Situated on the famed Sunset Strip and designed in 1929 by famed architect Leland A. Bryant, considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the Los Angeles area.
This legendary hotel has been a star magnet from the time it opened it's doors.
Originally The Sunset Tower Apartments, it has also been known as the St. James Club, The Argyle and now, once again, The Sunset Tower Hotel.
As an apartment building it was home to several Hollywood's legends such as - Greta Garbo, Clark Gable & Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, Errol Flynn, Mae West, John Wayne, Bugsy Siegel, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and many more!
However, come the late 1960's once Sunset Boulevard became known as the center of hippie culture the tower began to lose it's "magic"...
Then by the early 1980's the building - although considered a historical landmark, there were no laws to prevent it's demolition. Set to be demolished and if not for Wemer Klemperer (who refused to move out), it would've been!
By the time he was evicted, laws to protect such architectural jewels had been enacted.
With major renovations and buy-outs over the next 3 decades, it eventually became what it is today - combining modern convenience with old world charm.
Originally The Sunset Tower Apartments, it has also been known as the St. James Club, The Argyle and now, once again, The Sunset Tower Hotel.
As an apartment building it was home to several Hollywood's legends such as - Greta Garbo, Clark Gable & Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, Errol Flynn, Mae West, John Wayne, Bugsy Siegel, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and many more!
However, come the late 1960's once Sunset Boulevard became known as the center of hippie culture the tower began to lose it's "magic"...
Then by the early 1980's the building - although considered a historical landmark, there were no laws to prevent it's demolition. Set to be demolished and if not for Wemer Klemperer (who refused to move out), it would've been!
By the time he was evicted, laws to protect such architectural jewels had been enacted.
With major renovations and buy-outs over the next 3 decades, it eventually became what it is today - combining modern convenience with old world charm.
 |  |
"Guests feel connected to the magic of a glamorous past."
-Travel and Leisure
-Travel and Leisure
With floor to ceiling windows and panoramic views for as far as the eye can see.
 |  |
 |  |
It's a wonderful place to stay - however (here comes some of the Bad)...
Upon check-in we were told that we were being upgraded to the Townhouse - which is an add-on and not part of the historic landmark tower. This stay was a surprise from Dave and I know that he spent his time is choosing the EXACT suite that he wanted!
So regardless of upgrades - he was not happy.
Being an experienced veteren hotel guest such as myself - I knew exactly what was going on...
They GAVE our room away!
I explained the situation to Dave, and at first I'm not sure he believed me! What a dork!!
But then when we went back to the front desk and shared our lack of interest in the townhouse - we were offered the Penthouse Suite. Uhhhh say yes Dave was all that was going through my mind.
But we had to go take a looksie first. Although it had a most amazing wrap-around terrace, Dave was still not quite sold! He begrudgingly accepted the Penthouse Suite (BEST in the Hotel and save only for the VIPs of VIPs) for the Friday night - being promised that he's room of choice would be available on Saturday.
And there we had it, even being able to choose our our "check out" time, and since we had plans of brunch and shopping on Saturday we chose 12pm and the manager explained that he would update the events department to what time we'd be leaving. As the events department had to set up the suite next.
Friday night was lovely, although not quite what Dave had expected or wanted. Saturday morning we enjoyed the room and the view, but I had noticed that time was just slipping on by so I told him (Dave) to let the front desk know that we wouldn't be coming down until 1pm.
So regardless of upgrades - he was not happy.
Being an experienced veteren hotel guest such as myself - I knew exactly what was going on...
They GAVE our room away!
I explained the situation to Dave, and at first I'm not sure he believed me! What a dork!!
But then when we went back to the front desk and shared our lack of interest in the townhouse - we were offered the Penthouse Suite. Uhhhh say yes Dave was all that was going through my mind.
But we had to go take a looksie first. Although it had a most amazing wrap-around terrace, Dave was still not quite sold! He begrudgingly accepted the Penthouse Suite (BEST in the Hotel and save only for the VIPs of VIPs) for the Friday night - being promised that he's room of choice would be available on Saturday.
