Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel

We only needed a room for New Year's Eve after going out downtown, so my wife and I wouldn't have to drive home. We paid a little extra for a view of the circle monument, and I was happy with our one-night stay. Nothing stood out as a problem. It's a convenient location with nice views, and I thought it offered a good balance of value and luxury. There are nicer hotels, of course, so I'm not calling it the creme de la creme.

The walls are paper thin, and the hotel is pretty old, though the location is good. What bothered me most was the so-called "fire detector" in every room. It can trigger a smoking fee of $500 plus tax even if you don't smoke. I've heard this has happened to multiple people, and once charged, the false fee is incredibly difficult to remove. They don't ask you about it, either. They just slide the receipt under the door and leave quickly. It's a horrible practice, and they should be ashamed of it. The lounge attendant was the one good feature. He's excellent with customers, and his work ethic deserves praise.

The front desk was great and even gave us complimentary water, and the valet service was on top of things. We got a very good rate through a Black Friday special, but I saw the nightly price had since climbed to over $300, which I don't think is worth it. Parking at the hotel was outrageous, so I used a garage four minutes away instead. The room looked dated, and although the hotel is massive and didn't seem full, they put us across from other guests. We could hear them coming and going all night. At a good discount, it's a great hotel.

For a family of four tall people, the room setup wasn't easy. The two-bed rooms only have double beds, and the furniture looked dingy and worn, though it was clean. The bathroom was awkward too. The lever-flush toilet sits partly under the counter, and I kept worrying something would fall into it while the lid was up. The bathroom fan and the room's HVAC vents were caked with dust and grime. I hated finishing a shower and looking up at that dusty, nonworking fan. We stayed at the Sheraton for the Indy marathon, and it was just fine. The location is hard to beat, but the limited amenities and rooms disappointed me for a four-star hotel at that price. There's no free breakfast, or even coffee in the lobby in the morning. The garage was under construction, so the $55 valet was the only option mentioned. We found nearby garages that were much cheaper, though that wasn't ideal.