone by 8am and you have to rush out and avoid getting a caffeine-withdrawal headache. I will definitely be back! read more

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Location was good, amenities were dated to a point but that's part of the charm. The concern was with the A/C or lack thereof. I understand it is an old building but even something where they can exhaust out the hot air would be nice. It was sweltering in the mid eighties in the room and quite unbearable. Price is good for the location though read more

Amazing boutique hotel in the heart of Palo Alto that should be celebrating 100 years soon or already done. You can feel the roaring 20s in the salon where you can enjoy pretending to be a telephone girl from that crazy and fun era and make a fake call to expand fake news to your own world with that cute real station they showcase. You can also touch and feel a desk from those times and feel like a hard working office worker...so many things from the past will make you feel you are in a museum instead of inside a charming hotel. Next time you pass by...just go in! read more

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It's charming and the rooms are clean, but the lack of air conditioning and coffee maker in the room is a deal breaker. The elevator is old school as well, so if you like antiques, this would be charming, but when you're in a hurry, it's just frustrating. For me personally, I would go for a newer and simpler hotel like a Holiday Inn Express or something similar. read more

Adorable boutique hotel in the heart of Palo Alto. All of the front desk employees (I have talked to 3 different people on the phone or in person) are lovely and have great personality for this line of work. It is a historic building and even thought it has been renovated, it does not perform the same way as a newly build one. There might be occasional issues with heating and such. If you are prepared for that, it will be easier to appreciate the charm of this place. Relax and look for the little details that will take you back in time. The hotel preserved such gems as phone booth, old switch board, the elevator doors and buttons... As the hotel does not have their own restaurant, we visited the French café next door for breakfast. Vouchers for limited menu were provided for guests upon check-in. The food and service at that restaurant were subpar, but it was included in the rate and it was the closest option, so it was bearable. I would absolutely consider returning to Cardinal when I am back in the area. read more

Cardinal Hotel - View from our window on a second floor. Charming neighborhood. - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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The Cardinal Hotel is a small, charming hotel set in the middle of Palo Alto's downtown, just off University Avenue. It's an older ("historic") building, and the renovations to it are modest, so don't come expecting the Ritz-Carlton. There's no on-site parking, but the hotel staff will help you decipher Palo Alto's cryptic color-coded parking zones. We parked on the street a few blocks away, with no problems whatsoever. Our guest room was open, airy, and comfortable. We had a room with an ensuite bath (some rooms have shared baths, make sure you know which one you have when you're making a reservation); the bathroom sink was in the main room, not the bathroom (one of those odd historic quirks), which was a little inconvenient but certainly not a deal-breaker. The room itself was decent in size, with ample room to put our suitcase on a luggage rack, and enough space for a lounge chair by the window. The hotel gave us vouchers for breakfast at the nearby Bistro Maxine, which was a real plus. Free coffee and tea in the lobby. The staff were friendly, and efficient. One caveat: be aware of the noise factor! Downtown Palo Alto is surprisingly loud at night, between the bars, street traffic, and random drunks. The room comes with both earplugs and a white noise machine; you'll probably want to use both. Our first night in the Cardinal, we didn't fully understand why they provided a white noise machine in every room; but after a night of poor sleep, we won't make that mistake again, and neither should you. read more

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Really enjoyed staying here. The staff was so kind and helpful, the room was clean and beautiful. Parking was tricky to figure out - but we found a nearby garage that essentially had public free parking. (Fantastic!) The elevator is vintage and was beautiful but a little uncomfortable, but it worked great. Will stay here again if in the area. read more

While this hotel has charm and character and it is affordable, and the staff are friendly, I did notice two issues. First, I discovered two bite marks on my scalp after leaving. Whether these are from bedbugs or spiders I don't know. My torso had no bite marks. Second the one time that my room was cleaned, I got the feeling that sheets and towels etc were not replaced but instead merely folded. read more

I have had a few great experiences with the Cardinal Hotel that I have been meaning to share on Yelp. I haven't actually stayed there, but have encouraged others to stay at the hotel on three different occasions, and everyone who took my advice really enjoyed their stay. A little more detail: 1) The first person I recommended it to was my Dad who was 83 at the time. He really liked the price, the convenience, and he thought the staff was very personable and helpful. 2) I then recommended the Cardinal to a friend who was visiting for a Stanford event for two nights. She really liked the location, the breakfast, and how easy it was to get around from there. 3) Finally, my husband and I had a wedding celebration Labor Day weekend of 2018 and about ten of our friends stayed at the Cardinal. Everyone LOVED it. Many comments about how great the breakfast was and how much they loved the location. And my friends can be very snarky. I was sure someone would complain about something. Also, the staff at the hotel were really helpful when I was working with them regarding our guests. Just an all and all positive experience. read more

