We absolutely loved the vibe and ambiance of the hotel, which makes it even more disappointing to say that our entire experience was ruined by the poor service.
We arrived early to ask if early check-in was available. We completely understood when we were told that check-in starts at 3:00 PM, so we left for lunch and came back exactly at 3:00 PM. Since we had already completed the check-in process earlier, we expected to receive our room key without any issues.
Instead, we were told that our room was still not ready. What made the situation even more frustrating was seeing other guests who were just checking in receive their room keys while we continued waiting. After waiting for about 30 minutes, we were finally given our key card—only to discover that it didn't work. We couldn't even enter our room and had to return to the reception, where we waited for almost another 30 minutes while the staff tried to figure out what was wrong.
The most disappointing part was that I had to follow up multiple times before anyone offered us another room. There was very little communication, no sense of urgency, and no apology that made us feel our time was valued.
We booked this hotel specifically because we were attending a concert and wanted a comfortable place to rest and freshen up beforehand. Instead, because of the delays, we had no opportunity to shower, change comfortably, or even rest. We ended up going straight to the concert feeling exhausted and frustrated, which completely defeated the purpose of booking the hotel in the first place.
Our room was at Richmond Eastwood. While I understand it may be managed separately, the staff from Richmond were the ones assisting us. Unfortunately, it genuinely felt like guests who booked directly with Richmond were given better treatment and priority than those who booked through this property. Whether or not that was actually the case, that was certainly how the experience made us feel.
When we checked out, the staff gave us a complimentary cake, which we appreciate as a kind gesture. However, by that point, the damage had already been done. The delays, inconvenience, and frustration had already ruined our mood and our overall experience. While the cake was a nice attempt to make up for what happened, it couldn't undo the time we lost or the experience we were hoping to have.
It's unfortunate because the hotel itself has so much potential. The ambiance is wonderful, but great facilities mean very little when the service falls far below expectations. We left feeling disappointed and would think twice before staying here again.
