I just returned from my trip to the Sheraton Anchorage.

While taking a cab from the airport I couldn't help but notice that every other hotel was located closer to the downtown area and all of the restaurants than the Sheraton. I would suggest the Captain Cook and the Hilton for location.

Upon arrival to the hotel, I noticed that the lobby was nothing special. Their web site boasted of a $1 million jade staircase, but frankly, I only saw a waste of money; maybe I don't have a designer's eye, but it really didn't look like much to me.

I checked into room 1127 (club floor) and the room had two double beds (what I requested). Unlike some reports that I had read, the room did NOT look worn down and looked decently clean. The beds were much softer than the last Sheraton that I stayed at - Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner.

The first couple of days I had put the card on my bed requesting that my sheets be changed and housekeeping had no problem taking the tip off of my pillow, but they did not change my sheets (I put a dot on the corner so that I know when the sheets are changed). Also, the remote control in my room did not work, I didn't receive my newspaper the first morning, and there was a message for me that the hotel lost.

Upon returning to my room after my first full day there, I had a message from the local sales agent from the hotel asking if I'd be in the area for a while and asking if I would consider staying with them and to please call and they would arrange for me to have a special rate, etc... I guess they looked up my past trends that I usually stay in a hotel for at least a couple of months at a time. I didn't bother to call him back.

There are no tv services at this hotel, meaning, you can't check your bill on the tv nor check-out via the television. And their web site advertises that they offer massage services (I was in town to run a marathon and these services were highly desirable), but the hotel doesn't offer such services.

Upon calling the helpdesk, I was pretty much dismissed and even after reporting everything, I never heard back from the help desk (they didn't even bring me a new remote until I called back again to SPECIFICALLY request one).

The hotel staff was not very knowledgeable, although I will admit that I was offered my platinum amenity at check-in. They didn't seem to be aware of what was available in the area and were no help in offering suggestions of local attractions. Also, the marathon expo was in one of the hotel's ballrooms, upon check-in, I asked if they could give me the times and the room of the expo and the guy told me that the front desk staff hadn't been given that information yet. I asked for him to get me someone else that may know and the new desk agent pointed to a piece of paper that was in front of the original guy's face which listed the room and the times and they also had handouts behind the counter to give to all of the marathoners.

When checking out, the front desk agent didn't even ask me how my stay was. After checking out I started to tell her about all of my problems and she was like "you should've told me before I was checked you out and I could have done something for you." I told her that usually the front desk agent asks me how my stay was, which she didn't do. So she checked me back in and as a "token of Sheraton Promise goodwill" removed my phone call and the $6 breakfast I had on the bill for my troubles.

I was not at all impressed with this hotel and probably will not stay there again if I ever return to Anchorage.

I'll try to post a trip report of Alaska in the Alaska forum some time this week.