Let me begin by saying that this review is going to be long because I don't want to forget anything!
I booked Blue as a surprise for my husband to celebrate our anniversary last week. I had read all the trip advisor reviews, so I was aware of what others mentioned as the downfalls so I really wanted to see if they were just being knitpicky or accurate.
Upon arrival, I did notice that the white paint had worn off the stairs in the high traffic spots. Considering that this is the only way to get to ones room, it is to be expected at the end of a busy season, I guess. We were warmly greeted by a girl who somehow knew who we were even before I told her. We were given a paper to make our choices for breakfast the next morning. She also told us that in order to have breakfast waiting for us the following morning, we needed to turn in our choices by 7pm the night before. She also told us that the front desk closes at 9pm and reopens at 8am. Another girl told us she would take us to our room while a young man asked us if we needed help with our bags. We walked up to our room, and soft music was playing on the 55" flat screen TV! What a fabulous first impression!!! She showed us how to use the remotes, gave us a quick tour of the room, and left us to stare at the incredible view of the beach and ocean that was a stone's throw from our deck. Wow!!! My husband and I quickly grabbed a drink and went straight to the deck to enjoy the view. (And I almost forgot to mention the note on the coffee table welcoming us by name.....)
Now, for the room. We booked the penthouse suite (a HUGE splurge for me), and it was beautiful! Every piece of furniture and every decoration is from Pottery Barn. The plates, glasses, and silverware from our kitchenette were from Crate and Barrel. Our mini fridge was stocked with Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, creamers and a bottle of "Blue" wine. A Keurig sat on the granite counter and an overflowing basket of k-cups was next to it. They didn't forget anything, from the dishtowels to the paper towels, to a sponge, and a toaster! Perfect!
The bathroom was large, had two sinks, a huge steam shower, and I thought it was really a nice touch that they stocked a small tube of toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and disposable razors in addition to the standard things. There were plenty of towels too...I counted five giant bath towels and fifteen hand towels in the bathroom, so there was definitely no shortage of towels here!!! The room also had a safe, an iron and ironing board, and two comfy robes.
One day we wanted to sit at the beach and they were only too happy to carry out two sand chairs and pitch an umbrella for us. We even had a cold bottle of water in the cup rest of our chairs! And before I forget, there are also two hot tubs for the guests use.
The breakfast basket arrived every morning outside our door at the time we requested. It contained china, and a linen napkin in what I guessed was a Pottery Barn napkin ring. Breakfast choices included fresh cut up fruit, yogurt, danish, bagels, and croissants. One note though, other reviews have said that they thought that the breakfast was store bought. I can assure you it was not, because my husband and I actually saw the food service truck making a delivery at the hotel.
The only negative, though, and its probably petty, but our room had lovely white airy pinch pleat curtains that were missing hooks in spots, so in some places the curtains were just hanging and not attached to the curtain rod. I found several of the hooks on the floor and one in the bureau, and actually tried to fix the curtains myself! In my opinion, it took away from the perfection of the room. We also noticed that there was a REALLY large bird dropping on the glass wall of our balcony, which was there from the time we checked in until the time we left. Perhaps the staff just needs a keen eye for making sure things like this don't get overlooked.
Overall, this is a fabulous boutique hotel to chill, relax, and leave your worries behind. Everything here is casual elegance. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. If you enjoy the small, upscale hotel experience, then this is the place for you. I'm looking forward to my next trip back!
