Radisson, a chain I was not really a customer off, had
several amazing promos in recent months. One of their latest promos was stay
one night, get one night free in the USA. This is quite an amazing promo
considering one can get a very cheap night and redeem a very expensive night –
which was exactly what I was aiming to do.
As Baltimore is right around the corner, I decide I’ll go up
there and stay the night at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore hotel. I stayed
on Saturday after Thanksgiving so the price was right (about a fifth of the
price of the night I am going to redeem for free). It even dropped further by
15% (but unfortunately it was too late for the promo, so I stuck with my
original price).
The hotel is situated in downtown Baltimore and very easy to
find and get into from I-95. Across the street from the hotel there is a big
parking lot and as a guest you can get a voucher for $15 a day which allows one
unlimited in and out as well. Parking prices is extremely overcharged in
downtown Baltimore and the voucher is effectively giving one 50% off, so it is
highly appreciated.
Check in was relatively
quick. A couple in front of me had a problem with their room, and the check in
clerk did a very good job in trying to find them another room. However, other
personnel came and went and clearly saw me waiting in line but did not offer to
check me in.
Here comes my
biggest disappointment with Club Carlson's properties. As I started considering
the chain I did a status match to my other hotel chains, and I am a Gold Club Carlson's
member. I understand it does not mean much, but I did expect to get an upgrade
on what was basically a dead night at the hotel. I even probed nicely by asking
if my Club Carlson's number is on the reservation. However, I got nothing. Not
even a gift in the room as part of the Gold benefits. I find the recognition of
Club Carlson to be lacking in the Radissons I’ve stayed in, so I am not that surprised,
but still, it is a disappointment.
As noted, I got exactly
the room I have booked – a King bed with sleep number bed. I’m not sure the
sleep number bed was actually functioning, but it was comfortable enough for
the night. The room itself, like the rest of the hotel was tired. The hotel is
historical building, and I understand that renovations are difficult to do –
however, the elevators were slow and old, the hotel itself tired and the room
despite large and functional, cold and uninspiring. Some will say it is the charm
of the hotel. I just did not like it.
The bathroom is
also quite old and despite good water pressure, finding and adjusting the right
temperature can be an engineering task that requires exact calculations and a
steady hand.
The hotel offers
free WiFi, but the coverage seems to be patchy. My room was facing the Hotel
Monaco, and their WiFi signal was much stronger in my room than the Radisson’s
one. Luckily, Kimpton hotels offer free WiFi just for being a member in their
frequent stay program, so I just used the Monaco’s WiFi most of the time.
I got in on
Saturday evening, and the streets were empty (apart for the random homeless
person). While it is probably not going to be a problem during busier times of
the week, I did not feel particularly comfortable to walk around in the streets
surrounding the hotel.
All in all, it was an
OK one night stay. There was nothing spectacular to write home about, but
nothing horrid as well. Will I be back? Maybe, if the price and promotion are
right, but it definitely not going to be my first choice in Baltimore.
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| Sleep Number Bed |
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| Amazing TV |
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| Bath Room |