It's a good location. Close to restaurants and a 30 minute walk to Stanford University stadium. The staff is nice. The rooms are clean. Unfortunately, there is no air conditioning and "if it's hot "there just aren't enough fans in CA to cool the rooms. The street noise can make for a sleepless night. The carpet in halls and stairs and the upholstery in the lobby are past due for a good cleaning. We've stayed there before, however it's under new management. The change is obvious if one is expecting the attentive service provided by the previous owners it's not there. Hopefully, things will improve. It was my favorite hotel. This wasn't the stay I've come to expect over the last 6 years. read more

My husband and I booked the Cardinal Hotel through Booking. We were supposed to go to a concert tonight. We live over an hour away and wanted to stay in Palo Alto for the night. However, the concert venue got moved to SF due to fires and power outages. We called Cardinal to see if we could move our date. They said to call Booking. We did and Booking had to reach out to Cardinal to see they would make an exception for us and if we could choose another night to stay. They said they would not make an exception for us. We have to eat $230 because of something that is beyond our control. It is infuriating they wouldn't let us move to another night. The representative from Booking said she is going to keep asking if they will give an exception but I highly doubt it. Super disappointing. read more

I'm giving a one star, because the front desk staff were fine, it's not the employees fault... Worst stay in the several years I have come to visit my sons at Stanford. First time at The Cardinal. This was the ABSOLUTE WORST experience. The hotel has no A/C anywhere! It was above 90 degrees and our room the same!!! Other guests mortified as well and one who complained stated he was told the website tells guests about the NO A/C. Must be in the smallest letters hidden somewhere well... The Cardinal should be ashamed of not even having some type of a/c instead of the fan which blew the 90+ degree air around. read more

Rude staff, old building, few amenities. There are better hotel options in the area. read more

Very cozy... TV is off-center from the bed though. Cool old school elevator. On my way over here from Workshop Burgers, a friendly guy helped me carry my basket as I had desserts and drinks, not to mention I was carrying our dinner, and my purse through the stinkin' rain and I was in heels. I experienced awesome service at Workshop plus I was excited for the evening's festivities and the friendly passerby helped me carry the basket for a block so the positivity was distilled w/in me. When I walked into the hotel, a friendly guest helped me w/ the elevator (opening the door for me and almost escorted me to the room) so that added more awesomeness to my overall experience. I noticed you can get shared bathrooms but we had our own which I did not utilize. Awesome 5 hours. "Thank you very much, babe.." read more

We stayed here over the weekend as we were in town for a friends' wedding. We loved our stay! Room was very clean, and the hotel was charming. As other reviewers noted, there is no AC in the building; however, we had a fan in our closet that we put on the dresser and it chilled the room perfectly (and we had the window open all day). The bed was very comfortable, and we especially enjoyed having breakfast at the cafe on the first floor. Would absolutely recommend the Cardinal if you're in the area! read more

I always enjoy staying here! It's a nice alternative to staying at an expensive hotel in San Francisco, and the historical hotel and its incredibly warm and helpful staff always make for a great trip. read more

I wasn't sure how this place would be due to some of the reviews, but I thought it was pretty ok. Pros: SUPER clean. I got one of the cheap rooms and had a communal bathroom, but everything was kept so nicely clean. Friendly staff and check out is at 12, that is a huge plus. Cons: room was hotter than hell even though the heater was off, it still emitted heat. Turned on the ceiling fan and it was better. Only other thing was that the wireless Internet logged me out every 3 or so minutes...super annoying. Great place and would stay here again for sure. read more

