My first stay at the Embassy Suites chain of hotels was more than a decade. Then, as a young working adult, I was always placed in tiny hotel rooms. So it was rather refreshing and memorable for me when I get to have a big room back then.
16 years later when I return to Embassy Suites, nothing much has changed. When I stepped into Embassy Suites at San Francisco Airport Waterfront, reminiscence of my early work life returned. One would have thought that the hotel chain would have updated its look. But not in this case.
The Embassy Suites at San Francisco Airport Waterfront is currently undergoing a major overhaul. Most of the rooms have been refurnished with a new coat of paint and soft furnishing. The rooms on the lower floors are still undergoing the changes. Despite being assigned to a new room, I can’t help but to notice the change is minor and the dated feel of the old Embassy Suites still remain.
The room is very clean with newly upholstered sofas, new carpet and new bed linens. However, on closer look, the wooden furniture is still the same except with a new cost of vanish. I’m not particularly fussy over the design this time because I’m just staying for a night before I head to another city the following morning.
Embassy Suites - Bathroom
If there is something good about the room, then it must be the Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries in the bathroom. But other than that, the bathroom is just basic and functional. It’s a bit strange that the hotel doesn’t provide facial tissue in the bathroom.
Embassy Suites - Living Room
The gym on the ground floor serves its purpose and has the basic equipment. And it’s located just next to a decent lap pool. There is a small but cosy hot tub just besides the indoor pool. To use these facilities, you need to go to the front desk and request for a different set of card key. Apparently, the new environmental-friendly card key to the room doesn’t grant you access neither to the pool nor gym.
The small but functional gym
The only restaurant, Grille 150, is decent but don’t except anything fancy. The service is generally good and pleasant.
The hotel provides free shuttle bus services from the airport to the hotel with a couple of stops along the way. The service is regular and one shouldn’t have an issue catching it unless there is a huge crowd of people checking out all at the same time.
Two words to describe my stay, simple and functional. No complaint but not overly impressed as well.
Embassy Suites
San Francisco Airport – Waterfront
150 Anza Boulevard, Burlingame, CA 94010
www.embassysuites.com
