[LisaLuka]

Hi, forum friends.

After what seems like a whole day of flying with my 5 year old DS, I got to GC and checked into the Westin at 9pm. The lobby is lovely.

Then they took us to our room, and it was kind of small. So I asked if they had bigger rooms (and offered to pay more) because I'm picturing two young boys in the small space and bouncing off the walls.

The people who work here are lovely, and took us to another room. Which would have been perfect except for the cockroaches that ran out when we turned on the lights.

So they took us to a third room, which is as small as the first one was, but at least doesn't have any visible cockroaches. The carpet is dirty, and the wallpaper is peeling.

I'm not a hotel snob (at least I didn't think I was), but I expected more from the rooms at the Westin. I stayed at the Vista Real last time, which was BEAUTIFUL, but is too far away from the Embassy for a pick up trip.

Anyway, I guess I'm just asking you guys to pick me up. Tell me I'm tired and it will all be okay. Tell me it's only a week, and the lovely service makes up for the not-so-nice rooms. Tell me anything!

Lisa

[mommytoEli]

hahaha......well, i am a TOTAL hotel snob...to the point that i won't typically stay in one. my dh was NOT.....he lived in a third world country a year before we got married and prided himself on being able to sleep ANYWHERE>..then he married me. IF we stay in a hotel now, it will TYPICALLY be a 4 or 5 star hotel....which adds up when you need 2 rooms bc of a large family. lol....but now...he is a TOTAL hotel snob...i converted him! yeah me. so....my words of wisdom come from a true hotel snob, who is HORRIFIED by the conditions i am reading about. ready? you are on your pick up trip! in a short amount of time you will be a forever family......and in a very short week you will be the heck out of there! keep your luggage zipped to prevent friends from getting in your stuff....ask for the room to be cleaned.... take a walk to the drug store and get some lysol ...and then sit back and enjoy your children. you are DONE DONE DONE! look at you in GC on pick up! it WILL be okay. you will live. and if all else fails, after the embassy appointment, you could always move hotels.

[nina107]

Hey, I am at the Westin now! I am a hotel snob. I carry Clorox wipes everywhere. I have not seen any roaches, but am a little freaked out with your post!! I have been a bit disappointed since many on this forum loved this hotel. We will not stay here for pick-up. Sorry about your experience. Congratulations on your pick-up trip. We will leave in the morning. Contact me if you want the rest of my Clorox wipes!
Dawn

[annaguat]

If you do decide to change maybe try Clarion Suites in zone 10. Rooms were larger and it was definitely clean in begin 2006. We used it both for our adoption and for business stay. Maybe some one stayed there more recent and can confirm how it is right now. Congrats on your pick up trip. Sound slike mom to Eli had some great tips incase you stay where you are at. Hugs, Anna

[LisaLuka]

Thanks, guys. I do hope this is better tomorrow and I can weigh my options with a clear head.

To cap off my night, the power at the hotel has been going on and off AND my DS just got a bad bloody nose. I think maybe anything that's going to go wrong on this trip will have gone wrong tonight, and everything will be great once they bring Tony tomorrow!

Lisa

[mamaskoby]

I think when you can get out of the room tomorrow and take the boys to the pool you may feel better! They will love it, and make sure you try the food by the pool, its good.
Glad I wasn't the only one not completly wowed by the Westin. (But the beds are heavenly!)
Have fun with the boys!

[gwenrenee007]

try the grand tikal. The rooms are huge, no roaches that I saw, and the service is great! It is also attached to a mall that you can walk around with a kids area that has a place with "rides" the type you put money in and they move sort of thing. They also have a food court with McDonalds. Lots of things to do and a beautiful pool, although it is indoors. good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy you sweet son!

[w8ting4Thomas]

We stayed at the Vista for our pick up and were FINE!!! I think we met our 'helper' at 7:30 and time to spare!

[myguatbabes]

I am a total hotel snob and I would move to another hotel. The whole roach thing would be more than I could handle!! Sorry this is happening to you on your pick up trip and hope you feel better today!!

Blessings

[asauer]

Hope you feel better and remember, it is just a week. Plus, with two small boys, how much time are you really going to be spending in the room vs. playroom/ pool? Just think, in a few days, you'll be bringing you little one home forever!

[jose'smom]

Personally, I wasn't crazy about the Westin. If it weren't for the great pool (and the fact that I had to stay there) I would have gone elsewhere. We kept busy with travelling so at least I didn't have to stay there much.

[Waiting4Celeste]

I am a TOTAL hotel snob... I admit it! DH's company sends us on fabulous trips where we stay at 5+ star hotels and I basially can't stay anywhere that I don't feel is clean. It doesn't have to be fancy - but CLEAN is non-negotiable!

I would just lay awake at night, freaking that there were bugs on me... I'd NEVER sleep. And that is NOT a good way to spend your first week with your new child.
You don't want to be exhausted.

If this room seems clean - and is far, far away from the roach-infested room - I'd give it a chance. If not - I'd high-tail it outta there.

If proximity to the Embassy is your most important criteria, try La Casa Grande. It isn't a big chain hotel, but when we were there... wow alll the way back in 2002 (how could it be that it's been THAT long ago!?) it was clean and the staff couldn't have been nicer.

I pray you have a good night's rest each night you are there and that things start looking up... or that you are able to move to a new room easily!

[pvanabel]

I am so surprised by that - we have stayed there 3 times and never had any cleanliness issues - I am so sorry to hear this.

[lyssie]

Once you have stayed at the Vista Real everything else pales in comparison...IT is gorgeous! We stayed there in August for our first dd pick up and then at the radisson or something in december for our 2nd pick up...and felt like we were really in a dump-- small room with a Casino in the lobby that got rocking just about every night and the smoke of cigarette and no where to be in the lobby and the pool was straight off of the resturants so you couldn't be shy to swim--but, pais grocery store was right next door and the embassy was close. but,I did wish we were somewhere else.

[lou0728]

I wasn't impressed at ALL with the Westin. The rooms were so small for the price compared to the Marriott. I was just at the Marriott for a week on our PU trip.... I would have gone NUTS in a dirty room. I would get the heck outta dodge!