Inn at the Colonnade Baltimore - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel {US-MD}
Jul 31, 2003, 8:54 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,796
Inn at the Colonnade Baltimore - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel {US-MD}
The restaurant at the Inn at the Colonnade (a Doubletree) in Baltimore has changed hands and is now the W instead of the Polo Grill.
Gold benefits used to be a voucher for breakfast which gave you a choice of 3 hot cooked-to-order breakfasts (excellent). Right now, you only have a choice of a (very mediocre) buffet continental breakfast with no possibility of applying the credit for something else.
Gold benefits used to be a voucher for breakfast which gave you a choice of 3 hot cooked-to-order breakfasts (excellent). Right now, you only have a choice of a (very mediocre) buffet continental breakfast with no possibility of applying the credit for something else.
Jul 31, 2003, 9:21 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 653
That's a real shame. The Polo Grill was one of the better restaurants in Baltimore. I went there a lot, and it was a nice place to grab breakfast -- better than at most hotels. Sad to see it go.
Jul 31, 2003, 1:14 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ORF & AUS; I have an ex-wife and and an ex-house in both cities.
Programs: AA Gold, DL GM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 891
What a shame. This place really takes care of Diamonds. The breakfast was only the cherry on th etop of a great sundae. Shame ot see that they've scaled it back.
Jul 31, 2003, 1:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,656
The current owner of W is the son of the previous Polo Grill owner. Many people in Baltimore do not understand why they changed it. I think it will hurt them in general and based on what you are saying it will upset Hilton business travelers. I think the son wants to turn it into a hip place to eat when the old Polo Grill was a consistently good bet popular with business people.
Sep 27, 2003, 5:24 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Blue Bell PA USA
Posts: 83
Any updates on this hotel, especially treatment of Diamonds/Golds, Breakfast and the shuttle? I will likely stay here in December. Hopefully, the downward trend does not continue. If I stay, I'll post an update.
Thanks
Thanks
Feb 13, 2004, 11:28 am
#7
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Inn at The Colonnade Trip Reports and Reviews
I just had my first (and last) stay at the DT Inn at the Colonnade in Baltimore.
The lobby area is quite impressive with modern decor using lots of wood. My room (#300) was large with a jacuzzi, balcony and large bath (including a bidet). The fixtures were dated and need to be replaced in the near future. One of the lamp shades was torn and another had a burned out bulb.
No bottled water in the room.
No desk or work space in the room.
No DT cookies at this hotel.
Surprise!! Incoming faxes cost $1/page.
As previously mentioned, the breakfast voucher is for a VERY LAME continental breakfast and can not be used for credit against menu orders. (This is the first time I've experienced this.)
In addition, the menu states (at the top) that For your convenience, a 17% gratuity has been added to the bill.
Cab fare from BWI was $32 (pre-tip).
Cab fare to downtown and the inner harbor was $10 (pre-tip).
I guess that downtown Baltimore is like Detroit (i.e. little or no presence of Hilton properties).
Even though I have no status with *wood, next time in Baltimore I'll stay at the Sheraton Inner Harbor or Renaissance.
[This message has been edited by Billiken (edited Feb 13, 2004).]
The lobby area is quite impressive with modern decor using lots of wood. My room (#300) was large with a jacuzzi, balcony and large bath (including a bidet). The fixtures were dated and need to be replaced in the near future. One of the lamp shades was torn and another had a burned out bulb.
No bottled water in the room.
No desk or work space in the room.
No DT cookies at this hotel.
Surprise!! Incoming faxes cost $1/page.
As previously mentioned, the breakfast voucher is for a VERY LAME continental breakfast and can not be used for credit against menu orders. (This is the first time I've experienced this.)
In addition, the menu states (at the top) that For your convenience, a 17% gratuity has been added to the bill.
Cab fare from BWI was $32 (pre-tip).
Cab fare to downtown and the inner harbor was $10 (pre-tip).
I guess that downtown Baltimore is like Detroit (i.e. little or no presence of Hilton properties).
Even though I have no status with *wood, next time in Baltimore I'll stay at the Sheraton Inner Harbor or Renaissance.
[This message has been edited by Billiken (edited Feb 13, 2004).]
Feb 13, 2004, 12:47 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chapel Hill, NC - UA Nobody (sigh)/0.925MM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 3,510
I used to live in Baltimore and we went to the Polo Grill often, usually for the fried lobster tail which is sublime. Wonder if W will keep the lobster tail; it was one of their signature dishes. Oprah would return to Baltimore to get it.
Feb 13, 2004, 2:42 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 653
It's such a shame to hear this about the Colonnade and the Polo Grill (or former Polo Grill). This was such a great place. Right across the street from Johns Hopkins, so a convenient place to stay when I go back to visit. But it's sad to hear they've let it go -- it's funny, I heard about five years ago, when it was simply "The Inn at the Colonnade" that it had serious service problems. Then DT came in and took over, and things seemed to be better. Guess that didn't last long.
The Polo Grill was one of my favorite places in Baltimore.
Cab ride to BWI is always a problem. The fare to the Inner Harbor seems high. It should have been no more than $7 from up there. Oh well ... yearning for the good old days already.
The Polo Grill was one of my favorite places in Baltimore.
Cab ride to BWI is always a problem. The fare to the Inner Harbor seems high. It should have been no more than $7 from up there. Oh well ... yearning for the good old days already.
Feb 13, 2004, 4:30 pm
#10
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I stayed in early last December. Same status as the initial report of August 2003 re: breakfast.
At least Billiken got a half-decent upgrade. never got anything as good in 3 stays.
There is/was still a shuttle to the inner harbour area.
At least Billiken got a half-decent upgrade. never got anything as good in 3 stays.
There is/was still a shuttle to the inner harbour area.
Feb 13, 2004, 9:48 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Blue Bell PA USA
Posts: 83
Same results for me one month ago.
My wife and I were in one room and my business partner in a second room (my wife and I are diamond mutual account members). I paid for both rooms on our mutual account. They would only give us only 2 breakfast coupons for the three of us "they are only for the VIP members" even though this VIP member was paying for both rooms.
They did upgrade both rooms to mini-suites.
I agree that the continential breakfast was very basic. Some cereal, fruit and begals nothing else.
My wife and I were in one room and my business partner in a second room (my wife and I are diamond mutual account members). I paid for both rooms on our mutual account. They would only give us only 2 breakfast coupons for the three of us "they are only for the VIP members" even though this VIP member was paying for both rooms.
They did upgrade both rooms to mini-suites.
I agree that the continential breakfast was very basic. Some cereal, fruit and begals nothing else.
Apr 6, 2005, 7:39 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 653
Back a few years there certainly was, but that was before the restaurant switched from the Polo Grill. (You can tell it's been a little while since I've been there.) I've got a stay coming up in May, but that may be too late to find out for you. (Not being Diamond, I would simply ask.) I imagine, however, that since they've still got a restaurant, they'll give you breakfast.
Apr 6, 2005, 10:09 am
#14
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At least a year or year + 1/3 ago, breakfast was given to golds. Since the restaurant changed from the Polo Grill to the W (IIRC), the breakfast is just a rather-uninspired continental with no option for trade up to a hot breakfast.
Apr 7, 2005, 2:00 am
#15
Join Date: May 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 1,934
Originally Posted by terenz
At least a year or year + 1/3 ago, breakfast was given to golds. Since the restaurant changed from the Polo Grill to the W (IIRC), the breakfast is just a rather-uninspired continental with no option for trade up to a hot breakfast.
As of Aug '04 they still have the same rather-uninspired continental with no option to upgrade to full (hot) breakfast. Even if you ask very nicely.
