Hotel Citrine, Palo Alto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Parking was the one real hassle. It's valet only, but the attendant wasn't consistently there. When I arrived by car, the lot was empty and I still couldn't park; I was asked to leave my number and wait for a callback. The rooms themselves were clean and modern, with comfortable beds, a good shower and Nespresso machines. The terrace is beautiful, and the service was friendly. I'd happily return, especially for a business trip.

Breakfast from the bar's sort of restaurant was disappointing. The huevos rancheros arrived cold as takeout, and the bagel with cream cheese had been microwaved instead of toasted, so it was hard by the time I ate it upstairs. With menu prices around $20-30, I'd rather take the car and eat elsewhere. The WiFi is another problem: room service is awful for a four-star hotel, and the lobby signal is weak too when guests are online. Guest-citrine access wasn't good for me. Ask the front desk for the micro-palo password, which worked much better.

Gio at the front desk really went out of his way to help us with small things, including takeout silverware, scissors, and a few other requests. He was hustling to get everyone what they needed quickly. We were in town for a concert at the nearby amphitheater, and the valet was also fast and friendly. We texted for the car, and it was ready by the time we got downstairs. We'll stay here again next time we're in town.

For the price, I expected more from a place advertised as a high-end boutique hotel. It misses some pretty basic amenities: no bathrobes, even though they're listed, and the towels are very thin and old. There weren't any bottled waters in the room, and none available to buy either. You can get a lot more for your money elsewhere.