Overall, we had a mixed experience. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful, but there were several service and maintenance issues that took away from what should have been a relaxing stay.
Customer service fell below expectations from the start. We were promised complimentary champagne for my husband's birthday, but it was never delivered. We also had to pay an additional $35 fee for a refrigerator, which was disappointing.
On the Fourth of July, the main pool was not well maintained. There appeared to be vomit or green slime collected around the filter areas, and there was a Band-Aid and hair next to my lounge chair that remained there throughout the day. The pool water was extremely warm--more like a Jacuzzi than a refreshing pool. There was also no music or atmosphere. The only music came from a guest's speaker, and security asked them to turn it off, leaving the pool completely quiet. For a holiday weekend, especially the Fourth of July, the atmosphere felt surprisingly dull.
One of my biggest frustrations was the food and beverage pricing. A mandatory 22% resort service charge was not disclosed at the time of purchase, so I unknowingly added an additional 20% tip. Greater transparency would have been appreciated.
The advertised Fourth of July BBQ was also underwhelming. As a hotel guest, I was surprised to pay $27 for what was essentially a hot dog and a drink. There was a DJ, but the music was so low that it couldn't even be heard from the upper pool area.
There were several smaller inconveniences throughout our stay. The oversized orange coffee mug provided in the room doesn't fit securely in the coffee maker and repeatedly fell off while brewing. Complimentary bottled water was not provided, and when I called to ask about the bottled water next to the coffee maker--which seemed necessary for making coffee--I was told it would cost $7 per bottle. The signature scent in the lobby was pleasant at first, but it became overwhelmingly strong in the hallways. The fragrance was so intense that it was nauseating at times.
Departure day was also frustrating. I called for bell service to help with our luggage and was assured someone would come. After waiting 30 minutes, no one ever arrived, so we ended up taking everything down ourselves. We then had to stand in a long line to check out because the TV checkout option was unavailable.
There were also a few maintenance concerns. We heard a strange, loud buzzing noise during the night, and the bathroom mirror became extremely hot. I accidentally touched it while applying my makeup and burned myself.
That said, there were definitely positives. The hotel is gorgeous, the beds and pillows were incredibly comfortable, the air conditioning worked well, and most of the staff we encountered were friendly. The only negative interaction I had was with one of the pool waitresses, who came across as rude, although she may simply have been overwhelmed that day.
One tip for future guests: if you park in the nearby public parking garage instead of using valet, be sure to use the parking app about an hour before your session expires. You can extend your existing session for around $10 rather than paying for another full 24-hour period (about $20). On checkout day, you can extend only for the number of hours you actually need. However, if your session expires--even by one minute--you'll have to purchase a brand-new parking session.
One final piece of advice: be very cautious with non-refundable reservations. I booked through Priceline using an Express Deal, only to find the exact same hotel on another website the very next day for about $400 less. I spent a significant amount of time trying to have Priceline honor the lower price or make an exception, but it ultimately went nowhere. Hotel prices fluctuated dramatically in the days leading up to our stay. In the future, I'll likely avoid non-refundable reservations and wait a little longer before booking.
While I wouldn't completely rule out staying here again, I would definitely compare other hotels before making another reservation. read more