I stayed at the Radisson Longmont in June 2008 while at a conference in Boulder (an scenic 20 minute ride away). I was very surprised at the excellent quality of the hotel and its staff considering the room rate of $89 for a Friday night was well below any comparable hotel in the Boulder area. High speed internet was free and very fast, staff was friendly, and the hotel was clean and quiet despite its busy status. I went to the free buffet breakfast and was welcomed by the staff there. The restaurant was a bit crowded for a Saturday morning so I sat at the bar and expected to be ignored by the busy buffet staff. Instead they quickly noticed me looking around and figured I wanted some coffee so brought some without even being asked. I never expect much from breakfast buffet staff, especially if its a free breakfast, so this was a pleasant surprise. I usually stay at expensive Westin and Hilton properties but am rethinking this given the incredible value the Radisson offers.

Pros:
1. Easy access to our company's local campus
2. Nice staff
3. Free wireless access
4. Friendly Bar staff
5. Fairly Quiet

Cons:
1. The "Business center" was one computer and a printer - although printing was free, I just didn't like having to stand in line to print something

2. In room dining service flat out sucked. It was delivered quickly but the food was pathetic and WAY WAY WAY over priced. The last meal that I ordered looked and tasted like it had rotten vegetables in it. Additionally the menu was extremely skimpy unless you enjoy eating mainly sandwiches everyday

3. I personally disliked the Sleep number beds

4. The in room coffee was bitter

5. One little ashtray for a room with two double beds and a desk

6. Computer systems were down when I checked out. The desk wanted to email the receipt to me - which was fine. It's now been 4 days since my departure and no receipt.

This week I am working out of my new office in Boulder, Co. Company rules dictate our hotel choices, and I typically stay at the Radisson Hotel. It is true about the sleep number bed - they are so comfortable. Actually, I was looking forward to this bed after a long, exhausting day working on a customer document with a difficult internal team. But, when I returned to my room, I noted something just not quite right. My shower was ajar, a wet wash cloth was in the corner of the basin, and I noted the same long hair on the floor from the night before. Anyway, I was exhausted and went to bed. When I arose, I decided to “pay it forward” so I figured the housekeeper was having a bad day. So I tipped her $5.

Again I arrived back at the hotel after working another 14 hours. This time I noted my closet open, a baggy filled with water on the bathroom sink, the remote was next to the bed and again empty water bottles on the table. I figured that this gal must be in an absolute rush, since the room was so unkempt.

This morning I woke up again at 5 am to prepare for yet another long day. I was sipping my coffee (I bring my own ground coffee since the Radisson brand is suspect). I was determined to get in to the office around 7am, so a went to shower. Strangely enough I noted that I had used a great deal of my newly purchased face scrub and my razor was dull. I immediately jumped out, steamed my clothes and hit the road.

Tonight I arrived to my hotel room and felt very uneasy when I arrived. I noted that I was missing a towel and a washcloth. Everything on my bathroom vanity looked moved and the same old magazine from Sunday still was housed under the sink. I walked into the bathroom and greeted the lonely long hair strand that has kept me company all week, along with the days old newspapers. Then I opened the shower and I noted that again their was another wet wash cloth. I thought back and realized that I did not use a wash cloth this morning. Then I walked out and noticed my remote next to the night stand vs. the armoire which still had my dresser drawers open, a candy wrapper on the night stand, and a shuffled bed.

I immediately decided I should inform the Radisson’s Corporate Office. I went to their website an realized you could not phone them directly but could provide feedback via the web. In which I wrote up all complaints:


Unclean bathroom (toilet seat up, wet wash clothes etc.)

Lonely hair in corner of bathroom

Wet towel on furniture

No one picked up room service trays in days (outside of door in hallway)

No restocking of towels or wash clothes

Messy bed

No remote in armoire

Open drawers

Candy wrappers


I completed what I thought was an elegant essay on my mishaps. Then I pressed submit. I pressed it again and again. You got it, they have a high customer sat. rating because you can not enter anything on the web page!

At that point, I realized - who’s been sleeping in my bed. I called down to the front desk and spoke to management. Shared with him the problems and he said it was not necessary to visit the room and he would call me back.

About 5 minutes later, Tony invited himself to my room to view the incident. He brought me another secure “key” so I could be safe and they could monitor the comings and goings of the room. He inspected the room and was clearly a loss for words. He said the room was not up to the Radisson standard and indeed the bed looked - not quite right. The sheets were not tucked in according to corporate regulation. He also mentioned that all water bottles should be picked up, towels replenished. He was a little speechless when he could not explain the wet wash cloth and missing towel. He then took off my dry cleaning and food expenses. I shared that was not necessary, but some token of reciprocity was needed - so I obliged.

The hotel confirmed that my room was being used by another person after I left for work. They were extremely concerned. So please dont view this as a bad hotel, view this as something that can happen anywhere. If you think someone has been in your hotel room - immediately call management.

This Radisson was VERY nice and looked new. Beds were great, and the rooms are absolutely huge. The room we had contained two queen sized beds, a sleeper sofa, work space, and wet bar area. We asked if it was a "suite" and they said no. That was the smallest room they had. And for $79 on a Friday night, it couldn't be beat. We ate in the restaurant the next day. Food was good, portions were great, and the service was OK. I would definitely recommend this for an overnight stay. The complex is really spread out, but there is adequate signage.