I was fortunate enough to win Post of the Month in July, and my prize was a two-night stay in one of the Hotel Presidente’s new spa suites. The suite I enjoyed, number 307 is located in the new section, and is spacious, spotlessly clean and as cold as a meat locker when both air conditioners are running.
First of all, let me say that the staff at the Presidente is excellent, and I never wanted for service. From Jonathan and William at the front desk at check-in to Jesus who helped with my baggage upon checkout, everyone at the Presidente treated me very well. I have plans to marry Andrea at the News Café (don’t tell her yet, it’s going to be a surprise).
Everything in the suite worked perfectly, from the keypad-locked security box to the televisions (two of them) and the hair dryer. The glass-enclosed spa is wonderful for lounging; one can even watch the sitting room TV from a vantage point in the spa tub.
The single-glazed windows open, allowing fresh smog and street noise to enter the room, a real plus for a city boy such as I.
What didn’t I like? The lighting is horrific. Recessed fluorescent fixtures yield plenty of cold, greenish light. The color scheme of the paintede walls and furnishings would be fine, but under the extremely harsh fluorescent lighting, the gold painted wall turns a sickly mustard, the sage-green sofa plastic leatherette turns a snot green. Also, this hotel is noisier than my old college dormitory; thank the tiled floors. The effect of the lighting, hard surfaces and reflected noise makes sitting in the otherwise comfortable sitting area of the suite a lot like sitting in a nicely-appointed garage. The least they could have done is to put diffusers over the fluorescent lights.
The bedroom is slightly warmer, as the bed softens the ambience quite a lot. The bed is perhaps the best hotel bed upon which I’ve ever slept. The European linens are luxurious!
The bathroom is large, but is strangely laid out, due to the spa tub. One fun side-effect of the design is that your chica will have the pleasure of watching you take a dump, looking from the living room through the glass walls surrounding the tub. Now that’s erotic. Also, do not attempt to enter or leave the spa tub while drunk. The tiles become dangerously slippery with even a small amount of water. We found it easier and safer to sit on the top step, pivot and enter the tub gingerly. A tub design like this would violate every building code in the U.S.; it’s just plain hazardous.
Would I stay again in the Presidente? Absolutely, particularly if I could replace the nasty fluorescent lighting with low-watt halogen PAR bulbs, could bring a half-dozen throw rugs to soften the floor and dampen sound, and could attach safety strips to the steps leading to the spa. I would also need earplugs.
One would think from reading this that I don’t like the Presidente; the opposite is true! Service, facilities and comfort are unmatched by any other Gulch hotel, and there is something to be said about the newness of the facilities. I only wish that they had done something to soften the sound and lighting in this otherwise excellent suite. Also, some decoration beyond the single metal sculpture on the wall would be welcome.
Grades:
Facilities: B plus
Service: A
Provided goodies (bathroom, chocolates at night,ice, etc.): B plus
Comfort level: C (nasty lighting, noisy, hard surfaces, but great bed)
Overall = B/B-plus
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Well, not a lot of sleep, but when you hit a wall...you hit a wall. 
