Dear Palmer House Hilton,
You are a beautiful gem of a property with everything I love - a rich history of romance and tragedy, gorgeous vintage architectural touches, and a beautifully executed modern restoration.
And yet, and yet, and yet.
The Lobby: (photo courtesy of j.o.h.n. walker on flickr.) One of the most gorgeous main lobbies of any hotel I've stayed at. A two-story work of art with a formal staircase, velvet furniture, marble-topped tables, and a massive Greek Mythology mural ceiling - it has to be experienced. At a minimum, stop in for a drink at the lobby bar located smack dab in the middle of an art deco masterpiece (not to be confused with Potter's Lounge - see below). Unfortunately, entry to the lobby is through the lower level, which is a bit sketchy and confusing. Especially when it's jam-packed with dozens, if not hundreds, of Louisville Cardinals fans blocking access to the signage and the staff. We had to relive that experience the following day, weaving our way through some sort of spring break on steroids to get to the luggage check. Only this time the fans brought their boom boxes and a whole lot of hungover attitude. How could management of a luxury four-star hotel allow its entry to be so unpleasant? (You never get a second chance to make a first, and last, impression, after all.) Fail.
The Room: Happily, we were able to check in early to our double/double with two bathrooms on the Executive Floor. The room was lovely (if not huge), and the bathrooms were immaculate and modern - double-headed showers, decent crabtree & evelyn amenities, and plenty of towels. On the other hand, this slightly taller than average girl could barely reach the toilet paper from the toilet. Who laid out this place anyway?
The Executive Floor: Perks? Hors d'oeuvres in the evening, breakfast in the morning, and snacks and soda available in the afternoon. And perhaps most importantly, a special access express elevator with a bench inside it! I mean, why stand for 40 seconds when you can finally unwind... The downside? Crawling with 19 year olds at some sort of college event. What the huh? This old lady didn't ask for the executive floor so she could crash a ProActiv Convention.
Potter's Lounge: One of the highlights of the property - a posh, swanky spot with an old-school lounge vibe serving high-end cocktails and $4 ribs (happy hour special). What more could a girl ask for? I will definitely be going back here for after work cocktails at some point.
Okay, obviously I'm leaving out something very important. The spa! I will be back to share my feelings about Spa Chakra later this week. This post is already too long, and this spa girl is weirdly exhausted from a long weekend of pampering.
Love,
Kate
No comments:
Post a Comment