An interesting stay to say the least
Written: Aug 08 '08
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Comfortable, clean rooms.
Cons: Disorganized staff to the point of compromised security.
The Bottom Line: My experience was probably a one-time thing, but it bears keeping in mind.
|
|
|
| mattspire's Full Review: Best Western City View Inn |
I checked into this Best Western hotel a little over a month ago on a trip from Frederick, MD, to New York with several friends for a music event. My fiance and I stayed at the hotel, making a reservation for a one-bed (queen), non-smoking room. The online transaction was perfectly smooth (if only making it to New York could go as smoothly), which I am quite accustomed to by now regardless of what hotel chain I am using.
After an absolute blast of a night at the event we drove so far for, we pulled an all-nighter and finally made it to the hotel to check in around 2pm. I should note that check-in time was 3pm, and I fully expected to wait an additional hour, but was surprisingly given a room right away.
But Best Western should probably be glad that I am not typically an irate customer.
Let me first highlight the good things, because quite honestly, what one expects and desires in a hotel experience was indeed present. The room was spacious and clean with no signs of a previous occupant--no dirt, no trash. Everything was pristinely folded and washed. The bed was one of the comfiest I've ever seen in a hotel, with soft, almost silky sheets. Even the temperature in the room seemed to be perfectly set.
That being said, this didn't happen right away. I received a key-card to my first room, and we immediately discovered that the room was still strewn-about with their continental breakfast, a pair of slippers, and a bathrobe. Thankfully no one was still present, though obviously they were still somewhere in New York and intended on returning. We discreetly returned to the front desk, and were given less of an apology and more of a look of disbelief--and a new key. Amazingly, this room contained a woman's purse and a box of tampons on the bed. We immediately left this room and received a third key, and yes, just as in fairy tales, the third room was "just right."
There was no financial compensation and the woman at the front desk was more embarrassed than apologetic. It was also apparent that our checking in early was probably the root cause--housecleaning was still obviously doing their work (even though it was strange that people seemed to still be in the rooms). Still, I've checked in early to plenty of other hotels and been told to wait--that's typically how it works. All in all, our experience wasn't bad, but I couldn't help but empathize with the people whose rooms we'd wandered into. Hotel rooms are, of course, supposed to be very private and secure. They are essentially bedrooms away from home.
Though my experience wasn't altogether bad, and my past experiences with Best Western were on the average side, and one could pass this off as a one time thing, I did leave with a slight inkling that I might be less prone to choosing them in the future--all because I kept envisioning someone stepping in to our room the way we had done to others.
I won't be biased, but this has unfortunately changed my perceptions.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mattspire
|
|
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:I'm an artist. go see.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.