Ew. I did not experience the check-in pods because they have apparently changed it back to a desk, but a really weird desk. My room was really dingy and had a very, well, "lived in" feel. There was some sort of dry dirt on the bathroom floor when I arrived. I was there for one night and did not test the shower (I didn't want to know...) All the furniture looked like it was old and had been painted, then chipped away at. Run down as Henry V. put it is very accurate. If you touch anything from the mini bar, which had a scant selection of items, they will charge you instantly--according to the check in person. They REALLY want to charge you with extras. When I asked the front desk where a convenience store was the girl asked, "is there anything we can provide?" Yes, you can tell me where the nearest store is, duh.
Le Meridian is better, comparably priced and filled with very nice people.