To whom it may concern:
I recently returned from a seven-day visit to San Jose. Staying at the Del Rey from August 12-19. Instead of doing a long boring trip report I will do a much shorter but just as boring hotel review. I'll start with the disclaimer: that is I am a DR junkie this is the 11th year that I have spent multiple weeks at the DR.
I reserved a suite in February shortly after returning home from my January stay. Once a month I would reconfirm that reservation. Was sent a credit card form that I filled out and returned. No negative effects from divulging credit card information. Upon arrival on the 12th I was greeted at the door and assisted in with my luggage. Was greeted by name at the reservation desk ( yes they recognized me ). Quickly signed in to my room given room key and the key to the minibar. Within five minutes of arrival I and my luggage were in my room are I should say rooms as the suite has a small living room , a large bedroom, bath and inviting patio on the sixth floor.
For those of you who like to travel in groups there are two adjoining bedrooms that can be rented separately are as part of the suite. The bathroom is adequate but not spectacular. As much as I love the place it would be unfair of me not to point out that even the suite has that rundown DR look. Not depressing but certainly not a crisp clean look. The two biggest virtues of the suite is the living room and patio.
During my stay I experienced none of the bartender waitress negative issues that have been verbalized lately. No problem with getting drinks no problem with change. Quite the contrary. I'm an early riser and am usually heading down the elevator between 630 and 730 each morning. As I would exit the elevator next to the bar make the right U-turn and head for the coffee bar I would receive a wave from the young lady behind the bar who would have my cuppa coffee ready by the time I reached the bar. Not bad service for a suppose it dump.
Each morning with one exception I would cross the street to have breakfast that usually consisted of two eggs toast and a cup of coffee total expenditure about four dollars. The one exception was the morning I had breakfast on my patio. A very pleasant experience though I was not alone. To continue I have nothing but praise for the hotel's housekeeping staff. On arrival Day shortly after check-in when I returned to the room the made who saw me entering my room quickly came over and asked if there was anything else I would need. I asked for extra towels and a blanket which she quickly returned with. On another note a few days into my trip after having meant a lovely lady at the coffee bar at eight o'clock in the morning. I was saying goodbye to the lady standing in the hallway just out of my room clad only in my lounge pants when a sudden gust of wind caused by leaving the door to the patio open slammed my door shut. Leaving me with no access to my room in the hallway partially clad. My charming made quickly came over opened my door for me and promised to keep this her little secret. The charming lady that she was told to me that since I like to entertain early in the morning she would clean my room as soon as she got there each morning and once again before she left in the evening. Yes that lady made some money off of me.
Another minor little incident that was quickly resolved by the hotel staff was an alarm clock that went off in the room next to me at 2 a.m.. I called the service desk who quickly sent someone up to turn it off and apologize for the inconvenience.
In the girl review section I will post some information about the girls I met this trip. But before I go one more note about hotels. The president seems to be losing some of its attraction. A number of its guests that I spoke to this trip had a growing dissatisfaction with the difficulty they are experiencing in bringing guest in and in the declining quality of the free breakfast. Another note for those of you who are staying at the president and have trouble getting your girlfriend in. The hotel Morazan head rooms they were making available for short-term use for $20.
Lee
