Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton

I’ve been here several times for work, usually when the Residence Inn down the road is sold out, or when I’m only staying one or two nights. I prefer the Residence Inn, but this place has some real pluses. The shower stalls are spotless, with good pressure and adjustable settings. Beds are decent and more supportive than most, though I prefer firm ones. There’s a pull-out bathroom mirror with regular and magnified views. The in-house dining is decent, and you can eat at the bar, get takeout, or order to your room. Room service usually takes about 15 minutes and costs 20% plus $5. Parking is on site, costs extra, and has plenty of spaces right next to the property, a big benefit in Clayton. The lobby meeting rooms have been convenient and well appointed when we’ve used them. The side table outlets charge phones quickly, and the shades filter light or block it out. The floor-to-ceiling view, though, is of concrete and parking decks. Some things are just okay or annoying. Refrigerators are available only by request, and some of the floor ice machines are out of service. You can hear the occasional siren and neighbors showering, flushing, or playing music. The Les Meridiens toiletries smell like sage or peppermint, which isn’t for me. There’s one robe, fine if you’re alone, but couples might have to share. No luggage rack, though there’s a bench you can use. The work surface is counter height with a stool, which is awkward if you’re short. The carpeted room has no slippers, so bring your own if you want them. The built-in storage is weird, and normal drawers would be easier than arranging everything like Tetris. The bigger drawbacks: no handheld showerhead, and the pillows are the usual floppy, unsupportive hotel kind. The rooms are dark even with all the switches on, including the bathroom. I’ve had to use my phone’s flashlight to see my face, and a video call is out of the question. Rooms and showers are on the small side. There’s only one hook in the whole room, by the shower, so there’s nowhere obvious for a toiletry bag, towel, coat, tote, purse, or umbrella. They give you no liners in either of the two waste bins and no recycling bin.

La Meridien is stylish, but it didn’t feel very comfortable. The pillows were flat, the ice machine on the eighth floor was broken, and there were no vending machines. The small selection of snacks didn’t offer much. It looks good, but the amenities are weak, so come prepared.

The woman at check-in seemed annoyed that we’d arrived, and despite our Bonvoy status, we were given a room in a poor location. The rooms have been updated, but the decor feels mismatched, several fixtures were loose or crooked, and there’s little useful storage. I didn’t realize when booking that this was the old Sheraton in Clayton. It feels like a tired property that got a rushed refresh. The more I write, the more I feel like lowering the rating to two stars, but I’ll just say the regional team needs to raise its standards a lot.

The location is central, the rooms are good, and the pool and workout room are nice. Food and drinks at the bar are expensive, but the drinks were delicious. I’d recommend the short ribs and eggs, though get a side of bread because the dish is quite liquid.