Cardinal Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I stayed for one night here and did the shared bathroom reservation. The bathroom and shower looked clean, and there was a sink in my room that was fully stocked with towels, bath products, and a robe in the closet. The room was minimally decorated, but clean. The elevator was a cute, little old fashioned one that you had to manually slide the glass door open for (some people might not like this, but I didn't mind it at all). The location is right in downtown Palo Alto and it's walking distance to the Caltrain. I had a very late check-in and the staff was accomidating about it. The only downside to this hotel was the locks on the door. They give you an actual metal key instead of a keycard, and my room did not have a deadbolt. I didn't have a lot of faith in the lock so I just ended up wedging the ironing board under the doorknob. If I don't have a sturdy lock and a deadbolt on my hotel door I get twitchy, especially when I travel solo. Now they do close the lobby late at night (so you have to ring the bell to be let back in) but I still like keycards & deadbolts. If you're the kind of person that needs air conditioning be warned. My room had a ceiling fan. It wasn't too bad, but I did have to open the window, which faced the quietest bar I've ever seen. I saw a few reviews complaining about the noise, but... it was really quiet for a bar. And for a downtown too. Overall it's a good, solid 3 star hotel. Good price, located in the heart of downtown, clean, and friendly. If you want fancy I'd suggest looking somewhere else. read more

Cardinal Hotel - In-room sink at The Cardinal Hotel. - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

We loved this hotel! It is filled with charm and great details, especially the lobby. Even though there is a lot of old timey details, they are well updated. The hotel felt like it was well taken care of. The front desk was very friendly and helpful both at check in and check out. The location is excellent right in the middle of downtown PA. They have 3 types of rooms. A one bedroom suite, a standard room with private bath and a standard room with a shared bathroom. We stayed in a standard room with private bath. It is smaller than a Hilton or other standard hotels, but functional, and not a big deal if you're only there for a couple days. We loved that the room had laminate wood floors, it felt cleaner than carpet. My husband loved that the window actually opened. We didn't have any noise issues, but they provide ear plugs. The breakfast was at a cute French bistro next door. They have a separate menu for the hotel guests with a good range of choices. The only con is parking, only street parking and on the weekend it's not monitored, so once you find a spot you can leave your car and walk everywhere. If you're staying here on a week day I can imagine parking would be a pain because from 8:00 am til 6 pm all the street parking is only 2/3 hours. Would definitely stay here again. read more

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Stayed here during my visit to Palo Alto. It's a landmark hotel, over a hundred years old...it also looks and smells that way. If you're looking for charm of an old boutique hotel I would still give it two stars. There isn't much charm just old. I also was not a fan of the rank old library odor. There are shared bathroom options which I would never choose at an hotel especially for the price. I did have a king room with its own bathroom. It was very clean. The water pressure was low and the tub in my shower wasn't draining. The front desk was prompt and fixed the issue. It was a street room so a little noisy. The breakfast included at the next door bistro was awesome. The staff were helpful and gave me details on how to use the train system to go into San Francisco and kept my luggage safe during my little day trip. So three stars for the service, breakfast and cleanliness. read more

Cardinal Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I'm not sure how to review I love everything except Bob who lied to my face and judged me for two days. Total worst link to a great crew Sleezy Will not refund your money read more

Old world elegance in centre of Palo Alto. During our fly by the seat of our pants tour of San Fran, we stayed at the Cardinal. We had no accommodation booked and just happened upon this hotel by strolling around. If you're looking for a place with personality and charm, forget the Holiday Inn, you've found your bed for the night. The hotel is European style, both in decor and price, this means you can book a room with shared bathroom facilities in the hall for about 30 bucks cheaper than having an ensuite. The only downside that Americans might find is that the bed is queen sized, just that bit smaller than a double and much smaller than regular U.S. style hotel beds. But don't forget, this is Palo Alto and you are getting a bargain for your buck with the Cardinal. The hotel is beautifully decorated with an antique feel, chintz couches and chairs, an old-fashioned elevator and the rooms echo this feeling in soft-furnishings. There was a funny little old woman behind the help desk and at times it felt a bit like we were the youngest patrons by about 50 years. But all in all, you'll leave the Cardinal charmed, bemused and the better for having stayed there. Certainly if you're Dave Gorman whistle-stopping across the U.S. without giving a penny to The Man, the Cardinal is the place to bed down for the night. read more

We are new to California. My wife wanted to fly her parents in to help with watching the kids. The house is still a mess, So we decided to get them a room in Downtown. BIG mistake. We are from New York City so we no about pricey Hotels but this place takes it. Very small rooms but the thing that made us not get the rooms here was the RUDE Staff. When i called a gentleman answered and had the biggest attitude. It seemed like i was bothering him with my questions. I had to get off the phone and let my wife try. No luck with that. He was more rude to my wife. Sorry we bothered you guys Cardinal Hotel. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. read more

