The Tulsa Club
Some hotels are distinctive as a brand. Others are distinctive in spite of it. Take the Tulsa Club Hotel. Part of Hilton’s fancy Curio Collection, the hotel is located mere blocks away from several swanky restaurants and the Mayo Hotel. With streetside spaces a commodity, finding parking can be a challenge. There is a parking garage nearby, but with the valet service only a small upcharge, it would certainly be worth it during peak hours.
And that concludes the monetary savings you will find staying at this hotel. The cost of the stay was a little on the pricier side by Tulsa standards, no doubt based on its Deco District location. Dining and room service was also on the finer end, as was the price.
While the architecture and design of the building are impressive, it was the hotel staff (valet, front desk, waitstaff and housekeeping) that really made my stay feel like a value. They were fantastic, very friendly and approachable.
The establishment felt very secure. I never saw less than three hotel employees within immediate view of the front door even during the late evening hours. With space to accommodate large family meals and traveling business workers alike, it was clearly designed with multi-function in mind. The dining area was incredibly spacious, offering plenty of seating, light and tables. And plenty of electrical outlets, an all-important necessity.
The bar area on the other side of the dining area was equally private and accessible. The bartender was knowledgeable and well-versed in classic cocktails and wines. Her smoked old fashioned was a showstopper! Prepared in a glass display case, the applewood cold smoke filled the drink as well as the other customers’ attention.
The room was spacious and organized well. The bathroom was large enough to accommodate multiple guests or a wheel-chair/walker. The space around furnishings could do the same-without having to be a specially designated handicap room. I really like that. Except for parking tags, no one likes being labeled like that.
The different lamps and overhead switches were a bit confusing and required a bit of a scavenger hunt for switches and dials. There was a slight learning curve for the shower as well. And the view from rooms on our side of the building were of the exterior wall of the building across the alley-private, but not exactly scenic.
The room was secure, offering two separate door locks. The TV was spaced well for viewing from the bed or other seating. The bed was solid and sturdy.
The amenities weren’t anything to write home about, a couple travel-sized soaps you would find at any other establishment. The iron and hairdryer were ho-hum and the coffee pot and coffee samples were also not exactly up to an exclusive hotel standard.
Shout out to the Club Quarters: I still dream about your coffee maker.
Perhaps the most interesting amenity was an umbrella left in the closet with a card that read, “We are here for you.” Farther down the card in smaller lettering was a notice alerting guests who chose to actually use the umbrella that they would be charged $28 if they took the umbrella and didn’t return it,
Or returned it wet. Hmmm…
One detail I found peculiar was the noticeable absence of ice buckets in the rooms-which appears to be a hotel policy. In its place was a card instructing guests to call down to the front desk if they required ice and one would be brought up. While visiting the bar, I noticed a stack of ice buckets sitting on a window sill at the bar. They appeared quite average-looking, so I’m not really sure what the added supervision and security were for.
My takeaway: Stay to the Mayo and get an ice bucket.
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