Not really a better choice in town.......yet
We’ve stayed at the Geiger Grand 3 times. The third time was not the charm. Rather, the hotel had the feel of a project that someone has grown tired of. It’s simply shabby.
Our room this time, like our previous two visits, was sparsely furnished with a chair that needed to be taken to the dump, a table too small for room service, a desk chair that was not adjustable, a chest someone brought from their grandmas spare bedroom, 2 lamps with broken hardware and a bed. The bathroom, like before was stocked with 2 washcloths, 2 hand towels and 2 small bath towels. There is literally no place to put anything in the bathroom. That’s right! In the 3 rooms we’ve stayed in there has been ZERO countertop in the bathroom. Our room this time had a dangerously wobbly 3 tiered glass side table in between the toilet and the sink. The 2 bottom tiers are useless and the top is quickly filled up by a toothbrush and a comb. The rickety feel and missing parts on this little number didn’t inspire much confidence.
THE GOOD:
It’s a neat old hotel with some beautiful original features still intact.
It’s probably the best lodging choice in town, for now . (A Comfort Suites or Holiday Inn Express will put
SERIOUS hurt on them should one locate close by).
Easy to find and close to some fun things downtown.
The bed was comfortable.
The room was clean.
When one can get food, it is very good.
THE BAD:
INCONSISTENT FOOD SERVICE. 2 of the 3 times we stayed the breakfast chef didn’t come in to work. Having counted on breakfast BOTH times, we were surprised at the cavalier attitude of the front desk staff to this issue. People are traveling and need breakfast more than other meals. Neither time did the GG offer any alternative. They didn’t make a pot of coffee for the lobby. They didn’t take money out of petty cash and send an employee to SAFEWAY to buy donuts, go to McDonalds to provide meal vouchers or basically do much of anything to mitigate the idiocy of no breakfast at a boutique hotel. Not informing the guests until they show up to be seated was the icing on the nonexistent cinnamon roll.
SHABBY: The place is simply shabby. The lobby is very dark and none of the blinds have been open on any of the occasions we’ve stayed. It is a shame that they don’t let light in. From what I can tell, the lobby and public spaces are for the most part original and quite beautiful. They should be shown off. The furniture in our room was tattered, stained and dated. Aside from that there wasn’t enough furniture in the room. The cheap, discount house chest was far too small for the room and shook when bumped. There was no love seat, sofa, ottoman, coffee table, microwave or fridge. The coffee maker and lamp took most of the small tabletop.
RUDDERLESS: There doesn’t seem to be anyone in charge. Most of the reactions we got from staff regarding our questions and concerns were met with a response more akin to a floor leader at a college dormitory or an innkeeper at a youth hostel. Basically the responses were something like “ gosh, we’re all in this together so we can make it work!” or “Wow! Really?” or “you know, you can just come down and get a DVD and relax in your room”.
NEGLECTED: The GG is running on an image that is not living up to the plan. It seems like a tired old place that turned into a project that turned into a money pit that turned into a maintenance headache that turned into an afterthought. No one seems to be excited about working in this supposedly haunted old hotel. Things that were exciting and cool about boutique hotels 10 years ago are not so much anymore. As an example, no one cares about the selection of DVD’s in the lobby.
I truly hope the GG can find its way. It has the potential to become one of the best boutique hotels anywhere. They have the market, the facility and the support of the locals. They seem to be missing a clear vision and competent management.