Lovely elegant hotel right in downtown Palo Alto. Beautiful decor, friendly service. It's a bit more than your usual Holiday Inn, but if dyou've got the money, go for it. If you have their basic room with shared bath, it's 80; standard (i.e. private bath) is 135 a night. Well worth a visit when you want your out-of-town guests to have a swelligent time. Web site is at http://cardinalhotel.com/ read more

Cardinal Hotel - From the Cardinal hotel web site - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This place isn't fancy, but it doesn't deserve all the negativity it's getting here, in my opinion. I've stayed here three times and have always been impressed overall with the experience. They call themselves a "European Style Hotel" and that's exactly what it is: quaint, older, and no-frills. They have some really interesting historical items (like an old switchboard) if you're interested in that kind of thing. I cannot fathom how others who booked online did not see the very prominent "SHARED BATHROOM" when booking their reservations. We opted not to choose this arrangement, but they are very clear on the website that some of the rooms are this style. They gave us a free upgrade when we checked in and we had a very nice upper-level room. We didn't have a problem with noise, but it is in the heart of downtown PA right across from two popular bars. These are not "clubs" or the like, and in my experience as a student and returning-alum, these aren't super loud or disruptive to the community. If you're looking for 100% peace and quiet this might not be your place, but if you're up for a more lively scene, you'll be right in the thick of the action. The fact of the matter is, for Homecoming and other popular weekends, many other nearby hotels jack up their rates. Cardinal hotel is clean, reasonably priced, reliable, and a cool piece of California history. BTW on weekends, parking in the nearby structure is free. Can't beat that. read more

I booked online. However when I checked into the hotel I was told the room I booked had a shared bathroom. This wasnt clear when booking. the bathroom was round the corridor. I was offered an upgrade (by a very stroppy front desk man) for twice the price. I requested a refund to go elsewhere (the booking was only made about an hour before) but refused a refund. Eventually the grump on the front desk gave me a free upgrade. Could have been a nice experience... but wasn't because the grump. Wont stay here again. You can get a nice hotel, with private bathroom for less, not far away read more

Booked a weekend of concerts in Mountain View and thought staying in Palo Alto would be better than driving back to SF for one night. We were wrong! Shouldn't have spent the time and $ to drive home and come back south for the next concert. From the time we walked in I was encountered by an incredibly rude man at the front desk. Made it a HUGE ordeal to change my room from a single bed to double, which i had the print out that confirmed i selected double anyway...ok no big deal. Then, invited friends from the area to come by and hang out and watch football in the room before we went to the concert, and the front desk person questioned everyone that walked in! Asked what room they were going to and if they were staying the night too! Are you serious?! Told them they better not be staying here, only 2 to a room, umm no shit! The worst part is that someone near or above us was throwing water out the window or something along those lines, and the front desk man came running up and threated to kick us out because he assumed it was us! Nobody accused us, but he just assumed, what an ASS and a terrible place to stay. Not to mention the small rooms and very uncomfortable beds, all in all, we stayed, did not get kicked out for no reason, and had the worst customer service I've ever had at a hotel. Save your $ and go elsewhere!! read more

Clean, quaint hotel in a great location in Palo Alto. The only downside was the room incredibly warm in the morning. read more

We have stayed here several times and find it very convenient for our needs. There are only two cons, but they are worth enduring relative to the pros. Cons - no designated parking, street parking only. This isn't convenient, most times it hasn't been a big issue. Late night club/bar right outside window with lots of noise. Pros - GREAT location, lots of restaurant options within walking distance. Driveable to Stanford. Employees/staff are friendly and accommodating. We always stay in the one bedroom suite, which has its own private bath so "European style" sharing bathroom is not a concern. Price is very affordable, rooms are clean and spacious. If it had parking and less "late night club noise" I would have rated it a 6. With that said we still stay here whenever we can. read more

3.5 stars, really. If you are in need of luxuriously appointed rooms, look elsewhere. If you don't mind small, almost cramped 12' x 12' rooms consisting of a bed, side tables, a small desk, a chair, and a maybe 32" LCD TV, this is your joint. If not for the location, this would be just another non-chain hotel. But the location elevates the hotel to just above average, and given the location, the price is not bad. DSL internet access will set you back an additional $5, with not so great download speeds approaching 100kb/s. Clean room, fairly comfy bed. The hotel suits the bill for a solo business traveler. I wouldn't want to stay with a family, however. read more

