Hotels: Cool vs Comfort

The problem with uber cool hotels is that beyond the surface they really aren't functional for many everyday travelers. While my full review of the Hyatt Andaz Napa will be forthcoming this post will serve as a mere observation of my first 24 hrs. as a guest at this property.
This would be the second time an Andaz property has disappointed me.  I had been looking forward to my stay at the Andaz Napa as the highlight of my wine country trip and now I can't wait to get to a more standard amenity orientated hotel like the Westin Verasa.   I had used  my suite upgrade from my diamond status for this paid stay.  After a let down occurred at the Andaz West Hollywood I triple checked this reservation because it was for four adults and I knew going in this the hotel wasn't conducive to having rooms accommodate more than 2 people.  I was prepared to book two paid rooms and use two suite upgrades but the hotel assured me they could accommodate my party.

Hotel Review: Hyatt Andaz West Hollywood

The Hyatt Andaz West Hollywood is a Category 4 property requiring 15K points per night.  If you are a Hyatt card holder you receive an annual certificate after paying the $75 card renewal fee for 1 free night good at any Hyatt Category 1-4 property.  This hotel qualifies for use of that certificate. While paying an annual fee to carry a credit card may seem like a waste this is where you can work that fee to your advantage because standard rooms generally rate out at $265 per night and higher, a savings of  $190 against a revenue stay.
This famous hotel know affectionately as Riot Hotel was ruled by the rock and rollers of the 60's and 70's The Doors, The Who,Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, just to name a few.  It's convenient Sunset Strip location puts the hotel within close proximity to the Whisky A GoGo, The Viper Room, the Rainbow Bar & Grill among other heavy hitters that define the rock era of excess.  The rooms have been updated and the famous balconies have been glassed in to provide a larger interior space or to prevent current up and coming rock star from thowing TV's off the balconies to mimick the antics of Keith Richards when he stayed at the hotel. There is no front desk, staff walk around with satchels containing iPads for checking in. You're seated on sofa throughout the lobby area offered complimentary wine, coffee, water while the staff review your stay portfolio.  Our room was on the 5th floor directly overlooking Sunset Blvd.  The view was fantastic and pure iconic Hollywood.  Inside while the bathrooms are small they are quite functional and covered floor to ceiling in marble.

Once a place where rock icons hurled tv's to the street below has now been encased in safety glass and sofas offering remarkable strip views day and night

The open concept restaurant RH (which stand for Riot House paying tribute to the hotels storied past) served a wonderful menu selection or buffet for breakfast. While not only is the kitchen open guests can see ingredients used for their meals through glass refrigerator doors.  The first morning we selected from the menu: french toast and a breakfast panini. If breakfast is not included with your room, the fee is extraordinarily pricey, approximately $50 per person. As a Diamond member, breakfast for me and up to 3 guests was included. In the evening the restaurant was often crowded with lengthy waits for a seat, many times the reason for this has to do with word on the street that a celebrity or band may be in residence at the hotel.  One evening after a long, hot day of seeing the sights we saw several dozen teenage girls on the walk directly outside the hotel as we approached the main entrance we were stopped by security and asked to state our business, I said I was a guest and was required to show my room card.  Turned out rumor had it that the boy band One Direction either was staying here or had band members staying there.  I wouldn't have known even if they were there but activity over the next few nights was heavy with paparazzi and screaming teenage girls.   

The hotel had a rooftop pool.  While one side overlooked the strip the other clearly gave view of some Hollywood Hills residences.  The parking lot was housed on the backside as well.  The nightly parking fee was $35 if parking your rental car for the duration of the stay.    

My stay overall was as expected for the area.  The room was comfortable and quiet even while I was located directly across from the elevator.  The neon lights from the strip were never a problem as room darkening drapes blocked all light.  The location was fantastic especially for a walker (so many sites, shops within walking distance), the staff friendly and the food good.  While I could appreciate the storied past, my teenager could not, although she did very much enjoy being able to walk pass the screaming teenagers envious of her stay in the hotel.  I am a die hard Hyatt fan but I will criticize/complain if a situation warrants.  I will return to this property since my teen liked Hollywood enough to ask if we could come back next year.  I do feel the property is properly rated at a Category 4 and I most likely will be using my annual free night stay here again but before we return I will make sure my child knows who Led Zeppelin is and how they basically ran this hotel in its heyday.        

Hotel Review:Radisson Blu Phuket

I chose this property for my stay on Phuket because I was swimming in an overabundance of Club Carlson points.  To help unburden my points cache I was looking forward to 4 nights at Radisson Blue Plaza Resort Panwa Beach.  For the most part I would agree with many of the comments posted on Trip Advisor about the property.  It is far from the beaches of Kata and Patong for which Phuket is known and the cabs are anywhere from $15 to $20 each way to go to the other side of the island.  Just as a side note, while it may not look big on a map Phuket is a very large island and that becomes apparent when you happen to be on the opposite side of it trying to get back to Cape Panwa (where the Radisson is located).  I liked the seclusion but had I the opportunity to do this over again I would have stayed 2 nights at the Radisson and 2 nights at a property near Kata beach.

Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

I was a hectic time in Bangkok and now came the time to relax.  Hua Hin has a 5 mile long beach about a 3 hour drive south of Bangkok located on the Gulf of Thailand.  It was discovered in the 1920's by King Rama VII and today houses the official royal residence of the sitting King.  Our stay here would be for 3 nights with the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, a Category 4 property.  This 5 star 204 room hotel located on 12 beachfront acres was meticulously landscaped and private.  In one word the property was magnificent.  Upon check-in were were ushered to the Regency Club check-in desk and provided a beautiful room.  Everything here spoke of lush gardens and greenery.  Once we arrived at our room we found a great bottle of wine, a decadent chocolate cake and some local fruits as our welcoming gift.

Hotel Review:Park Plaza

There are currently three Club Carlson properties in Bangkok, the 4th a Radisson Blu is being readied for a February 2014 delivery.  The new property was within walking distance from the Park Plaza, I did cruise by the construction but, I did not see any of the other Club Carlson Bangkok properties.
Contemporary, quiet and centrally located can best describe our small hotel.

Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Sha Tin

As I mentioned in yesterday's post there are three Hyatt properties in Hong Kong.  In planning the trip several factors went into selecting what property I would chose for my stay.  Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula are very densely populated; basically they are located at the heart of Hong Kong proper, Sha Tin is out in a more relaxing mountainous setting just a 30 minute metro ride away.