Just got back from the Fairmont where I spent one night for a wedding I was attending. I have to say I was very disappointed.

This place is not cheap, so I expected my stay to be excellent. Well it wasn't. First of all the hotel is definitely dated. The room while clean, feels old & musty. I went downstairs to have a few drinks with a friend (5 in total). It was expensive ($75) & I checked my account today & they charged me over $150!

Worst of all they completely scratched up my fiance's car. While they were willing to compansate us, they wanted us to fill out forms & jump through all these hoops. The valet got a manager & after about 15 minutes we told him we were in a hurry and had to leave. The valet started to yell at us saying that if we left they were not responsible for the damage! Needless to say I have never been treated like that EVER at a hotel & it will be a cold day in hell before I step foot in this hotel again!

We stayed here two nights...we were here also one year ago.

This is a fun, attractive hotel - beautifully decorated, "across" from Santa Monica Beach... across from - but you have to cross a busy road, walk through a bit of a park, walk across a large highway walkway and walk for quite some time across sand to get to the water. Having been here last yr - I knew all that - so no surprise - but was a surprise the first year.

By the outdoor restaurant there is a "pond" that was full of large turtles - fun for the kids to see.

The hotel is within very short walking of the 3rd street promenade shopping area - which hosts a lot of nice shops, restaurants and some cool dinosaurs that spout water.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful...I did have one occasion to speak to the maid and I felt like she did not understand me at all except for the part where I said she could clean the room at 2:30.

We had a room with a balcony - lousy view - but that was ok, just wanted an extra place for the kids to hang out and they are under 8 so they thought it was fun.

At this stay I noticed that there were no Hotel provided bathrobes in the room as in the previous year. I thought they discontinued them - so I asked when I checked out (b/c I spotted some in the hallway) and turns out that they were just forgotten from our room.

The ice machine on our floor was broken for both days so we had to go up one floor when we needed ice.

Just after we had our car valet parked - we had to return to the car to retrieve something. Was unhappy to find that they had forgotten to lock the car up.

The room is not all that big and the bathroom doors are "louver" type doors that give about 10% privacy (no fun when sharing the room with hub and 2 children)...

Stayed in a suite room 609-- Palisades Grand Suite in the older section. It was a one bedroom suite --I have attached room shots and views in the photo's. There were 4 of us in this room.

Beds: Bedroom bed--Verrrry comfortable
Pull out bed--horrible , uneven, unsleepable
Roll-away---great

Bathroom: Average--not condusive to 4 people in a room

View-So-So --Palm tree in the way--no balcony

Cleanliness/upkeep--This could really use some improving--on the surface things look o.k. but I included a shot of the vent in the bathroom (yuck!!!) and the light in the shower (bugs)--Also, the people in the room before left stuff there and obviously the cleaning personal didn't clean this part because it was there when we checked in.

Misc. Wet bar in room, large living room area, nice workout room, awesome tree in entrance-way

Food--we used room service and breakfast--food was surprisingly bad. I was shocked at how mediocre the quality was and how process and frozen everthing tasted. Would not recommend eating there.

Front desk--inefficient and slow

Pool--o.k. , but saltwater?? Why?

Property --nice but very small

Area--Our 1st time in Santa Monica--I included a beach shot. There are no hotels on the beach. The beach is across the street but down a long steep hill. There are ALOT of homeless people and street kids hanging around here. I don't know how safe I felt--it was a bit intimidating ( I live in Chicago so I'm not easily intimidated) I know this is a trendy area but I'm not sure why.

Pier--Worth it to take a walk---not worth it to do anything--There is a Bubba Gump shrimp restaurant, a few carnival rides, a cheesy mininature golf, a few vendors, and a few stores, video games

We stayed at the Fairmont from July 18-22 and it was wonderful! The hotel is set back so it is very quiet you feel like you are at a resort not in the middle of Santa Monica!We had a suite in the older part of the hotel which was very big and nicely furnished. It was only a few dollars more than a room in the Ocean Towers, but I felt it was worth it. The room, hallways and elevators were spotless (and I am fussy) I knew this was going to be a great hotel the second I stepped in the lobby- it is amazing. Everyone was VERY friendly and helpful. We ate a late dinner and breakfast at the restaurant- the food was very delicious, but it was expensive. The Kobe burger for $22.00 was one if the best burgers I ever had!! If I am ever back in Santa Monica I will be staying at the Fairmont it was a great experience!