FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Highlands Inn - Hyatt Carmel REVIEW

Sep 21, 2020 | 5:51 pm

#605

saint

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: Southern California

Posts: 768

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnomnam

Just returned from a 3-night stay. I had been following this thread leading up to my trip. Overall, it was heavenly.

Got lucky with the smoke situation. Like another poster, I was even considering canceling for a bit...but the weather cooperated, and it even got so sunny that pool time was added to the agenda!

One thing I thought I'd share, because I haven't seen this posted anywhere (though, I could be mistaken!). It seems that electric fireplaces are being installed in some units? I booked an ocean view townhouse, and thought I scored when I was given a key to room 501. Turns out, 501 doesn't have a wood fireplace. It has the electric 'push a button to activate the heated screensaver' kind instead. I hate making requests, but I felt a little misled, so I called the front desk. The front desk was confused, and was unaware that 501 didn't have a wood fireplace? Strange.

The next day, we were given 2 hours' notice to pack up (tight turnaround!), turn in our keys, and get moved to 504. This employee mentioned something about the electric fireplaces being a 'test run,' because some guests don't like the fireplace smell. Makes sense, but even 501 smelled like a fireplace, which only intensified the feeling of missing out! haha. Anyways, I felt guilty moving 3 doors down and creating more work for housekeeping, but it was worth it for the actual fireplace I was so looking forward to. So overall, staff took care of me, and I tipped generously.

I also like that the balconies for rooms 503 + 504 extend out a bit further over the ridge than at 501-502 and 505-506.

Thanks for this update. I read that 501 had one of the absolute best views out of all the rooms so this is interesting. The smoke smell I don't necessarily think is just from the smoke from your own fireplace. I read several various posts on TripAdvisor and other places where even rooms that didn't have the fireplace smelled smoky from the various fireplaces in the surrounding area. I agree with OP that the fireplace was great to have. Typically I'm not even one of those people that loves fireplaces while in hotel rooms. I do have several at home and I especially use the one in my outside courtyard of my home as it looks beautiful at night. Although I was only in my room a few hours, we did enjoy the fireplace at dusk. It was really romantic and the hotel makes it easy providing the wood and kindling.

Glad you had a great time!

PS. I wouldn't feel bad about moving and creating work for the maids. They didn't provide ANY maid service at all while we were there. So, probably even better that there is some work for the maids as I imagine they probably had to downsize their staff with all this lack of cleaning during guest stays.

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