My friend and I fancied a change this New Year's eve and headed to our local luxury hotel to be pampered. The Hyatt is located on Broad Street in Birmingham and is 24 stories high giving a fabulous view over the city, our room was located on the 18th floor (high up at our request) and the view was phenomenal. The cost for 2 nights bed and breakfast set us back just under £400 so we had high expectations.
On our arrival (and much to my annoyance), the valet parking service was not available, we had to leave our cases with the conceierge and drive to their car park quite a distance away from the hotel (which costs £12 per 24 hours, and if I'm honest doesn't look too safe, although no harm came to the car during our stay). After the long walk back from the car park we collected our baggage and struggled to get it through the doors, as the concierege just stood there watching, now I know it's my fault for over-packing, but a girl gotta have choices of outfit! , previously when I have stayed in a small bed and breakfast for £30 a night my cases were carried up 2 flights of stairs without even being asked, so I was disappointed to say the least. Check in was painless, and we were given the keys for the room, and instructions on how to get there, again the personal touch of being shown to our room would have been appreciated,
Our room was nice but nothing special, two single beds, TV, desk, air conditioning, mini bar etc,
The bathroom was nicer, marble sink and power shower and bath, and a phone point next to the toilet (must have been designed by a man!)
We ordered room service on the evening, the food was nothing special but the prices were fair and delivery was fast.
The breakfast in the morning was more confusing, we were told that it would be a hot buffet breakfast, but in the morning only continental buffet was available, or you could ask for something hot from the kitchen. The continental breakfast was too beautiful to turn down, there was a vast array of fresh fruit, cheese, meat, breads, pastries, cereals, nuts and seeds and juices.
The strawberries were to die for as were the pears with cinammon, my friend (an avid sausage and egg fan) was pleased with the continental too, after the initial sulk, and is now converted.
We had to call housekeeping in the afternoon, as by 4 o'clock our room still had not been cleaned, but they came straight away and apologised for the delay. Another nice touch is that they come round in the evening and ask if you need any more towels tea and coffee etc, so you can have a bath in the morning and the evening, and have soft dry clean towels twice, which rates highly in my books.
We went to havce a look at the health club and pool, although we didn't use any of the facilities, the staff were more than happy to show us round, the pool although small looked very welcoming and the gym was well equiped for its size.
Whether we would stay again has not been decided yet, it seems a lot of money to pay just for a view, as the hotel was more average than it should have been.
If it's luxury and pampering you're after maybe this isn't the place for you, the staff could do with better training and to be more attentive to their guests, but it wasn't a bad stay, just not worth the money.