I hadn't realized what 'European Style' means. I thought it meant small rooms since most places I've stayed in Europe had small rooms. It means shared bathrooms. I didn't mind this and was always able to use the shower or restroom when I needed. Each room has a sink with towels and soaps readily available. The room was clean and well-appointed. I've seen a number of reviews about issues with the staff but I always found the staff well-mannered and helpful. One of my pet peeves with many hotel rooms is the lack of availability and placement of outlets but the Cardinal has receptacles with integral USB power outlets on either side of the bed and on the desk. The price was good and comparable with low-priced hotel chains. The Cardinal has a lot more character and is in a great location one block from University Ave and a short walk to the Caltrain station. I would stay here again. read more

The Cardinal is an elegant old hotel within walkable distance of Stanford's main Caltrain station and the associated free shuttle. It has some cool features (free tea in a lounge-like lobby, an elevator with a grate instead of a door, super comfy beds - mine was one of the most comfortable that I've experienced on the interview trail, actually) and some not-so-cool features (shared bathrooms and somewhat high prices). Overall, though, this is one of the more memorable hotels where I've stayed this past month. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for an alternative to the usual (insert brand here) Inn. read more

The hotel was clean and has a very historic feel which makes it quaint. When I saw the ear plugs in the bathroom, I initially thought they would be perfect for those who travel with someone who snores, but between midnight and 3 am I realized they were for anyone staying in this room. Based on all the noise that woke me up repeatedly throughout the night, I believe the town dumpster was below my room on the street. I couldn't squash the sounds of glass bottles being dumped into a large container. Ugh. Had to get up at 5 am, so it was a pretty rough night. If you see the ear plugs, wear them. read more

This hotel is a scam. They offered me a "free" upgrade and then sent an email to my corporate office two days later asking for approval. Our travel agent didn't really think about and just approved the email. After I returned from my travels and saw that my room went from $150 to almost $500 a night, I called and talked to Bob at the front desk. He was appalled that I was disputing the charge and said no hotel upgrades you for free. Little does he know that I am a global account manager and get "free" upgrades all the time. The hotel manager never returned my call. I would NEVER stay here again! read more

My wife and I both won an almost free night through a Facebook promo they were doing, so we spent two nights back to back. Awesome promo in that it allowed us to take vacation we otherwise were not going to, but I was already a bit skeptical seeing they have been doing a number of these promos lately in what seems an obvious effort to boost clientele. Apparently, my skepticism was not unfounded. The hotel was charming, staff was nice enough, and I can appreciate that the rooms were clean and looked recently remodeled. Our first frustration was the radiator heater...no instructions on how to turn it on so we had to go down and ask the front desk staff. Then, the remote for TV hardly worked...I suspect the remote batteries were pretty much dead but didn't feel like going down to the front desk in pajamas to ask for more. The tub hardly drained...it took all night both nights. And to top things off, people were yelling below our window much of the night on Friday. Apparently there is a pub next door. So...we enjoyed our stay well enough. Would we go back and pay full price for a room though? Definitely not. I feel we can get just as good of quality, if not better, at somewhere like Days Inn. Oh...and we were mischarged at checkout. Corrected quickly but still. $130 for what was supposed to be a $13 stay. Typed an extra zero or something I guess. Luckily our bank only lists authorizations as pending and doesn't hold the $ until an official charge posts. But if we still banked with a smaller credit union, we would have been leas $130 for a few days until the credit union posted the reversal. read more

WORST WORST WORST hotel I've ever been in. This place deserves no stars absolutely, in my book. My friend booked a hotel room. We left some of our belongs (purse, keys, jacket, etc) in her room for safe keep before we went out. Once we came back, the guy at the desk refused to let us in (including the 4 people who were to sleep in the room they booked)...he wanted us to left and threaten to call the cops. We were so confused yet frustrated as to why we couldn't get our belongings to left, as he requested. He made absolutely no sense at all. He just wanted us out of the hotel, he didn't have the decency to let us wait for our friend to find our stuff to bring it to us in the lobby. I used to work as a front desk person in in my college dorm. We would once in awhile get tough situations were residents and guests did not corporate, BUT in this particular situation we had at cardinal hotel. It was NOT a tough situation at all. We wanted to leave, but we simply wanted our belonging with us. Is that really hard??? The front desk person was a total jerk. NEVER go here if you're planning on staying in palo alto. The Sherton is quite nice and fairly close. read more