Comments

I've started to get spam comments. "Omar" has been particularly persistent in trying to sell Hotel Hallways readers property in Costa Rica. Now, that may interest you, but it bugs me. So now you'll have to type in some random letters to add a comment. Sorry.

The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey

Well, I'm back at the Ritz Carlton, and much is the same as the last time I visited. The people are still super friendly, and I mean they actually do go out of their way to make sure you've got what you need, the food's good, and the amenities by Bulgari (or is that Bvlgari) are very nice, indeed. The hallways are still bright yellow, with a giant pattern in the carpet.


I was luckier this time. My showerhead didn't flop around, and there weren't any fishy stains on the carpet. However, my "balcony" was barely wide enough to merit being called a balcony. (I'd suggest footcony).



In other news from the hotel, I noticed some strange verbiage on the emergency evacuation notice:



Think, for a moment, about the logic of this notice. 1) If you're blind, you can't read the sign, so writing that it "sounds like a whoop" and looks like a "strobe light" will be of no help whatsoever. 2) If you're deaf, you wouldn't know what a "whoop" sounds like, would you? Do you really need to point out the particulars of the emergency siren and lighting? I guess if I heard whoops and saw strobe lights, I'd skeedaddle, sign or not.

The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey has those impossible-to-figure-out-how-to-work clock radios. Alarm 1, alarm 2, cd, am/fm radio, etc. Having stayed in many hotels, I thought I'd figured out just about every clock radio. But no, it failed to go off in the morning. As is my usual backup, I had asked for a wake-up call.

This is where the Ritz-Carlton deserves special kudos. I've gotten used to recorded voices for wake-up calls, and when I picked up the phone, there was a very brief silence, which I took to be the recording kicking in. So I didn't say anything. Then, wonder of wonders, there was a real, human voice on the other end. How nice to start the day talking to a person.

I did miss the valet guy with the top hat (see earlier post), I hope it was just his day off. And I'm miffed that the hotel charges $9.95 for internet (non-wireless) access.

I will admit that the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey has very nice chandeliers in the elevators.

The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort and Spa by Marriott

The LASARRASBM is a swanky hotel-cum-spa in the heart of California's wine country. I struggled with posting this, because it truly has no hotel hallways, per se. It has sidewalks connecting cottagey units, each with four uppers and four downers. (Not drugs. I'm speaking architecturally.) It's very nice. The Spa portion I cannot speak to, as I didn't have the opportunity to avail myself of its no doubt healing mystical hotstone, massage, mineral bath foot kneading, etc. The resort part was a little skimpy. As far as I could tell, the resort portion consisted of a pool and an inground hot tub. It has some nice conference rooms, (but they're not a resort feature in my mind). There's a nicely flickering gas fire in the large lobby...again, not in and of itself adding to its resortness, but undeniably pleasant. The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort and Spa by Marriott has the tastiest bacon I've ever eaten. If you like bacon, that's reason enough for a visit, resort features be damned. My "cottage" was at the far end of the property. Here's a visual tour of what it takes to get from the cottage to the main building.

1) Descend stairs from cottage



2) Turn left, and walk down path A



2) Turn left again, take a quick right, and walk down path B



3) Turn left and right again, and walk down path C



4) Do a quick zig-zag, and walk down path D



5) Pass the ice machine, which has its own little house.





6) You're in the home stretch now...continue down path E



7) A final zig zag, and you're at the pool. For some reason, you have to go through a gate giving you access to the pool deck.



8) There's your destination. The lobby, restaurant, gift shop, bar, front door, etc.



All is well. Unless, of course, you've forgotten your sunglasses or wallet or something, in which case it will take you 15 minutes or so to complete the return voyage. Enough of this, and you'll need more bacon. Or possibly a facial.

Marriott Waukegan

I gotta give it up to the merry band of web copy writers charged with making the Marriott Waukegan seem inviting and attractive. (Sorry. Official name is Courtyard Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee. Can't you hear the hotel operator?) The number one "highlight" of the hotel, according to the site, is the fact that it's non-smoking. Beyond that, the superlatives begin to fade.

