Fontainebleau

I'm back at the Fontainebleu after a year since my last visti. Both trips are for business conferences. In less than 2 hours I was reminded why I would never spend my own money to stay here. I had lunch by myself at La Cote in the hotel. The restaurant added an 18% tip "for my convenience". How nice of the management to help itself to my money.

When I was hear a year ago the staff set a new level of incompetence by losing my car - yes my car. I valeted it when I checked in. One night I wanted to drive it to Miami and the valets could't find it! It took them 2 days to figure out what they had done with it. Thankfully they found it in time for my scheduled check out.

The hotel is beautiful but the service is lacking and all the fees are a ripoff. They charged me to sit in a chair next to the pool! Apparently being a paying guest isn't enough to get to use the pool. Everywhere I turn there was a fee "for my convenience".

27/8/08 - Refurbishment was meant to finish in mid-2008, but is still underway until end Oct 2008, and we were woken daily by drilling at 7.30am. Outdoor gardens and pools not usable due to Building work being done, however there are 2 pools on 4th floor of Sorrento block, and 7th floor of Tower, which are outdoor. No restaurants are available yet, just a small Breakfast bar open in the lobby in the morning, which becomes the only Hotel Bar in the evening. Staff are most welcoming and the finished bits are very very smart. Only given a $30 day reduction for all this inconvenience for 3 of us, for the 3 days booked directly with hotel- nothing for the 4 days booked with Hotels.com- Car valet parking is expensive at $30 day, but no alternative.
I hope we can afford this place when its finished though, it will be spectacular- we just feel a bit conned as expected it finished.