And there we had it, even being able to choose our our "check out" time, and since we had plans of brunch and shopping on Saturday we chose 12pm and the manager explained that he would update the events department to what time we'd be leaving. As the events department had to set up the suite next.
Friday night was lovely, although not quite what Dave had expected or wanted. Saturday morning we enjoyed the room and the view, but I had noticed that time was just slipping on by so I told him (Dave) to let the front desk know that we wouldn't be coming down until 1pm.
Well - my dear Dave isn't the best when it comes to taking charge of situations and usually just takes crap. So needless to say that he came back to me relaxing on the terrace lounge to tell me that they said "NO".
Umm (tilt of head) WHAT?!?!
Look first they are gonna give away our reserved room - not telling the previous guest that they have to leave because we were going to be checking in and now after all of the stress and this mess and then they have the AUDACITY of saying "NO"!
I'm afraid not - I didn't want it to come to this, but I had to get of the phone and call down to speak to the manager (more like give her a piece of my mind).
Ultimately getting us the more time that we needed.
For goodness sakes...REALLY?!
We aren't paying premium for this hotel to have to deal with this or any type of CRAP!
Next thing that happened was another phone call, letting us know that our original room was ready and should they send a bellhop up to move us. By this time, I was ready, so sure, why not.
We then went to check out our new digs and Dave was finally happy, and I've got to say that this suite was actually nicer than the Penthouse Suite - and it also had a terrace with views that went on forever...albeit wasn't a full wrap-around terrace, but we were both quite happy with Dave's choice is room/suite selection!
Then off we went to go eat and shop until we drop!!
Hours later when we returned to the hotel we had the bellhop help us up with our purchases and up to our room we went...
Arriving to find that our door was left WIDE OPEN - peering inside and wondering if someone was servicing the room, but not finding anyone there.
We did find a bottle of chilled Champagne and a hand-written apology from the manager on the dining table, but not a soul in the room.
We called down to the good ol' front desk to file a complaint and we inquired with the bellhop if he could find out what was going on there. He made a few calls over his walkie talkie and no one wanted to admit to leaving our door WIDE OPEN - have you know with all of our belongings in the room!
THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MAJOR SECURITY BREECH!
Luckily it seemed that all of our belongings were in tact, but this could've went drastically WRONG.
A short bit later, I was finally relaxing and wanting to watch some Olympics, when we find out that our remote control is not functioning!
Oh geez, come on already.
Dave who was quite tired of all our calls and encounters with the front desk had wanted to change the batteries on his own - HELL NO - again, we are not paying God knows what for this stay to have all of this damn crap happen and not complain about it.
We've stayed at some of the most posh hotels around the world, and we've also stayed at some weird motels in 2 horse towns. But guess what...I probably had to call down to the front desk less at the motels (who have to rise to the occasion) than I had to at this hotel - where the expectations were far from exceeded!
After yet another call down, and more venting, an engineer had come up to change out our remote control. But then after several more calls of apologies and assuring us that they will get to the bottom of the security issue at hand, we had thought that we were finally done being bothered and having issues.
But of course not...
Once I was near ready head out to dinner I heard something at our door, it sounded like someone was messing with the lock. I asked Dave what the sound was, and he looked to find the same remote control exchanging engineer checking our lock - doing what he explained to be a forensic check.
Are you freakin' kidding me...REALLY?!
Without any notification and completely unprofessional. I almost couldn't take it anymore!
Was someone playing a cruel comic joke on us and trying to PUNK our stay??
Arriving back from dinner it seemed as though as was quiet in our room, and at least our door wasn't left wide open.
Come morning, I was refreshed and we were taking some pictures before our departure when once again we were disturbed by calls and engineers wanting to figure out what had happened with our door being left wide open the day prior - but since we were going to be checking out before too long - why oh why couldn't it just wait - why disturb the guest??
And especially a guest who has been disturbed throughout his/her entire stay!
And now the UGLY:
Once we want down to check out, I was fully expecting another apology and perhaps even a break on the bill - maybe a comped room service or something...but no mention was made. Not even an acknowledgment!
And Dave of course had to send a postcard - to which he didn't have a stamp and asked if they could post the card or him. "That'll be 47 cents sir!!!"
