Awful service overshadows cutesy quirks
Written: Apr 15 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Close to Union Square, cutesy boutique touches, bold decor.
Cons: Rude staff, shower leaked, homeless people, noisy, did not honor internet rate.
The Bottom Line: Rude staff and deteriorating property more than overwhelm any cutesy perks. So-so location, no views, leaky shower. Better properties and locations abound, so avoid the Hotel Diva.
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| pspark's Full Review: Diva Hotel |
Oh man, oh man...I've been waiting to slam this place ever since staying there last summer. Since I'm already irked by the fact that I've got to pay da man (IRS) today, I will do some channelling.
Intro: The word "diva" is bandied about much to freely these days. Aretha Franklin is a diva, Aaliyah is not. Raffles Singapore is a diva, Hotel Diva in San Fransisco is not. Hotel Diva is a boutique property in SF and part of a larger hotel group that concentrates on renovating older properties. Where the W brand hotels get it right, Hotel Diva goes horribly awry. It's been open since 1997 and the decor, furnishings, and linens are showing their age.
I stayed at the HD with a friend of mine from London. It was her first trip to the US and I wanted to make sure that everything went smoothly, so I arrived at the hotel a few hours before her. I was in for a surprise...
Booking/Check-in: Trouble started right away. I booked on Priceline.com and have always had good luck with them. Instead of staying at the Westin or Hyatt, which were a few dollars more, I decided to try the HD. It seemed hip and interesting. It was easy enough to book at 55/night. However, when I arrived at the hotel and was assigned a room, I found out that they would not honor the rate for a double room. The "priceline room" as I was told, turned out to be no bigger than the full size bed. It was directly across from the elevator, and was barely big enough to walk through. The bathroom was on par with the size you see in Hong Kong. It just wouldn't do.
I went down to the desk, having already been given the "down the nose" treatment by the moronic counter-jockey-with-too-many-piercings, and was told that I could "upgrade" to a suite for an extra 20/night. Reasonable, I assumed, until I went up to the room and discovered that it stank of body odor and feet.
On my third trip to the desk, I was getting tired of the "hipper then thou attitude" of the counter jockey, so I flat told him that if this didn't do the trick, I'd need to have words with the general manager. Suffice to say, that I got a satisfactory room.
Location: It's right off Geary street, across from the opera house. The street is very sketchy and filled with that curious incongruity of homeless people mulling about the noveau galleries and restaurants. The proximity to Union Square is a blessing and curse. It's easily accessible via the airport express shuttle from SFO.
Rooms: Hotel Diva has several floors each with unique room designs. I was in a suite which had a queen size bed, a Murphy bed (which I used), a small bathroom, a desk, wall-mounted television, fruit basket, and desk with fax and internet capability.
As I mentioned before, the overall cleanliness of the rooms varied. The rooms also have no views. They either look out into a central courtyard which can get very noisy, or they look down onto bleary Geary street. You have to draw the shades on the courtyard rooms, lest you witness your fellow guests cavorting in their underwear.
The decor smacks of the late nineties. Overuse of stainless steel with minimalistic touches, and Pottery-barn color palates, abide in the drapes, carpets, and shades. The bedding is fairly clean, and comfortable.
My advice on the rooms: look at the room first, and immediately change if it doesn't fit your needs.
The bathroom shower was laid out in a strange way that caused water to run out past the curtain and onto the floors. It was a daily disaster. There is also very poor ventilation in the bathroom which steamed up quite quickly.
Amenities: there was a nice basket of fortune-cookie shaped soaps and local boutique lotions, shampoos, and soaps. No hair dryer.
Continental breakfast was average. It was provided on the third (I think) floor from 7-9am. Juice was from a portable juice machine, and pastries were the same as Starbucks. Fruit was provided and of satisfactory quality.
There was a community courtyard, but it had no sunlight or views.
There was not much else in the way of amenities other than the standard mini-bar and safe. There was no exercise facility, in-house restaurant or bar. The hotel adjoined a coffee house and a California Pizza Kitchen, and several restaurants were present in the immediate area, as well as convenience stores.
Cleanliness: overall it's below par. The hotel was constantly being worked on by maintenance workers, and there was clear wear and tear present in all areas of the hotel.
On the exterior, you should be aware that this area of SF is somewhat grungy. It's not on a main well-travelled sidewalk. Homeless people are the most aggressive I've ever seen in the U.S., and having to dodge them to get to the hotel was a constant nightmare. The street also had the smell of urine wafting up from abandoned doorways. Most of this can't be helped by the hotel, but the larger chains don't have this problem since their entrances are on bright, well-travelled streets that the panhandlers tend to avoid.
Staff: the check-in staff were some of the snootiest jerks I've ever dealt with...and I've been to France (that's a joke). I realize that I got a good deal on the internet, but treating a guest with a condescending attitude does not endear your hotel to anybody. Most of the time they were kibbutzing in the corners, discussing what poetry readings or protests were going on; either that or comparing notes on their tailors.
The maids and support staff were amazingly courteous, but the hotel's front line personnel would have earned a beating from me if I could have gotten away from it. The one clerk I dealt with on check-in came close to getting punched. I've got a high tolerance for rudeness and stupidity, but this guy was pushing my buttons.
Bottom Line: Better deals can be had if you use the internet and stay with the larger chains. I found the HD to be cute and unique, but the poor service completely diminished any positive aspects of the hotel. I'd never go there again.
The staff needs a lesson in professionalism. Trendy folks will find this place interesting for all of its design quirks and room goodies, but seasoned travellers will need to supress their gag reflex.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
pspark
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Location: U.S.S. Defiant
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