The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park

Check your final bill carefully. Two minibar charges appeared on the TV statement before checkout, even though I hadn’t used the minibar. At the desk, the worker showed me a printout with two charges and only one reversal, but assured me they wouldn’t appear on the final bill. They did. The room cleaning seemed dishonest, and the front desk seemed part of a game to cheat customers. I might have missed the small amount on a business trip if I hadn’t checked, and perhaps even missed it if they’d acknowledged the daily food and beverage credit. The credit was $30 a day as part of my business assignment, and I thought it was a nice perk with the bar and restaurant downstairs. The downtown area is under construction, with closed roads that make the hotel hard to reach. Valet was great, bringing my car promptly each morning, the front desk was welcoming, and the room was moderately furnished. I booked a king but got two queens, which didn’t matter much for the trip. Housekeeping was decent at first, then tailed off in the last few days, with no washcloths and barely any bathroom cleaning. I bring my own, so I didn’t complain. All around, bad revenue management.

Parking was confusing from the start. There were no signs from the street, and after failing to find a place to park for check-in, we entered an open garage and decided to sort out the cost later so we could get to a restroom and dinner. A uniformed person confirmed it was the Plaza garage and said the open gate meant the machine had no tickets, but the deck would provide one. On the third floor, signs marked spaces for Plaza guests. We found a hotel door around the neighboring building, with a sign saying it would lock at 9 p.m., but at 6 p.m. it was already locked. Eventually we found another entrance and the check-in desk. The clerk talked about the smart features and said parking could be validated at checkout or we could buy in/out privileges. We had no ticket to validate, but left it for later since she seemed to be following a script. At checkout, we were told to get a ticket from the attendant for validation, but we drove out without seeing anyone in the garage. The room itself was beautiful, well appointed, and very comfortable, and the guest areas were inviting too. The “smart” elevator setup, where you choose a floor on a big screen outside, didn’t seem smarter or more secure, and means there’s a screen on each floor instead of one panel per elevator. The in-room phone didn’t work either.

The downtown location was lovely, with a cozy, homey lobby and a room looking out over the city lights. The room was adorable and clean, the shower roomy, and the bed inviting and comfortable. I’d give the hotel five stars for comfort and location, but cleanliness gets four because I found a few bits of hair in the shower. We had a great night at the plaza and will stay here again when we pass through El Paso in January.

The staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome and made sure the stay lived up to expectations. The rooms are gorgeous and the property is clearly well cared for. From the doorstep, many of the city's best bars and restaurants are an easy walk, or you can enjoy the excellent on-site bars and restaurant. La Perla is perfect for a sunset cocktail, and if you need to recover after maybe one bar too many, breakfast at Ambar can't miss. This fantastic hotel has a perfect location and can stand alongside some of the best East or West Coast hotels. If you're in the 915, make time to treat yourself at this well earned Michelin Key gem.