I arrived Anchorage last night and had a bad stay at Sheraton. I had booked a Club Suite, which luckily I checked out BEFORE arriving. There's no description of the Club suite on their website, so I emailed to ask what it was. Turns out it is a Junior Suite, but on the Club Floor. IMO it's bad advertising as they do not explain that a junior suite is just a bit larger room, but that was LAST year's problem. This year I was a bit peeved to learn they were calling yet another larger room a "Suite." But b/c I asked, I knew in advance to only stay the 1 night I had to. I'd asked (after discovering the Club Suite was only a junior suite, meaning a larger room, NOT a real suite) if there was a chance of upgrade to a real suite and told "no". With only 2, they're rare, so if you want a suite, this is not the place.

Upon arrival I was told I was "upgraded" from my King room. (I cancelled the Club Suite ASAP upon discovering it was just a Junior "suite".) I took my keys and went to a Junior suite on 3rd floor. I walked in to a disgusting mess- even the toilet was not flushed. Just what I wanted to see after 3 flights to get there. Luckily the room was empty, but it was definitely not ready. So back down I go. I tell the man who checked me in the problem, and I ask for something quiet and cool so I can get some rest. Guess he didn't know the layout. I got the room next to the ice/soda machines with literally tropical air. It was SO hot that I immediately cracked the window, but no wind and only an inch of room. The room actually got warmer the longer I was there.

They sent up maintenance 4 times. 1st, he just shut off the heater by the window. Then he tried to make cool air come from the vent. Finally he said the AC was off for the winter and b/c I was in a corner room (didn't look like a corner but okay) it was too small to allow air flow. Now I've heard it all. Meanwhile, the air in the hallway is about 10-15 degrees cooler than my room. To complicate matters, people were smoking below my window, and as I'm asthmatic and allergic, I had to close the window. I was finally brought a fan which I placed on the bedside table and tried to sleep. Between the ice machine and the heat, it was a rotten night.

At no time did the front desk/guest services call to ask if maintenance had helped. I called 4 times to ask for them to fix it, and they didn't suggest I switch rooms. In fact they always said, "I'll send maintenance." Not once did they ask how it was going or suggest an alternative. And b/c the AC IS turned off for the season it will always be warm in there, especially when they leave the heater set at 76 degrees on the 11th floor. Heat rises. I know it is Alaska, but the guest is paying for the room, so if possible, he/she SHOULD be able to set the temperature. Just b/c it is cold outside doesn't mean it's cold INside. BTW, the small fridge didn't work either.

The next morning I called to let them know I'd like to use my Plat status and stay past noon. It was not busy and I'd never had trouble with this, but I was put on hold and then told, "I guess we can let you stay till 2 pm." I didn't need past 2pm, but what if I had? Don't Plats get until 4pm?

This is a Sheraton? 1st I get an "upgrade" to a bigger room called a junior suite, then I am sent to a smaller room next to an ice machine that could be mistaken for a sauna. No one apologizes, no one double checks. I'm so used to having Guest Services call back to make sure that "whatever" is fixed. If it had been busy I would've understood. But no one cared except the maintenance man, and he could do nothing b/c the AC was off.

I was planning on spending the next 2 nights at the Hotel Captain Cook where I'd always been treated well, and got a call that a last-minute meeting was being scheduled and I needed to get there ASAP. No problem as I was sick of that room. I checked out quickly, and even after I explained the problem with the room, no one commented on it. I guess they'll leave it for the next guest to deal with. I DID request a cab and there was one out the side door, but I was directed to the front where I stood freezing for 15 minutes. I saw a couple take off in the cab meant for me, and 5 minutes later the one Sheraton employee who had been overly kind to me pulled up in a van and drove me to the CC. What a nice young man he was! A true bright spot in a dreary stay.

As the clock turns and it is now my birthday, I am thrilled to be in a "Junior Suite" at the Hotel Captain Cook. For LESS than the price of a room at Sheraton, I have a full suite- bedroom with DOOR, bathroom, living room, even fans for both bedroom and living room areas. They not only cool you off if needed (not needed here) but they make white noise to keep things quiet. My BFF arrived and we watched a PPV movie & ordered room service ($5 cheaper than Sheraton for movies) and she slept not on a bumpy pull-out but a fluffy rollaway. She has her own room with tv in the Living room, and I have my own King bed and TV in Bedroom. Free internet, too. Free Parking and $20 towards breakfast included in my rate. Later today we are getting massages and enjoying the spa. The one at Sheraton was closed.

I guess what I'm saying is, get your "stay" if you need it, but there's nothing wrong with exploring other hotels. Hotel Captain Cook is nicer, and while usually more expensive, I got the CC junior suite for less than the price of a room at the Sheraton. And the suite IS a suite, not a room with a few more square feet as at Sheraton Anchorage.

There's also a Hilton and Marriott, here, so no reason to book Sheraton if you crave something new. I rarely complain about Starwood Properties. In fact, this is the only one offhand that I can think of that I have problems with every time. I'm still a Starwood girl. But I do not recommend the Sheraton Anchorage. I'm especially happy I didn't stay to celebrate my birthday there.

If you get a good deal, just be sure you check your room out thoroughly before committing. After being up half the night listening to ice machine and dealing with heat, I'm looking forward to sleeping here at Captain Cook. What a difference! I realize this is MY experience and MY opinion. I knew what to expect (all except the heat and the noise) at Sheraton and still went for the points. I may have to stay there again one day. It's not the dregs, it is just not...well, IMO it isn't Starwood worthy. If it's this upsetting off-season, I can't imagine when the rates are way up.

Just my opinion.