The Hollywood Roosevelt

Half of a week we were here, the pool and area is out of bounds due to events. This is a huge disappointment so be careful if booking this hotel. Hotel guests are not even to,d about this. The rooms are ok but lack storage. Location is central. Won’t be coming back.

I’d be careful when you book. If there’s an event (like FIFA, Hollywood Bowl, etc.) they will close the pool (to guests) so they can generate revenue from “special events” around the pool several times a day. $200-ish a head for events and “watch” parties (10am-noon, 2:30-5:30, and 7:30 til whenever). Guests need to get wristbands from surly security types stationed around the property. What are they watching? Mostly each other, drinking, and absorbing at least 100dB of beats from banks of 1500W speakers. Hearing loss anyone? You’ll be leaving the property to get away from it. Our 4th and maybe last visit - we basically had no time around the pool to enjoy the usually excellent service and F&B. Which anyone will tell you is a big part of THR experience. Bummer.

I've always wanted to stay here and did so last weekend. Pros: Beautiful, vintage hotel, great, helpful, friendly staff, price not too insane, great a/c and comfortable bed. Cons: No signage for parking while checking in, no signage for front desk, most chaotic check-in ever of my life, HUGE cockroach in the bathroom, no bedside lighting, valet $75.00 daily, food so-so, automatic 18% fee added to all food and bar tabs without any notice, $35 destination fee (not noted anywhere on making reservation or at check-out), promised e-mail of bill that never arrived (had to call accounting to get one). At check-in lobby ,filled with tons of people waiting for a third party event at the pool. Gate keeper for that wouldn't let me go to my room after check-in (it was by the pool) despite having the front desk clerk with me. (He finally relented after I showed my room key and he banded me!) So, probably not again.

We have stayed at this Hotel 3 times before and enjoyed its elegance and fabulous service. This last visit was a total shock and we will not be returning. One of the best features, aside from its historic relevance, is the pool. We were not able to access the pool. It was sold out to third party vendors Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you wanted to go to the pool on Sunday, you had to buy a chair ranging in cost from $200-$1000 from the outside vendor! It was bottle service only. It was 11:15 in the morning. I spoke with the food and beverage assistant director and she said, “What? Didn’t anybody text you about these events? No…nobody texted us about anything related to being shut out of the pool during our stay. She responded with, “ Well, this was just booked this week.” I assume she was referring to “bottle service Sunday” hosted by a third party World Cup Vendor. She pointed out a cushion, part of a display bench, that we could sit on if we wanted to stay at the pool. There were two more “events”. We were asked to leave the pool at 2:30 on Friday, no access on Saturday and Sunday was previously discussed. I thought about the families who could not play in the pool. It was hot this weekend. Not a hotel anymore. It is now an event center and there is no warning. Room service was fabulous. The food is good. The bar is good. The pool is a nightmare and you can’t use it anyway since it is sold out to third party vendors limiting guest access.

Everything was exactly what I was hoping for. The room was tidy, the bed was comfortable, and the hotel felt very well maintained. I would definitely consider staying here again.