Rooftop Sun Deck
by SabrinaSummervilleMy initial reaction was positive - the marbled public areas are vast, polished, and impressive. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived so we were invited to wait in one of the reception areas for the five hours or so that it took to make a room available to us.
We waited in one of the bars and ordered some light food - sandwiches and tea. They were beautifully presented by polite and efficient staff. Initislly the prices shocked me (hard to do), but it transpired that the prices on the menu were in local currency and so cost just a third of what I believed them to be in dollars.
When we were eventually shown to our room the disappointment set in. A cursory examination suggested a typically old fashioned five star luxury hotel, but closer examination revealed tired furnishings and peeling wallpapers. In addition to this, the room stank of stale smoke. Our room was very dark and looked out on the side of another sky-scraper and some kind of mezzanine roof. I felt that we were simply "shoved" into one of the worst rooms in the house because we were simply "in transit" guests. Hotels make a huge mistake when they do that kind of thing as many cruise transit passengers may return for a longer stay if they like what they see. Based on my one night experience I would wish to stay elsewhere the next time.
There is a large indoor pool on the 23rd floor with plenty of sunbeds and a glass roof. This leads onto an outdoor deck and plunge pool with incredible city views. However, the outside deck is tiny and full of double sunbeds - these are fine for couples but what I fund was that they were occupied by singles and so an already cramped space was underavailable.
The concierge staff in this hotel are outstanding. I would particularly praise Patricia. My luggage was lost by Iberia and Patricia spent literally hours on the phone to Iberia and to BA airport trying to sort things for me. At one point she had two lines on the go at once. She's just fantastic.
The rooftop pool and deck commands a spectacular view of the City.
