First, it is located on the corner of a strange intersection, meaning you can only turn right. If you need to turn around, you have to go to the next light and go through three lights to get back on track. If you are coming from the other direction, you need to go past the hotel to the next light and do a u-turn. So while it is located closely to Stanford and Palo Alto downtown on paper, it is a bit of a pain to drive anywhere or explain to people how to get to the lobby.
If you do make it via car, you have to pay for parking. It is the only hotel I know of in Palo Alto that does this. A bit ridiculous. Even though I didn't have to pay as a guest, I still had to swipe my room card 15 times each morning and night to get out of the place, which is frustrating when six cars are ahead of you all doing the same thing. Around Wednesday I realized it was easier to just punch the ticket button and then throw it away in my room.
There was free wireless in the lobby, but if I wanted it in my room, it cost $11 a day. But, who would want Internet access in their room? I would much rather hang out in the lobby. They also had the usual overcharged $3 water bottles, but that is par for the course.
Behind the hotel, and facing my room, was the Palo Alto train stop for public transportation. Needless to say, I had my ear plugs in all night. That was a markdown in my book, listening to a train and ringing bells late at night and early in the morning.
It was convenient if walking downtown to the restaurants, but that was about the only positive. It was an older hotel, the rooms and hallways are getting old, and it is overpriced at over $200 a night. The staff was friendly and helpful.
My favorite part of the stay was the last night, when I got a letter from the Director of the Front Office. I already knew the name, as a few nights earlier I got a letter apologizing for the "incocninvience" of a fire alarm that resulted from some mechanical issues.
This letter told me that they would like me to take a survey discussing my stay. The catch, however, was that I first had promise I would give them a "10" before they sent me the survey:
Our goal is to always excel and receive a score of "10". If, for any reason, we have not met your expectations and that you would not be able to give us a 10 in any area of your stay, please let us know before you leave.
If we have met your satisfaction we would appreciate it if you could confirm with us your email address so that we may ensure you receive a Guest Satisfaction Survey.
That is one way to make sure you get good feedback.
