The Embassy Suites St. Louis
As much as I have raved about the Cheshire in St. Louis, a reader asked me to check out the Embassy Suites. At first, I turned up my nose. Who wants to go to a hotel that’s like all the rest? But the next time I was in town for an XFL game, I decided to give it a try.
And I have to say, my readers are brilliant.
Parking downtown is a challenge on a good day, and with a professional football game playing right next door, they are even worse. But the valets at the Embassy Suites operated like a team of champions. They were always communicating, strategizing and maneuvering to tackle demand. The service was an extra charge, but well worth it. I never felt my car was out of my reach. I even had Erin use the service when she met me for dinner that night, and the guys comp’ed her time.
Thanks guys!
Again, the front desk staff was very efficient-almost an extension of the valet team although you could tell they acknowledged the coach was out there parking cars. Which I suppose isn’t the worst thing that could happen, but I imagine this would be a little confusing for people who do not speak English as their first language or have other communication challenges. That being said, guests were spaced very well with families and travelers with pets kept apart from others staying at the hotel. I find that always makes for a better experience. I love dogs and babies, I’m just not crazy about hearing them in the middle of the night unless they are mine.
Apart from the common areas, the hotel itself is very quiet. The room was open and well-organized. The sleeping area was separated from the sitting/TV and the kitchen areas. The layout gave some semblance of order to what can often be a chaotic time for any traveler.
The dining area was spacious and clean with a menu that could accommodate anyone’s taste. And even though the hotel’s amenities catered to families, I could see the efforts made to consider adults as well. Take their happy hour receptions which served snacks and soft drinks for families with children, but also had an open bar manned by a bartender who was happy to mix your favorite cocktail or serve you a glass of today’s punch of the day.
Shout out to that girl! She was a pro!
The continental breakfast was also one of the best I have ever seen. The buffet took up two separate rooms and had just about anything you could want for breakfast on the road. The dining area was spacious enough to accommodate hungry guests, but many filled their trays and took them up to their rooms. And in spite of this, I noticed the housekeeping staff didn’t leave a single tray outside a room for more than a few minutes. They were magical.
The price was reasonable given the location and the going rates of other hotels nearby. And having a hotel room right next door to the arena was so advantageous!. Located within walking distance of much of downtown STL, it was easy to walk to all of my favorite restaurants and hangouts. Over and over, I found the hotel was the perfect place to act as base for my weekend getaway
My takeaway: Come for the parking, stay for the breakfast.
