Arena Hotel

Getting to SAP was easy, just a five-minute walk, but parking fills up fast. I'd suggest checking in at 4 PM rather than later. I was a little nervous after reading reviews once I'd booked, but kept my reservation. Check-in was fast and easy. The front desk staff felt too dry and could've been more welcoming, though they weren't rude. The hotel and rooms smelled clean, and I had no issue there. Everything is very old and run-down, though not dirty. This hotel needs a major update. My tip for the owner is to renovate one room at a time without closing the place.

The rooms are really large, breakfast was delicious and generous, and all three staff members I dealt with were focused on customer service. I loved staying here and would come back without question. It's got an old-school vibe mixed with a new-school attitude, and they've updated pretty much everything, including the carpet, rooms, and entry. The walls are a little thin, but the other guests seemed polite and understood they should keep things quiet. There's a giant jet tub in every room. The beds felt a little stiff to me, though my boyfriend loved them, so that's a matter of preference. If you appreciate the history and the mix of old and new, give it a stay.

At least the room was acceptably clean and quiet enough for the night. The main draw was the convenient spot near the San Jose train station, with a Whole Foods just down the street, and the neighborhood looked good. Sadly, that's about all it has going for it. The place is in seriously bad shape: scuffed-up walls and doors, a dirty courtyard, a TV and air conditioning that worked poorly, and bad smells. We arrived at 1 PM and waited 45 minutes for the supposedly 24-hour front desk to open. They said our room was ready, but wanted $50 for early check-in. We declined and stored our bags instead. It seems like the owner isn't doing repairs or maintenance, perhaps waiting to redevelop the property into something more upscale. If maintenance keeps getting put off, the place may fall down on its own.

The location is great, really close to the arena, and the front desk staff were very nice. But the room hadn't been vacuumed, and there was a bowl of rotten food in it. The fold-out couch was bent up, though the rollaway bed was comfortable enough. A real disappointment overall. If the price were right, I might give it another try.