Are you effin kidding me?!
Dave was okay with it - I don't quite understand how he can be okaaaay with so much crap? But as we drove away he said "ya know I should've said something...postage for a postcard is only 35 cents!"
SMH,
-T
Umm (tilt of head) WHAT?!?!
Look first they are gonna give away our reserved room - not telling the previous guest that they have to leave because we were going to be checking in and now after all of the stress and this mess and then they have the AUDACITY of saying "NO"!
I'm afraid not - I didn't want it to come to this, but I had to get of the phone and call down to speak to the manager (more like give her a piece of my mind).
Ultimately getting us the more time that we needed.
For goodness sakes...REALLY?!
We aren't paying premium for this hotel to have to deal with this or any type of CRAP!
Next thing that happened was another phone call, letting us know that our original room was ready and should they send a bellhop up to move us. By this time, I was ready, so sure, why not.
We then went to check out our new digs and Dave was finally happy, and I've got to say that this suite was actually nicer than the Penthouse Suite - and it also had a terrace with views that went on forever...albeit wasn't a full wrap-around terrace, but we were both quite happy with Dave's choice is room/suite selection!
Then off we went to go eat and shop until we drop!!
Hours later when we returned to the hotel we had the bellhop help us up with our purchases and up to our room we went...
Arriving to find that our door was left WIDE OPEN - peering inside and wondering if someone was servicing the room, but not finding anyone there.
We did find a bottle of chilled Champagne and a hand-written apology from the manager on the dining table, but not a soul in the room.
We called down to the good ol' front desk to file a complaint and we inquired with the bellhop if he could find out what was going on there. He made a few calls over his walkie talkie and no one wanted to admit to leaving our door WIDE OPEN - have you know with all of our belongings in the room!
THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MAJOR SECURITY BREECH!
Luckily it seemed that all of our belongings were in tact, but this could've went drastically WRONG.
A short bit later, I was finally relaxing and wanting to watch some Olympics, when we find out that our remote control is not functioning!
Oh geez, come on already.
Dave who was quite tired of all our calls and encounters with the front desk had wanted to change the batteries on his own - HELL NO - again, we are not paying God knows what for this stay to have all of this damn crap happen and not complain about it.
We've stayed at some of the most posh hotels around the world, and we've also stayed at some weird motels in 2 horse towns. But guess what...I probably had to call down to the front desk less at the motels (who have to rise to the occasion) than I had to at this hotel - where the expectations were far from exceeded!
After yet another call down, and more venting, an engineer had come up to change out our remote control. But then after several more calls of apologies and assuring us that they will get to the bottom of the security issue at hand, we had thought that we were finally done being bothered and having issues.
But of course not...
Once I was near ready head out to dinner I heard something at our door, it sounded like someone was messing with the lock. I asked Dave what the sound was, and he looked to find the same remote control exchanging engineer checking our lock - doing what he explained to be a forensic check.
Are you freakin' kidding me...REALLY?!
Without any notification and completely unprofessional. I almost couldn't take it anymore!
Was someone playing a cruel comic joke on us and trying to PUNK our stay??
Arriving back from dinner it seemed as though as was quiet in our room, and at least our door wasn't left wide open.
Come morning, I was refreshed and we were taking some pictures before our departure when once again we were disturbed by calls and engineers wanting to figure out what had happened with our door being left wide open the day prior - but since we were going to be checking out before too long - why oh why couldn't it just wait - why disturb the guest??
And especially a guest who has been disturbed throughout his/her entire stay!
And now the UGLY:
Once we want down to check out, I was fully expecting another apology and perhaps even a break on the bill - maybe a comped room service or something...but no mention was made. Not even an acknowledgment!
And Dave of course had to send a postcard - to which he didn't have a stamp and asked if they could post the card or him. "That'll be 47 cents sir!!!"
Are you effin kidding me?!
Dave was okay with it - I don't quite understand how he can be okaaaay with so much crap? But as we drove away he said "ya know I should've said something...postage for a postcard is only 35 cents!"
SMH,
-T
RSS Feed