WhyHotel by Placemakr, San Jose

The only thing keeping this from five stars was the light coming into the room at night. The building’s outside lights stay on and shine brightly inside. I couldn’t sleep properly during the first week, until I got an eye mask. Blackout blinds would help on the lower floors facing those lights, I was on floor 7. Otherwise, I really enjoyed my stay and will definitely return soon. The apartments are spacious, bright and well fitted, with good air conditioning that keeps them cool despite the big glass windows. The beds and pillows are comfortable, and each apartment has high-end washers and dryers, handy for a 2 week stay. The gym is huge and next level, with high-end equipment and free weights. I used it every morning. The communal outdoor areas on the 5th and 28th floors are fantastic, with gas fires, and the sunset views over San Jose from the 28th floor are fantastic.

The one-bedroom unit was bigger than most one-bedroom apartments in the bay area, and the size and amenities really impressed us. It had a new washer and dryer, plus a few complimentary detergent pods to start with, a new flatscreen TV and roomy walk-in closets. The apartment also had generous couches and tables, a full kitchen with gas burners, and all the dishes, cups and utensils we needed. Highly recommended for either a long-term stay or a more luxurious experience.

It was a pleasant stay, and we’d come back. The apartment inside the Miro apartments across from City Hall looked brand new and had what you’d need for a longer visit. The fitness center was top notch, and the building was nice and quiet. We didn’t have access to the pool area, though it looked really nice. Our view of the parking lot wasn’t the best. The location was decent, with a restaurant due to open in the building; otherwise, it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to eat on 1st or 2nd St. The neighborhood can look a bit sketchy, especially at night, but we had no trouble walking back. We had problems getting the verification codes for the app they told us to download, but they gave us room keys at check-in. This wasn’t a hotel room, it was an apartment.

The bathroom lighting was so good that I could just do my makeup without having to shift around to see different parts of my face. The room was stocked with pretty much everything we needed: detergent for the washer and dryer, soap and dishes in the kitchen, glasses and coffee. The bed was very comfortable, and the location was great too, just a quick Uber or Lyft ride to Santana row for a fun date night. Recently stayed at the WhyHotel in San Jose and found it beautiful and relaxing.