If you're going to be assassinated, do NOT spend your last night here.
Written: Apr 05 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Kennedy stayed here the night before the big day. Good location.
Cons: Almost everything else.
The Bottom Line: Read the review.
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| Urbanist's Full Review: La Quinta Inn Moab |
On November 21, 1963, the night before his unfortunate appearance in Dallas, John F. Kennedy spent the night at what is now the Radisson Plaza in Fort Worth. Kennedy is actually a tricky piece of history for a hotel to handle. On the one hand, it's cool to stay where Kennedy stayed, but the modern customer wants some assurances that his experience will diverge from Kennedy's no later than breakfast. So the greasy overcooked omelet that room service brought was almost a relief. Kennedy certainly got a better omelet, I thought, so I probably won't be shot today, or at least, not under such mysterious circumstances.
In the old brick part of the hotel, the only one standing in Kennedy's day, the decor features endless photos of Kennedy standing in front of the building, and of his appearances around Fort Worth that day. There are no pictures of the next day, when he made his final 30-mile drive east to That Other City That Fort Worthers Do Not Name. For all the problems of Fort Worth, and of this hotel in particular, the city can take pride in the fact that Kennedy's November 21 visit to Fort Worth was considerably more pleasant than his visit to The Other Place the following day.
As a frequent traveler, I'm used to Radisson's consistent commitment to mediocrity. (Hiltons that lose their franchise due to poor service frequently turn into Radissons.) On arriving, I was further alarmed by the sign behind the registration counter announcing something to the effect that "This Hotel is Operated by Fort Worth Hotel Associates I and Fort Worth Hotel Associates II under franchise with Radisson Hotels, Inc." Great, I thought, two local holding companies, distinguished only by number. A sure way to make sure that everyone has someone to blame.
Despite the historic building, the Radission has managed to transform this place into the typical Opulent But Dysfunctional Mess for which the chain is renowned. Above and beyond the universal decline in service that affects most of America, I noted:
-- a rapid decline in opulence as one transitions from the lobby (garish) to the elevator to the cramped hallways and even more cramped rooms. I asked for a king bed, and got one, but a room larger than the bed would have been nice.
-- windows that once opened, but are now nailed shut, so that you have to call the valet to find out what the outside temperature is.
-- stairways that are not clearly marked regarding whether they can be used for routine movement between floors, or lead only to alarmed emergency exits. I like to use stairs, need the exercise, and resent being forced to use elevators for lack of information.
-- consistent understaffing, yielding long lines at registration and 30-ring waits on the phone.
-- poor training, causing different employees to give me different explantions for why something was broken, when it would be fixed, who would fix it, and what language the repairperson would be speaking ...
Personally, I feel a torpor descending on me when listing even that much complaint, which is why I prefer to write about "travel" rather than "hotels", despite the primacy of the latter in the odd name of this category. Still, on balance, I've had far more satisfying experiences in many two-star hotels than in this allegedly three-star one. The Clarion, closer into the center of Fort Worth, is comparably mediocre for considerably less cost, even though, for superficial reasons, it's considered "two-star." I have not found a Fort Worth hotel that is truly competent, though I have not tried the Renaissance, which is out of my range.
While Radissons in general are to be avoided, this one in particular is a disappointment. Not being shot was, on balance, the high point of my stay.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Urbanist
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Location: San Francisco
Reviews written: 78
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Streetwise, academically credentialed gay renaissance man. For real bio, click "more" in profile.
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