I would have given XV Beacon 5 stars if it weren't for a slew of small errors that in aggregate compromised what could have been a stellar customer experience. So close to perfect, it's sort of a shame that they missed the high mark over things that could have been corrected with just a bit more attention to detail. Indeed the property might have only warranted three stars if it weren't for the courtesies and compensations of the management in response to my grievances. Perhaps the best example of which was a call to the front desk, upon turning out the lights, about an enormously bright exterior spotlight shining right up into the bedside window and illuminated the ceiling through the top of the drapes. Ten minutes later the spotlight was extinguished. Well done.
First, the good stuff. The interior design of XV Beacon is quite simply stunning. I was quite surprised to learn that the property is already 11 years old, as it shows virtually no sign of wear (well, except perhaps for the stereo components, the only giveaway to its age), and carries an aesthetic that has cleverly and impressively avoided succumbing to trends. Being something of a design snob, I have my nits (remove the fussy and pointless little canopies from the beds; replace at least one of the faux Chippendale desk chairs with a mid-century modern classic), but overall it is enormously successful. The hotel's restaurant, Mooo, served an exceptional dinner, and is populated by a well-trained and friendly (but not too friendly) staff. The fruit plate in the morning was an embarrassment of riches, the multi-grain toast was truly and abundantly multi-grain (a big win compared to what passes for multi-grain elsewhere), and the tea was loose-leaf, properly steeped, and in an insulated teapot. Huzzah.
The problems were small but annoying. Other reviewers here have remarked on the lack of accompaniment to the room to provide a brief orientation. Why such a persistent problem? This is a simple courtesy that is more important today than ever before, as advances and diversity in technology have rendered "standard functionality" all but obsolete, especially in high-end properties. Light switches, remotes, telephones - all vary in type and location, now, to such a degree that without a bit of guidance one is compelled to summon the house detective after a few bewildering minutes. Significantly, this frustration occurs well within the timeframe of first impressions. A critical miss.
Another first impression forfeit was the state of the smart little pedestal just inside the room's front door which had nothing on it. It's a small detail, but small details are the premium hotel's stock in trade. It's not exactly a welcoming moment to step into your room to the sight of a lonely pedestal longing for it's flourish. On my way to dinner I stopped at the concierge and asked them to please provide a simple vase and flower arrangement to be placed on the pedestal. In a brief subsequent discussion, wherein I was asked if I had any specific flower preferences (no), I was given to understand that what is, in fact, supposed to be in that spot is a glass vase filled with apples. Mystery solved, I guess. When I returned to my room after dinner, I was greeted not with the flowers I had requested but with the apples. Now, on the upside, there was obviously no charge for what was intended for that spot in the first place, but... that's not what I asked for.
The fireplaces are a such wonderful touch that you want them on all the time. Only they don't, at least in my case, stay on. After multiple calls to the front desk - "they are temperature sensitive such that if it gets too warm in the room they will automatically shut off," said they; but no matter how cool the room, it made no difference. The damn thing kept shutting off after ten or fifteen minutes. To their credit, management did offer me another room, but I declined and endured the cyclical pattern of fifteen minutes on, five minutes off.
If XV Beacon can raise their game just a notch, it will continue to deliver a peerless experience. Despite the niggling issues, I would stay again in heartbeat, if only to be cosseted in their sumptuous and smart decor. Only give me the freaking flowers next time. read more