Hotel San Carlos

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 15 Sep 2011 rated 8 out of 10.

It was fine for the price we paid.

Positives: It was fine for the price.

Negatives: It was a little small, the shower was hot and cold, could hear guest across hall.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 17 Nov 2008 rated 6 out of 10.

Overall I was pleased with this hotel.There was construction beside this hotel. No parking on site. One block away. Clean rooms and friendly staff. I would stay again.

Positives: Location was good and hotel was clean.

Negatives: Internet was down, parking wasn't on the site.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 07 Nov 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

For where I wanted to be, the location was great and the people were nice enough. That said, the hotel is definitely on my 'do not go to again' list. The bathrooms are not clean. They didn't look clean when I got there, and they never got better during the week. The room itself was tidy, but definitely did not give you the feeling that it was cleaned beyond a quick dusting. The beds and pillows were uncomfortable, there was barely room to move, and the chairs in the room were so overused that it was questionable that the seat wasn't about to fall through. They have wireless internet connection, but it was so haphazard that I was unable to rely on it and had to get access via a different means than theirs. The entire hotel seems to be based on the theory that if we are a historic hotel, that's all that is needed. I've been to several historic hotels, and I can say they are not taking care of this one. Looking at their list of amenities, they are not being truthful. They do not have a fitness center - you have to go several blocks down the street to a different hotel and pay $5. That wouldn't be too big of an issue if it weren't for the fact that there are homeless everywhere that are not afraid to come up and grab you to get your attention. They do not have room service, the bar/lounge is a restaurant down the street that isn't associated with them. Shops and commercial services are because they are in a downtown area, but again are not associated with them. Cable is available when they are working - though the televisions are old enough that you might not be able to stand watching the stations anyway because of the distortions and such.

Positives: Location.

Negatives: Everything else. Not clean, amenities listed are not truthful, building is not taken care of.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 03 Sep 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Overall was not great, needs updating, yet I guess that is part of the experience staying in the oldest hotel in Phoenix where stars have stayed. Unfriendly, non-helpful staff.

Positives: Old, historic.

Negatives: They had a party going on and kept going on after the manager said it would end.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 31 Aug 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

This was a hotel that offered the best customer service no matter who was at the front desk. It was a consistently wonderful experience for our entire seven day stay. Traveling on business a few times per year, there are things I like to know about in advance. Like to be sure we will have 2 beds and a refrigerator, and just to make sure things are ready for us. Each and every time I called I truly felt they knew who I was and made sure that I had what I needed. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of Hotel San Carlos's hospitality whenever you are in Phoenix.

Positives: This was a 'we can help' hotel.

Negatives: While good food and atmosphere, the service was a slow.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 29 Aug 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Parking was less than adequate - two blocks away in a parking garage - with hotel valet service that was at best sporadic. Service was slow and the staff was not as polite as is typical in hotels. I would give this hotel a 2 -star rating at best.

Positives: The restaurant.

Negatives: Parking was two blocks away - downtown Phoenix. Valet unreliable.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Aug 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Hotel is centrally located but that is the only good thing about the hotel. Lobby was poorly presented, lifts unkept and room was shabby with a very uncomfortable bed. Overall I would not recommend this hotel.

Positives: The hotel was well located.

Negatives: Hotel was very old and decor was tired and dreary. Lifts were dirty and lobby area unclean. Rooms were very old and beds not very comfortable.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Aug 2008 rated 9 out of 10.

This hotel was cute and comfy. The sheets and room was clean. The bed was comfortable. The carpets, through out the hotel, were dirty stains all over them. The walls were really thin and we could hear people talking outside our door but we expected that since it is an old hotel. The staff was very nice and made sure we had what we needed. It was in a good location and we walked everywhere we went. I would stay here again.

Positives: I liked the history behind the hotel.

Negatives: The carpets looked like they'd never been cleaned and the walls are thin. You can here everything outside your room.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 24 Aug 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

Quaint and consistent with other non-luxury hotels that are part of the Historic Hotels of America roster, it definitely makes an impression in terms of decor and ambiance. But beyond antique chandeliers and ornate wall and window treatments, you start to feel that the hotel is in need of a few upgrades. Elevators are, as expected for an old hotel, quite small and there didn't seem to be a bell hop around to help with luggage if you're the type who needs it (in case your entire party and your luggage won't fit in the elevator together). The hotel's restaurant also looked quite pretty and inviting with the decor being very ornate and the lighting nice and low, but a lack of customers (i.e., none) on a weeknight did not scream eat here. The bar was small but cozy and the bartender was a joy to all his customers. Once in the room, the throw-back feel to a different era is once again there, but with a slight sense that some things need a bit of a polish and dusting-off to bring it back to its former glory. The water pressure was good in the shower, but the temperature was subject to change at-will (it's, not mine). The bed was comfy, but watching the telly proved a bit challenging as it was older (picture was not great) and a slightly unresponsive to the remote. Although I did not use it, the hotel has a small outdoor rooftop pool. At this venue, they seem to unfortunately have DJ-hosted, flier parties, with the words full bar, partial-clothing plastered on the fliers. I imagine this is because the Arizona State University crowd is a stone's throw away.

