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| - I like this place, it's solid. And before I checked out I was going to give it four stars... but HIDDEN FEES.
To be fair, they are not hidden so much as subtle. I called the hotel to book a room and got a deal for $91/night. Fantastic! When I got the email confirmation it listed my total with taxes as $204 for two nights. I didn't read the entire email, however, wherein it said that there would be an extra $20 DAILY fee for use of the pool plus the free snacks at the checkin desk. Plus parking is another $10/night. So when I got the final tally it was $260. For $100/night this place was great. For $130/night it's just fine. And emotionally it felt like a bait and switch.
Pros:
- Nice pool and excellent very large hot tub.
- Our nightly rate included two $10 vouchers for breakfast at the good hotel restaurant. Compensates for the dumb parking cost I guess.
- Large room, comfortable bed, decent bath products.
- Terrific rooftop bar with strong views and cocktails.
- Everyone who works there is super nice.
Cons:
- Snacks are not free... this was going to be in the "pro" column until I discovered I'd paid $20/day for them. I would've asked for 20 more candy bars and pretzels and tiny water bottles if I'd known!
- Location is meh. There isn't much in Midtown Phoenix, though the light rail is just a few blocks away and goes downtown. It's not a neighborhood where you're like "oh, let's go for a walk" because there's nothing to see and do. That said, if you're coming to Phoenix you're planning a driving-centric trip anyway.
- Gym. Haha, no. Do not plan to workout.
- Despite the effort put into its funky exterior and highly designed pool area, the rest of the hotel has a distinctly "upgraded motel" vibe. Cheap stucco on the walls and a bit down at the heels overall. This is not a negative in any practical way, there's just something a little sad about a place that's trying so hard to be hip but is clearly beyond its prime, you know? Like someone still dressing like it's the 90s and not just for those costume dance parties.
I don't know that I'd stay here again, though I enjoyed my stay just fine. I would probably check out a similarly priced hotel for comparison next time.
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