The Dorchester

The Dorchester is an iconic British hotel. I've stayed in it many times. You can't beat the Mayfair location right across from Hyde Park. The lobby is lovely and a perfect spot for enjoying a cocktail or beautiful English tea. But now with the dollar at an all time low staying at the Dorchester has become prohibitive. That said, I decided to bite the bullet, and spend the ridiculous sum to stay where I feel most comfortable. For almost three thousand pounds a night I was shown to a "Dorchester Suite". It's a little snug (under 800 sq. feet) but very nicely decorated and comfortable. There were fresh flowers and a welcome back note from the manager. Here's why I will not return to the Dorchester: there is a 20 pound charge per day per computer in every room and suite. I was there for seven days. Do the math. I find this ridiculously short sided and tacky. So while in London I visited at least a dozen 5 star hotels to see if I could find a suitable replacement. Truth be told not all the suites I was shown were as beautiful as the suites at the Dorchester. But several were and besides having a considerably lower price NOT ONE OTHER HOTEL CHARGED FOR INTERNET. At the end of my week I checked out of the Dorchester and told the desk clerk that I was not happy about the internet charge. He apologized and said it's a frequent complaint but that management was not willing to change it. He suggested I negotiate the charge on my next visit and they would probably cut the price in half. I asked if he would cut the fee in half this time and he said he couldn't. I thanked him and told him there wouldn't be a next time. After years of loyal patronage this idiotic charge was the straw that broke the camel's back. I have booked my next London visit at the Stafford. For almost a thousand pounds less per night I'm staying in a beautifully decorated suite that is larger than the Dorchester Suite and yes, comes with free internet. It's also in a terrific location and has a fabulously cozy and charming bar and the staff I met could not be nicer. And best of all, I won't feel like a schmuck spending a lot of money and feeling fleeced.

Spent half term with the family in London.

Despite the fact that we arrived dragging our suitcases from the underground,we were warmly welcomed with none of the supposed snobbery suggested by some of the previous reviewers.

Two great interconnecting rooms,complimentary champagne and chocolate.

Great position for attending shows in the west end,and even paparazzi waiting outside on our return in the evening-but not waiting for us!

Will definitely stay again when visiting London.

Good hotel but I’m not sure what the hype is about.

Summary:

· Good location for West End

· Great beds and sheets

· Spotlessly clean

· Friendly front desk and doormen

· Overall decoration in rooms needs to be freshened up

· Room Service food wasn’t that good

· Breakfast was ok but a very long way off 5 stars both in terms of the food and the ambience.

A good impression, the hotel is spotless, nice lobby, doorman very helpful.

Reception staff very pleasant.

I booked a superior Queen room as I was staying for 1 night for a business meeting, it wasn’t a big room but it wasn’t bad given I wasn’t staying long. The room was in relatively good condition couple of bulbs hadn’t been replaced but bed very comfortable and sheets fantastic, quite bright and had nice B&O TV. The air con vents face the bed and some people may not necessarily like that.

Bathroom was in good condition and marble everywhere however the bath/shower over felt tired plus they had those rubber mats in the bath when you shower which is good but felt dated and I’m not sure it’s terribly hygienic really. Nice Floris toiletries and great towels.

When you enter the floor from the lift you feel like your transported back to some type of 1950s hotel in terms of décor, but not in a good way. That combined with the rooms which if you like chintz you love it here. But chintz in a 1980s Laura Ashley way. It didn’t feel elegant or bygone era, simply old really like visiting an elderly relatives house.

I ordered room service, which took slightly longer than they said it would, I wasn’t that fussed but hey its 5 star I expect it within 30mins if they tell me that’s what it will be. That wasn’t the worst part though. I felt the food wasn’t particularly good. I ordered a prawn pasts dish, frankly the prawns were well overcooked and like bullets and overall it was bland. The desert wasn’t that much better. I won’t bore you with the details suffice it to say I’ve had much better for lesser establishments.

After room service I went down to the bar but I have to say personally to me it looked like a 1980s night club, lots of black and some bright lights, again it didn’t do much for me personally but some people may love it because it’s the Dorchester.

However the final nail in the Dorchester coffin for me was the breakfast the next morning. After the room service the previous evening I decided to go down for breakfast, its held in the Dorchester Grill. Mmmm it’s a very large virtually windowless room, which has been tarted up, with some gold, tartan and a large flower display. If felt like I was eating breakfast in a well decorated conference all, it had that lack of ambience. I think it hit home particularly as it was 7.30am. Frankly I felt it quite depressing room for breakfast it just didn’t feel right at all. Perhaps it would be ok in the evening but I’m not convinced. However it’s certainly not a good place to have breakfast, the waiter served my food, which he promptly got wrong. I didn’t complain, as I didn’t see the point. I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon both which tasted again bland but given the lighting speed it arrived after I ordered it I don’t believe they made the eggs to order and that also came across in the presentation. Compared to the Connaught, which had a fabulous breakfast room and fantastic breakfast, this was no where near as good.

Overall I found my Dorchester experience quite odd, I wanted to love it, but ended up feeling sorry for it. It needs to be freshened up and someone needs to overhaul catering. Given the prices I’d rather stay in other London hotels.