The Cardinal Hotel

The location was the only upside. During my week here, I rarely slept more than two hours a night. People shouted in the alley until 1 or 2 a.m., often employees hanging around after the restaurants closed. Then very loud wholesale truck deliveries and dumpster removal started at 4 a.m. I told the front desk about the shouting and was told they’d speak to the people, but it kept happening late every night. Losing that much sleep hurt my productivity on a work trip, and I won’t stay here again. The hotel is old and things didn’t work, including the room phone. The TV stopped working while I was trying to wind down. The room was hot, the overhead fan kept clicking loudly, and the floor fan they provided didn’t work. I had to leave a window open to avoid a stuffy room, which made the alley noise even worse. There’s no soundproofing either. I could hear every footstep upstairs. When I asked to switch rooms because of the noise and problems, they had no alternative or other way to help. There’s no gym, which I hadn’t known when the room was booked for me. I usually try to stay fit while traveling, so that was a major disappointment, though I might not have used one after all that lost sleep. I’d rather stay 30 minutes away than deal with this again, and I’ll tell work to book me somewhere else.

I’ve stayed here twice, and both visits were wonderful. The rooms were clean and nice, and the heat worked great. There’s no AC, but I don’t think you need it in this area. It was chilly even in June when I visited last year. The downtown Palo Alto location is so convenient. Restaurants and cafes are just steps away, and Stanford is close enough to reach on foot or by Marguerite. The staff are attentive and helpful. On my latest visit, front desk staff member Yadira Cruz was especially lovely, kind, and helpful. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in town.

Location’s the one advantage. The corridors and rooms both smelled bad, and after my stay I had to wash even the shirts that had been hanging in the wardrobe. There’s no air conditioning, fridge, kettle, or gym. Staff didn’t react when I arrived or left. I won’t be back.

At 101 years old, this historic hotel feels like a home away from home. There are queen, king, and double bed rooms, including options with shared bathrooms. Breakfast is complimentary for stays in rooms with a private bathroom. There’s no air conditioning, but a station offers hot and cold water along with a variety of teas. The hotel is very clean, and the staff and housekeeping are attentive. The shopping is great and there’s amazing food on every corner. Parking is a pain, though you can buy a pass to use the city hall garage across the street. You can also request a private refrigerator and coffee maker in your room for a nightly fee. I felt very safe here.