Firstly, the staff were 5 star professionals. My room was pleasant and comfortable and the history and design of the hotel speak for itself. Breakfast is geared more for the Asian palate. For me, it was eggs, rolls, coffee. A bit of muesli and raisins would have helped. Also, on the first morning at 7am, there was a "band practice" from an adjoining meeting room that could only be described as a skull splitting caterwaul. I choked down my omelette (an odd mosh of scrambled eggs and half melted cheese chunks) and left a polite complaint at the desk. The racket stopped within five minutes, but I could hear it loud and clear on the second floor. Unreal.
Other than that, things were OK. The room carpet was plain and dismal making me wonder what the original floors might have been like. Bathroom was underwhelming. A decorative tile in the shower was porous and unsealed, not suitable for a wet environment and therefore spotty with mold. A spray of bleach cleanser would take care of this easily.
The second floor has a lovely garden terrace that seemed underserviced and underappreciated. A few lounge chairs might be nice. A nice spot for morning meditation.
I came for the history and knew things wouldn't be perfect, so overall I liked my stay. I like real old wood furniture and not fake plastic wood. The old school vibe here is what it is really all about. Gorgeous hallways, arches and high ceilings.
