Westmark Baranof--Expensive, cold, loud, outdated--perfect for lawyers, legislators and lobbyists
Written: Jun 22 '06 (Updated Jul 06 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Close to local downtown offices and tourist shops.
Cons: Outdated, noisy, pricey, cramped rooms, no internet access
The Bottom Line: Unless you aim to make friends with attorneys and influence legislators, stay away from this hotel.
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| glacier's Full Review: Westmark Baranof |
A bit of perspective on Juneau
For those of you who don't know, Juneau is the Alaska state capital. As a small town of around 30,000 that is geographically constrained by mountains, water and glacier; this translates to periodic congestion which in turn translates to profits for downtown-based businesses. The Baranof is one of those businesses.
When the state legislature is in session, Juneau downtown bustles with activity and energy. The same can be said for tourism season in the summer. The cruise ships--sometimes up to three--moor literally one block from downtown shops and flood the area with hungry and eager shoppers.
Roads are extremely narrow--often just one lane--and parking is at a premium. Most folks who live in downtown will walk to and from area businesses and establishments.
The Westmark Baranoff
The Westmark Baranoff--as well as the state capitol building and all the administrative support buildings--are all within 10 blocks of the heart of the town, making it an excellent location for easy access to state facilities. It has become the "de facto" choice for lawmakers and their staffs, even in light of the deficiencies I'm about to enumerate. The restaurant and bar is one of the few 'places to mingle' when legislature is in session if you're looking to run into politicians. For typical Alaskans, then, it's one of the places we'd probably most like to avoid.
The Good
Unfortunately, I don't have much to add here. The Westmark Baranof's location is by far the best feature of this hotel, providing quick and easy access to state facilities and tourist shops. This has a double edge, though, because the tight quarters downtown translates into pedestrian and road noise (especially trucks) if you're looking for quiet.
I should add that the morning breakfast, though around $10, was more than adequate. Eggs, bacon, pancakes and the typical fare offered in the restaurant. Coffee could be better, but I've learned to expect worse from hotel coffee.
The Bad [deep breath]
Rooms
The rooms at the Westmark Baranof were small in size, and rather bland in decor--not what I was expecting from the 'best hotel in Juneau'. Colors were drab and walls had sort of turn-of-the-century wallpaper. I've heard they've recently remodeled and I hope this look was updated.
Beds
The beds were noisy and too soft. I much prefer a stiffer mattress, and I think everyone would appreciate quieter bedframes and boxsprings. I had a restless neighbor whose bed knocked the wall each time he or she got up--drove me to the point of requesting a new room.
Noise (and why I don't recommend this hotel)
Because the Westmark Baranof hotel is so old, the walls are solid concrete. You'd think would be good, but it is not in this case. These must be 2 or 3 inches thick (at least it felt it), because I could hear everything going on in the unit next door, from walking to coughing to laughing and sneezing. I could hear the television station my neighbor was watching. I noticed the doors were set around 1 inch off the floor between our rooms, which didn't help things at all. I could also hear the elevator outside my door open and close. As a light sleeper myself, this was a horrible inconvenience and the real kicker to this experience.
Internet Access
Again, because the walls are solid and were set so many years ago, there is no option to wire the rooms for internet. As to wireless, the front desk told me we were too close to the mountain and out of range for even that. They have no business center, either, so I had to run around to find a local internet cafe to check my email. As far as I'm concerned, internet access is a table-stake now for hotels--they just have to have it.
The Price
Depending on the season, the Baranof runs between $129 and $195 per night for a standard room. This is pricey but comparable to other hotels in the downtown area.
A Better Choice
The GoldBelt Juneau (review pending) is my choice for downtown Juneau. It provides more spacious rooms, quieter quarters and a better view of the docks for a comparable price. It's located about 5 blocks from the Baranof, and is in walking distance of everything downtown. Oh yes, it has wireless and cat-5 internet access.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
glacier
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Location: Anchorage, AK, USA
Reviews written: 84
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Proud father of two living in the last frontier.
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