Here are a couple of blurbs:

1) "Enjoy high-speed Internet access, premium pay movies and free in-room coffee. " I know I enjoy premium pay movies.

2) " Or relax in our lobby - a great place to unwind or meet with friends and colleagues." Everyone agrees. the lobbies of Marriott Courtyards are where everyone wants to meet and unwind.
Ah well, they tried.



If you're a serious reader of this blog, you'll notice the pattern's resemblance to the Doubletree in Santa Monica, which is kind of odd, as Doubletrees are owned by Hilton, not Marriott.

Kudos to Davezilla for this excellent shot. (He has a very distinctive style of photography; see Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey photo in earlier post.)

The Doubletree in Dallas

Well, my Treo's been replaced, and I'm able to document again. I had the debatable pleasure of staying at the Doubletree in Dallas - or in typical over-inflated hotel hype copy, (complete with faux-British spelling) The Doubletree Hotel Dallas-Campbell Centre. Some issues of note: The hallway is not, at arrival, particularly welcoming (i.e. dim).



That's nothing new; perhaps the hospitality industry is trying to pitch in and save the planet by forgoing lighting in the halls.

What was unexpected were these white chunks on the carpet.



Oops, that dang falling plaster problem again. (You'd think someone working at the hotel would've noticed the hole in the ceiling, for goodness' sakes.)



But, no, I guess they were too busy polishing their resumes or something. Maybe the plaster chunks are part of the mysterious "ambient decor" referred to in the web copy:

"Our 300 oversized Guestrooms and Suites are geared for comfort and convenience, and are richly appointed with floor to ceiling windows and ambient decor."

Another interesting point. I've seen odd ice machine signs before, but this one now heads my list.



Too much stress. (By the way, I figure most people will take the elevator to get their drinks or ice, which probably negates any energy savings that would accrue by keeping the halls dim).

Help! I can't find my Treo

It has photos of my latest hall-a-rama, the Courtyard by Marriott in Newport Rhode Island. Will post as soon as I locate it. I know my recent lack of hall snaps is upsetting to the 8-10 people who read this blog.

Hyatt Monterey "Spa and Resort"

Why you should read the website before you book a room.

Exhibit #1: The Hyatt Regency Monterey.

The Hyatt Monterey is one of those flat hotels. One building for checking in, many other low (3-story) buildings placed decoratively around it. It's one of those hotels where you park your car, then drag your luggage into reception, where you are then shown a map to locate your room number, which is in a building 1/4 of a mile away. Then you drag your luggage back to the car and drive to your room. These hotels always have a herd of extended-length golf carts parked, driverless, around the grounds.

But anyway, here's what I didn't read before I left.

"There are big plans afoot for renovating the Hyatt in Monterey: "We are very excited to announce the commencement of our $45 million renovation project. The new Hyatt Regency Monterey – the only hotel in the city of Monterey located adjacent to a golf course - will remain the largest hotel between the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles, and will feature a stunning new full-service spa and world-class amenities for our guests’ enjoyment."

Thanks. I love big plans, especially when they're afoot.

Please note the tense. Will, will, will. Not is, is, is.

It's actually kind of grim. Dank, in a near the ocean kind of way. Unhelpful signage. I was in building #9. To get to my room, I had to actually go to building #10 to get to the elevator that served both buildings. The carpet had the biggest hide-the-vomit pattern I've seen in a while. (Sorry I didn't put my feet in the photo for reference purposes).



Then there's this odd emergency exit information. Like most hotels, it has a map that shows a handy "You are here" red dot, plus where to find the emergency exit and stairs. Unlike most places I've stayed, it also provides the location of the ice machine(s). I don't know why you'd need to know the location of the ice machines in an emergency. Maybe it's for super-nervous people who need a slug of gin before they can tackle walking down three flights of stairs. I'm not sure.