Starwood Preferred Guest - Aloft RC bumps Westin LAX out of worst managed SPG property award

Checked into the Aloft Rancho Cacamundo after midnight last night.
I could tell by the cars in the parking lot it was going to be a young(local) folks party night at the hotel :( . had to park quite aways from the front door.
Check in was pretty bad-FDR was on the phone at the same time he was checking me in and was pretty flustered.Both FDR;s were VERY young.FDR gave me keys to a room on the fifth floor-and THEN informed me that both elevators were out of service:confused: and asked me to use the fire exit stairs-the back door of which was left open to the parking lot.

Not happy but trudged up five sets of stairs to reach my room.I was PO'd when I saw that,once again,they had put me in the room facing the elevators and the maids service room :mad:-too tired to make the stairs again to ask for a different room.Try first key-does not work,second key did-room was already occupied by a young family!:mad:

Use the house phone to call the front desk-gave them my name and explained the situation and told them to send someone up with different room keys.

The young(and very fit fortunately)FDR met me by the fire exit enterance-no new keys-he asked"What was your last name again"?I tell him to just forget it-cancel my stay I woulld not be staying here.He offered a comp room and I passed on that.

*these awards are strictly figments of an overly vivid imagination-mine!

Only second time in four years of SPG membership that I will be contacting Customer Service.

To add insult to injury when I called the SPG plat line I got a recording informimg me the line was "closed for maintainace :mad:
Just decided to drive home-as it was now 12:30 and drive back for the event I am supposed to attend in the IE today.

Look on the bright side, you got some exercise out of it. A few more stays and you can be running up and down the stairs in no time.:D

This was after a transcon(BOS/LAX)flight and a 90 minute drive from LAX-so while a little exercise would have been good for me(NO argument there ;) ) at 12:30 I was just not seeing things that way.
So now I get to drive BACK to the IE for my lunch :mad:

Look on the bright side, you got some exercise out of it. A few more stays and you can be running up and down the stairs in no time.:D

Eat your heart out, WestinWORKOUT. :p

Checked into the Aloft Rancho Cacamundo after midnight last night.
I could tell by the cars in the parking lot it was going to be a young(local) folks party night at the hotel :( . .

From what I have read here and on TA, how could you expect anything else, especially on a Saturday night?

Even so, I am sorry what you went through.

What a bad experience. I would not be pleased, expected to walk up five flights of steps - and then find I've been given a key to an occupied room. Not well done in any way.

And think of the horror of the family who has someone enter their room at 12:30am. Very scary.

From what I have read here and on TA, how could you expect anything else, especially on a Saturday night?

Even so, I am sorry what you went through.

This is an annoyance at the alofts. I have had a couple of stays where during my check-in, they'd keep answering the phone and making ME wait.

While I like the rooms and the TVs, I gotta say I am not a huge fan of the desk and the spotty service I've seen so far.

This is an annoyance at the alofts. I have had a couple of stays where during my check-in, they'd keep answering the phone and making ME wait.

While I like the rooms and the TVs, I gotta say I am not a huge fan of the desk and the spotty service I've seen so far.

I actually was referring to the supposed party atmosphere at these properties.

Sadly, I am too old for these things now.

I actually was referring to the supposed party atmosphere at these properties.

Sadly, I am too old for these things now.

Well, that was going on at PHL, too. I felt like I wasn't welcome to go to the bar.

Stayed at the RC Aloft on Saturday night a few weeks ago. Was expecting to hear the disco or party atmosphere I've read about in other posts, but it was quiet as can be. I thought it was a pretty good value for $79/night. I would not have been happy about the elevators being out though. How can they both be out? That's in excusible. What did they do with their handicapped guests?

And think of the horror of the family who has someone enter their room at 12:30am. Very scary.

That's why I use the deadbolt and latch when I am in my room...

Checked into the Aloft Rancho Cacamundo after midnight last night...

"Cacamundo?" :eek: :p :D

Checked into the Aloft Rancho Cacamundo after midnight last night.


Hi Bigguy! Long time no see!
Would you believe I was there, starting a MR on UA, on Friday night--24 hours before you???
I still think you should contact SPG Customer Relations--but just FYI, I had no problems at all--other than the shuttle only runs 6AM to 930PM--and I arrived at 1030PM and departed at 530AM, so it was about $15 taxi ride each way for me.
I am currently at the Sheraton ONT airport, and their shuttle runs 24hrs. They just run a little mini-van over when someone calls--not the "real" shuttle--but what a bonus, since I didn't arrive till about midnight last night.
I agree, staff at Aloft is young and a bit lost--but very friendly and I had no problems. The "upgrade" possibilities at Alofts are slim for Plats--no suites--so I got a "corner room with only one neighbor"--as my upgrade.
Let us know what Cust. Rel. says!

I was there a week ago on friday night, it was quiet. elevators were working and the bar was already closed so no party atmosphere.

I could tell by the cars in the parking lot it was going to be a young(local) folks party night at the hotel :( .

Same problem in Charleston, where the front desk was right next to the DJ. We could hear the party all the way on the 5th floor and they told us that it was the farthest room away in the entire hotel.

Mike

seems like we all have the same problem...we're over 30.

Sounds like a BGIP had a hell of a stay!

Actually, sounds like he did not have a stay at all.... :(

Sounds like a BGIP had a hell of a stay!

This is an annoyance at the alofts. I have had a couple of stays where during my check-in, they'd keep answering the phone and making ME wait.

That's a directive from management, I'd venture. I spent 5 years working as a front desk clerk at a hotel. The front desk clerks were also responsible for answering the phones for the property after the operators left (usually around 5pm). The word from management was "The person standing in front of you can hear the phone ringing, so they'll understand that you have to answer the phone. The person calling the hotel has no idea that there is a guest standing in front of you so they can't wait." I'm not saying this is how it should or shouldn't be handled, but that was the standing order from the big whigs.

We've had two aloft stays and the only major complaint with each was noise. The first was in Rogers, AR and the music by the pool blasted right through our A/C unit. The second was in "Cacamundo" and the problem this time was slamming doors in the halls from about midnight to 1am. Turns out, there was a Metallica concert that night and everyone was just a little too excited when they got back to the hotel. We could hear every sound made in the hall.

I like the aloft concept, but don't seem to get very much sleep at their properties. That's not to say I won't stay there again if the price is right. ;)