The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection

The drinks were excellent, but the appetizers disappointed me, and both the appetizer and dessert menus were very limited. We came for drinks and bites with live piano, though the piano wasn’t playing for most of our visit. Then, around 6:20, they started vacuuming while we were still sitting there, listening to the music and finishing our time. We’re fine with high prices when the quality is there, but lately it seems to be slipping as prices rise. I’m telling management because five-star prices should come with a five-star experience. The historic building is gorgeous, but it hasn’t been maintained as well as Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The furniture and bathroom were very dirty.

The welcome drink at arrival was a first for me at a hotel, and this was an incredibly cozy place, perfect for a couples getaway. I really enjoyed staying here with friends. I was upgraded to a large room on the top floor, and its old-fashioned feel made it seem like stepping back in time. A very cool experience.

The breakfast situation was frustrating: I asked at check-in whether we needed a Sunday reservation, and the clerk laughed it off. The next morning, the restaurant asked for one and quoted a 25-minute wait, even with plenty of empty tables. The cigar bar is another issue since its doors open onto the lobby and smoke spreads through the whole hotel. Our Saturday night room was freezing because the thermostat didn't work. Maintenance got some heat going, but later it became too hot, and fixing that would have meant calling them again. The maintenance men were nice and said it was an old hotel, but that doesn't excuse a broken thermostat. We paid a lot hoping for a great stay, and I was severely disappointed with the experience at the Brown Palace.

The room stayed hot regardless of what we did with the thermostat, and it took seven tries to reach room service by phone. I paid for a suite and champagne, but arrived to find a tiny room. When I called about the champagne, they said I hadn't booked the right package; they also said I hadn't booked a suite. I showed the front desk my confirmation email. The woman there was very rude and acted as if it were my fault. She did move us to another room, but the champagne never showed up. I eventually got it after a long wait, and it wasn't covered. Do not stay here.