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| - As I approach my 68th birthday, I want to do something special. Last February I asked 6 of my closest female family and friends to have High Tea with me at The Phoenician. I have gone to High Tea at the former Inn On The Park (now Four Seasons at Park Lane), a 5-star hotel in London, so I thought we would have a great time. Unfortunately, it was definitely not a 5-star experience. Upon being seated, my daughter told the hostess that it was my birthday and we would ALL be having the Full Tea (without alcohol since our party included 2 nursing mothers) and that she would be paying. When the waitress came to take our order, she completely ignored me sitting at the head of the table and went to my friend sitting on my right at the END. My friend asked if she could have a glass of champagne which she would pay for. Two others in the party also wanted champagne. I attempted to tell the waitress to give them the Royal Tea which included champagne for an additional $11. She seemed not to understand what I was asking so we asked for a manager. We sat for 15 minutes with no service at all while parties seated after us had their teas. Finally, we got the attention of another waitress who sent a THIRD server to our table. We repeated what we had already told the first waitress. Finally our service began. The teas were excellent but the selection of scones and desserts were merely average. I still had a good time as I was among friends and family. Then the check came! It wasn't given to me or my daughter seated at my right. She took it to my friend at the end of the table. My daughter tried to tell the waitress that she was paying. But the waitress ignored her. My friend who offered to pay for the champagne noticed that we were being charged over $200 for champagne by the glass rather than as part of fixed price Full Tea. Again, my friend asked for a manager. Again, no one came. So we just paid the bill. It was incredibly humiliating for me since my birthday should have received more care and attention. While other tables were singing "Happy Birthday" to their special person, we were trying to get our bill explained. It was a disaster!
What was particularly disturbing is that my daughter and I were the only black people in the room. We were consistently ignored and overlooked in favor of our own white guests. It was though The Phoenician felt that a black person could not be able to pay. I was the only person sitting at the head of the table, flanked on both sides by my 6 guests. Yet, the requests made by both me and my daughter were completely ignored.
As much as I would like to make High Tea at The Phoenician an annual event for my birthday, I am sad to say that I never want to go through that kind of treatment again.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
In spite of a less than stellar birthday High Tea in February 2017, I went back for a 2-day "stay-cation" in June 2017 with a friend. The Phoenician was in the middle of renovations so my room rate was about $150 per night with a $25 a day "Resort Fee". I don't know what the fee was for since I had my own WiFi and don't play golf. However we could have used the complimentary golf cart for the 1/2 mile trek to our room. The distance was daunting enough but there were no signs to help us find the right building. Even the numerous staff members along the way had no idea which elevators were operable or which corridors had not been closed up. The room just ordinary. Nothing was special or inviting about our stay. I've stayed in 5-star hotels around the world and The Phoenician is just a big Holiday Inn. The area around the ice machine was filthy (see photo). Dinner at J&G Steakhouse was the only high point. The service was outstanding and the food delicious. However, when served coffee at the end of our meal, the creamer was dirty with coffee droplets on the outside (see photo).
There was nothing "luxurious" about our stay. The staff was polite but not at all inviting. Other 5-star hotels that I've stayed at made me feel welcomed and special. We didn't even get a housekeeping visit during out two nights. I had to go out in the hall and track down a housekeeping cart for clean towels and water glasses! No turndown service. Definitely not a luxury experience. The Phoenician is just an old "Faded Lady" with mediocre service. I would have been really pissed if I had paid full price (about $500+).
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