3.5 stars Read on for my 'Pros' and 'Cons'…read more..
YOU MAY NOT GET THE ROOM YOU PICKED OUT ON THE APP
Be cautious that if you book a room on the app before arriving, they might try to put you in a different (worse/noisier) room when you get there, telling you the 'view' is better. This happened to us and I overheard it happening to someone else checking in.
The room they chose to put us in was facing the street and extremely noisy. (Not worth the so called 'view'). After unpacking and getting ready for bed and trying to bear it, we decided to ask to switch rooms (to the room we'd originally booked on the app!)
We packed up and moved to a room facing the alley, although it still had *some* street noise, it was much better. I think they try to put you in the 'unsellable' rooms in hopes that you'll stick with it. We still had to wear ear plugs and run the A/C at night to drown out some street noise. You might argue that any downtown hotel would have have street noise, but I don't think this older hotel has very good insulation. Read on for the PROS AND CONS...
PROS
~Friendly, accommodating staff, really can't fault them. Kathy in the breakfast room is especially friendly.
~Decent location, walkable to the airport bus stop, Avis, Harley Davidson Museum, River Walk, Pabst Mansion. Most attractions were a 15-20 minute walk. For sights further by the lake (i.e. Milwaukee Art Museum), we took a ride share. It would have been more convenient to be closer to the waterfront, but this is reflected in the price. (Which I thought was still expensive!)
~They gave us some drink vouchers to use in the bar as we were celebrating an occasion. That was a nice touch and we enjoyed the atmosphere in the bar and the friendly bar tender.
~Clean.
~Daily housekeeping service.
~We paid for the breakfast buffet as part of our tariff, which was in a dining room with a buffet all but one day (a Monday) when they had us pick off the menu as there weren't enough people to warrant a buffet. Despite the buffet, waitstaff serve your drinks, so factor tip into the price. Try to get a table with Kathy serving you.
~Standard room amenities like iron/board, safe, decent shower, pump toiletries, large TV, mini fridge.
~Three elevators that always came quickly.
CONS
~Noisy, especially if your room faces the main road. A lot of noisy motorbikes, sirens, people blaring music. The hotel can't help this, but it didn't seem like the windows were insulated very well, perhaps due to the fact it's an older hotel that's been renovated. I would not recommend staying here on this factor alone.
~Small bathroom. We like to both be in the bathroom getting ready in the morning -- one shaving while the other is putting on make-up, etc. The bathroom was definitely tight.
~When we checked into the first room they put us in (we later switched rooms), the A/C was soooo cold. We couldn't adjust it, so they sent a technician out to fix it.
~When we switched to a different room, the TV didn't work, so a technician was sent out to fix it the next day.
~Older hotel that's been renovated -- you can tell by the popcorn ceilings.
~No pool.
~Still quite expensive for the location/noisy rooms.
~Breakfast is not completely self serve, so tipping is expected. (They take you to a table, take your drink order and serve your drinks).
~Decor has been updated at some point, but is still a little dated.
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