Grand Reserve at The Meritage

We had a good stay, and the facilities were nice. The property doesn’t have much curb appeal next to an office park, and the rooms could use updating. We came for a concert, and the on-site venue was really great. All the hotel staff were very friendly. The front desk was hard to reach when we found used water bottles in the room and wanted to replace a dirty ice bucket. They never brought a clean one. I was charged a $100 pet fee, which was fine, but the dog bed and bowl they brought looked dirty, so I didn’t use them. I’d visit again for a concert or a quick day trip or weekend away from SF, especially for the nice adults-only pool.

Our stay fell well short of what I expected at The Meritage Resort and Spa for $390 a night. On arrival, the room didn’t seem clean or properly maintained. There were hairs on the bathroom floor and stuck to the shower walls, visible mold on the tile, and soap scum on part of the shower. The floors felt grimy, spider webs were tucked into ceiling corners, and surfaces had layers of dust. Both rooms we were in had stained, scratched, blemished vanities. Walls, baseboards, and doors throughout the rooms and hallways had dings, scuffs, and smudges. Everything looked worn and like it hadn’t been maintained in a while. I’ve stayed at much more modest hotels with far better standards. For a place marketed as upscale, this was a serious disappointment, and the value just isn’t there. I can’t recommend The Meritage based on our experience. Cleanliness and maintenance seemed badly neglected. I spoke with Mr. Toby and wasn’t happy with the interaction, so I asked for his supervisor. Mr. Sam wasn’t available, and I left a note asking him to get back to me. TBC

We stayed one night, and the room’s balcony, comfortable bed, and Illy coffee setup were real pluses. It was cozy and well equipped, even though the hallways had a bit of a corporate feel. On arrival, we got complimentary sparkling wine and valet, and the lobby offered coffee or water. The staff were super friendly. The fitness centre had everything we needed, and the grounds were beautiful. They also provide turndown service with water, chocolate, and anything else you might need. I’d highly recommend it. It punches at the top of its four-star rating.

There was no one at reception for check-in, so we had to go across the street to their “sister hotel.” The website mentions valet and bag service, but nobody was available. We parked around back by the kitchen, since there was no one to show us how to reach our room. We asked for room cleaning and nobody serviced it. I travel all over the world, and this was the lowest-budget service I’ve experienced.