Positives: Well located - walking distance to sports arenas and ASU.

Negatives: Parking was confusing.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 23 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

This is no 3 star hotel. It looks like one of those run down, skid row hotels in the 70's before downtown revitalization took place. Plasters were falling off the walls in the bathroom, there was a mildew/moldy smell being covered up by artificial scents. I couldn't wait to get out, in fact, when my job was done the next day I checked out and got out as fast as I could.

Positives: None.

Negatives: Everything.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 19 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

I would not recommend this hotel to people whom wants a nice room to sleep. Sleeping in the bed gave me bed bites.

Positives: This hotel is for young college party goers not for anyone whom needs to sleep.

Negatives: It was dirty and unkept.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 18 Aug 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

This is a good hotel for those want something totally different from all the cookie cutter hotels. It was a little small and has keep its vintage style true to form. A hotel built in 1928 with many stories about its history.

Positives: The hotel was styled in vintage 1930's with many of the old style fixtures still in use.

Negatives: The room were small and noise was a problem, pool party could be heard all over hotel.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 18 Aug 2008 rated 2 out of 10.

It's haunted, has no parking, shower heads were falling off the wall with cold showers or hot if your neighbor is showering. Takes along time to shower because of stepping in and out of the hot to cold water. Breakfast buffet was cold. The only thing good about it was that it was walking distance to my job. Next time I will take my car.

Positives: Umm, nothing.

Negatives: Too many to list.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 16 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

This is an historic hotel which is interesting to look at, but not interesting to stay in. There was no ambiance at all. The rooms were 1/2 the size of a normal room and the bath was also tiny. When the sink stopper is linked to a chain and it doesn't look out of place in the room, you know you are in trouble. It was ranked a 3 star along with the Hyatt, Wyndham, etc. Not even close to being in the same category. This is the worst hotel of my experience. Definitely should be downgraded.

Positives: It was interesting to see what hotels looked like in the early 1900's.

Negatives: It was old, small rooms, had a ceiling fan and cheap, hard mattresses.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 15 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

The rooms were dirty, the bath sink had dirty scum in it. The carpets were filthy, the bed linens had long dark hairs on the sheets and bedspreads. The elevator was a small cubical that smelled, along with the whole 2nd floor which our room was on. The 3rd floor had a large pool party with drunk people there that were not even guest. The music was so loud you could hear it thumping on our walls and down the street from the hotel. This is not a 3 star and not nostalgic, it is a dump. Also there is no parking it is all on the street of downtown PHX which is in the middle of a run down area of PHX not a nice place for a hotel.

Positives: The restaurant was close by and ok food.

Negatives: The large groups of young people in the hallways drunk, from the unannounced pool party, they have at this hotel every weekend!

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

This hotel is the oldest hotel I have ever stayed in. The hotel was very dirty. You could not control the temperature of the room. The bathroom was disgusting. The water in the shower would be cold & turn scolding hot without warning.

Positives: Nothing.

Negatives: Far too old & dirty.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Aug 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

They hotel staff was very friendly. I am not satisfied with the hotel I would never recommend this hotel to any travelers. There where huge cracks above and below the doors which did not really provide for privacy bathroom was extremely small water temperature did not stay turned scolding hot. Carpet was dirty. Cobwebs were in the ceiling corners. Lobby was very dirty it had lots of tools and buckets lying all over the place. There was loud music from the pool (which we could here from our room) until past midnight. Those are only to name a few. I just dont agree that it was a 3 starupscale.

Positives: Friendly staff.

Negatives: Not clean, noisy, small horrible water temperature not very spacious rooms.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Aug 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

There were not any noticeable signs outside to direct guest for check in, once inside the very small lobby smelled of fried food. The elevator call button did not work and it was a tight squeeze to get 4 people into the elevator. Although the pool was open, we were not able to use the pool due to public parties. The room was small, the TV produced very poor picture quality. There was no in room thermostat, AC was controlled by the hotel staff. The room had a very small bathroom and the shower head was lower than 6' which means anyone taller than 6' had to stoop to get a shower. Parking was promoted as on site but it was not. There were 2 parking garages you could use, neither were adjacent to the hotel.

Positives: Proximity to downtown venues.

Negatives: Old, antiquidated equipment & fixtures, small, smelly, poor TV reception, lack of in room control of AC.