180aaronl
Family · November 20256/10
Palmer Hotel by Hilton has much potential but that's mostly it -- a history of greatness, in the past. The good things first:
* the location is really central to both transportation routes and also pl...Palmer Hotel by Hilton has much potential but that's mostly it -- a history of greatness, in the past. The good things first:
* the location is really central to both transportation routes and also places to see.
* the lobby looks nice and if it were less busy it would be WOW! If you go very late at night you can get the place to yourself for some phot-opportunities.
* the bellhops, front desk people, and people at the to-go convenience store were friendly. Rosemarie at the Lockwood Express was super friendly!
* Clean enough, but not to a proper hotel standard (see negatives below).
* Plenty of entrances to get into the hotel from different streets -- you won't get lost trying to get inside, and their main entrance looks fancy enough.
* Rooms have a nice study desk, and the bed is soft and nice to sleep in! Otherwise it comes with: ice bucket and two glasses, (approx.) 3 towels, 3 hand towels, 3 face towels, 1 towel for the floor, iron and ironing board, hangers, a safe box, lamps and charger plugs on either ends of the bed, a lamp with the study, a central console in front of the bed with a tv, a large mirror along the wall, lots of drawers (who uses these haha). The shower has those installed dispensers: lotion at the bathroom sink, and body wash, shampoo, and conditioner at the bathtub. They also provided a bar of crabtree & evelyn soap. They provide 2 mini refrigerators (why??), and then the dreaded and despised sensor-activated mini-bar.
* You are given two bottles of water upon check-in. The front desk staff were friendly.
* The air inside the hotel was obviously perfumed and smelled good.
* historical so it was nice to imagine its grand past.
* The gym at the 8th floor is amazing! Very well fitted with all sorts of equipment, including a dry sauna (until 9pm, rest of the gym is 24 hours I think). It's a pity the pool is closed.
* There is a storage area for bags (staff were friendly), and a Starbucks at street level (convenient!)
And that's it. Now to the negatives:
* Like many here, it is not worth what you are paying compared to hotels just a few blocks away, and why because:
* Feels old (as a historical hotel, it might be given). Old is nice if it is maintained but for it not to feel stuffy (like the rooms) it requires a lot of maintenance.
* rooms are small, way smaller than I expected at the price point. But it was quiet, and only now and then could I hear noises from other rooms or the hallway, so you can get good sleep.
* Rooms are missing so many things -- you can ask the front desk for the slippers and toothbrushes (that's all we asked, don't know if others are available). they have no hot kettle, or coffee maker. The microwave, I discovered were inside the place near the elevators that had the ice machines. Toiletries are quite lacking: no slippers, no tooth brush kit, no anything else just a bar of crabtree & evely soap. I despise these sensor-activated mini-bars that can get things so wrong (e.g. accidentally bumping it -- and the rooms are so small this is a huge possibility).
* the water closet had poo stains at the corners!!
* the shower curtain were yellowed stained at the bottom!
* the bathroom wallpaper application was amateurish.
* the bathroom is, unfortunately, very small.
* the views outside the window were non-existent, you can see the Thanksgiving Parade through reflections on the window of the opposite building.
* They ADD what I was told a $25 resort fee which you can use as follows: credits for $25 for spa services or product, $10 credits for food from their affiliated restaurant and the aforementioned coffee shop/convenience store, $10 laundry credits, and free use of their health center. The indoor pool is closed. The only thing I can get at the spa is sunscreen that's exactly priced at $25 (which I feel is valued at less than a third of the price), so I pay taxes. It's not worth it, just add it on the hotel room cost and then upgrade your hotel. A marketing and business model that makes no sense in attracting repeat customers.
CONCLUSION: Just okay, not the best value for your money, Might want to research more about where to stay you might just prefer a modern hotel and just visit the lobby here for its historical importance.
**I deleted my old 2-star review and upgraded to 3-stars upon check-out as I had better time to reflect (apologies to the Manager if you have to reply to this again).Show More
