The ENGLISH Hotel, Las Vegas, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 21 and over

The staff were cheerful and incredibly helpful, and made us feel welcome. The rooms are nicely appointed in this small downtown Vegas boutique hotel, about a 15-minute walk from Fremont. The street is mostly quiet, though you can hear the occasional loud bike at night. Parking is tricky because the lot is small.

I stayed here on a business trip and liked that this quiet little Marriott hotel is away from the Strip’s bustle. The rooms are small, but I didn’t have many complaints about them. What really let the stay down was the staff’s lack of responsibility and accountability. I left a couple of items for laundry and clearly asked for laundering, not dry cleaning. They came back the next day dry cleaned, at a higher cost. I would have been happier with a simple “it happened by mistake.” Instead, the front office said laundry is handled by a third party and the hotel wasn’t responsible because they only “partner” with the provider. They told me to contact the laundry company by email or phone myself. There was no third-party name on the laundry record they take at pickup. The service is collected under The English hotel’s banner, and the provider’s name only appeared on the final receipt. The English hotel takes the laundry and offers the cleaning service, but won’t help if there’s a problem. Having to deal separately with another company was unexpected from a reputable chain like Marriott. Pathetic, unprofessional, and unethical. Check the photos of the pickup and final payment receipts.

There’s potential here, but for an upscale experience it’s disappointing and wildly overpriced. I’m in a hotel every week and have never written one of these reviews before, so proceed with caution. We paid $500 a night for something that should maybe be $250 at most. A regular SpringHill Suites would be better, and I wouldn’t spend my own money on this place. Luckily my employer covered it. The AC units had a bright blue light that let me see my fingernail color, so I had to turn off the AC to sleep, or not sleep, in the desert. The shower sprayed water everywhere, soaking the bathroom because of the glass and the shower floor lip. One night there was a parade on the street, and I didn’t sleep at all. My goody bag was a hot bottle of Kirkland water and a granola bar. Thanks for the 50 cent investment in my stay. There’s a lot of stuff here we don’t need for that obscene price. Also, no gym. For a Marriott, I expected much better.

The staff were awesome and accommodating, and I could tell the manager wanted to make changes. I enjoyed being able to go downstairs in the morning and take what I wanted from the table. There were some common snacks that weren’t very healthy, and a few kids’ food items at an all-adult hotel. They did have apples and bananas. Fresh fruit, muffins, and croissants from local bakeries might be better than Costco runs, and could be billed weekly or monthly to save money. I hope these suggestions are taken well so my colleagues and I can see that guest feedback matters when we return. The Arts District food scene is probably the best thing about the location. It’s lively, people are nice, and there are good restaurants within walking distance. There are people living on the streets along the way, so just be a good person if you encounter them. The sidewalks are lit at night, there’s a security guard outside, and the skateboarders we saw were just kids having fun and being respectful of pedestrians. There’s a lot I’d change in the rooms. The mini splits blow right at your head in bed, so turning the bed around could help. The decor is nice, but for this price someone spending hours in the room will want better furnishings than a dorm room feel. The gold look can be nice if it doesn’t come across as cheap. Space is limited, which may explain the bathroom design, but water goes all over the floor when you shower. A better shower pan and maybe a sliding door could prevent damage and repairs. The pan reminds me of a paint tray. The toilet is like a camping toilet and could be larger, though I did like its flush mechanism. The faucets and drains are about due for replacement. There are plenty of black fixtures available, and a boutique hotel doesn’t need every room to match. Keeping the bathroom door shut all the time encourages mold, so a different kind of door might suit the space. Wardrobe hangers have left holes in the wall. Wood panels could cover them and improve the look. The pool area outside my window looked really nice, but it was too chilly for me to use it. Taller trees or plants along the short wall could add privacy and hide the parking lot, and the graffiti should be removed. Housekeeping should check towels and sheets for hair and debris. I found a lot, and it was unpleasant. Maybe white towels aren’t the best choice if those marks can’t be removed. I was also given a key to a room that hadn’t been cleaned yet. I did arrive early on the first day, but check-in should wait until the room is ready. I stay in lots of places during the year, and I think this boutique hotel has real potential if management is willing to make changes. They’ll cost money up front, but happier guests could mean better profits in the long run. These are suggestions, not meant as rudeness or too much complaining. The pool looked lovely, and the staff were great.