Lifts were like something out of the twilight zone!

After the disgusting service at check in we had the pleasure to go up in the slow , dark lift and you’d think you were going to a scarefest during halloween.

grubby, sticky surfaces, dark and dated decor, gloomy elevators and corridors, and a lobby that smells faintly of cat pee.

Dated hotel rusty room fixtures, close kitchen as and when they like so no guarantee of food - room left unserviced for first three nights only two towels in the room for this time

Can only use stairs in the evenings to access room as lifts are used by the public to get to the roof bar instead

-Service wasTERRIBLE, chef refused to make ONE vegan meal (apparently best they could do was hummus)
-I watched some people get greeted and get the elevator

I mean we couldn’t even open the elevator; he did it for us.

The only thing I didn't like was the bad elevator.

Worried about the elevators because they seemed a bit squeaky.

Only one cramped service elevator worked.

It has a unique structure and all the details down to the old-fashioned marker indicating what floor the elevator was on, which we never got tired of looking at.

The guest elevator was not working and we had to take the service elevator which was dark and scary. 8.

In addition, the elevator was out of order.

Apart of This, the two elevators were out of orden.

Only two elevators, and late in stay only one was working (unfortunate).

I feel the website gives off the impression this hotel is elegant, funky and classy - I didn’t feel this vibe at all, and the hotel is in need for a serious up lift in terms of decor.

The only  really  off putting aspect of our stay was the fact that there is a  club scene at the top of the hotel and  the clubbers actually use the  normal hotel lifts which become  boisterous and noisy.

Elevator saturated by the customers of the very loud bar on the terrace just above our suite.

The security guards were especially kind and considerate to move us to the front of the elevator line on Saturday night, and we witnessed them handling a drunk and disorderly guest with extreme professionalism.

Service at the front desk was rude upon checkout, people coming off the elevator loud.

Location is perfect walking to all of the Santa Monica pier fun.

Excellent service, great location, fun vibe.

He made two stops for me to get some fun Bachelorette Decorations/gifts.

It’s so beautiful, fun, relaxing, and everyone has been beyond welcoming.

It attracts a fun, diverse and international crowd.

Stayed here four nights, part for work and part for fun.

The vibe was fun, dining/lounge area was clean, food & drinks were delicious, and management was superb.

I wanted to find a place for us to come together the night before in peace and serenity yet in a fun and happy surrounding.

The hotel has a cool rooftop bar which has a fun buzzy vibe and delicious cocktails!

We had a few beverages on the rooftop at the bar - fun times and in the lobby bar.

After sunset we went up to the bar on the roof and continues the fun.

Friendly staff, excellent location, free water!

The only best thing remaining is the location.

Such wonderful staff and perfect location!

Great location with most the rooms with see view and terrace, the hotel deserves some renovation

A lovely atmosphere and location mix to make a memorable and relaxing stay.

Kind and absolutely friendly staff, wonderful location near the ocean, the famous Santa Monica pier and Venice beach.

Great location for walking about Santa monica, super professional staff, lovely pool area, tasty food at pool, cool upstairs bar and deck for sunsets and views.

The location for Santa Monica beaches, pier and shopping could not be better.

For the location & amenities & value , this was a 5 Star !

The hotel itself is in a fantastic location, we walked to many local cafes and restaurants.

Great location, beautiful pool area, great for both family and couples.

The vibe is so relaxing, the location is unbeatable--every room has a view.

Then, on the night before our departure we requested an extra hour’s grace on checking out.

I confronted her the next morning and asked her why she treated me that way and she claimed she was still learning how to use the system, which makes no sense, since she knew how to use the system to check in my co-workers 10 minutes after me.

When we asked to speak to a manager, the front desk person called his supervisor - Sherita Young, guest services manager - who refused to speak to us and hung up on us.

Floor was filthy (even after we asked to have it mopped), doors/windows/shades not working properly, fireplace not working, patio dirty, bed and sofabed very uncomfortable.

Being on the first floor, this was also a Handi-cap Room (which I didn't request), meaning that the bathroom and shower had no visible separation.

Also no one asked about vaccine stuff anywhere I went so I don’t know how safe it is to be there.

When we arrived we asked the valet parking guy to let us parking our car due to pandemic concern.

We were allowed two coffee pods and were refused extra when asked.

I called the front desk asking where I might be able to find a microwave, and they asked like I was asking if I could borrow their car keys.

but Expedia shows you the room of your request.

When I asked her why she didn't tell me when she knew, she said she was going to

Housekeeping did bring us a sponge and liquid soap after we asked. 3.

but she only asked us and then she talked to me while rolling her eyes and just being outright nasty!

I asked if that’s what she needed to do, and she stated no.

I asked if I could be compensated for the downgrade as I did not request or need a 2nd room.

A huge annoyance about the weekend was that I asked for a wakeup call at 4am Sunday.

Our requested room wasn't available due to water damage

I asked for another room and the other option was just as bad.

Came out by pool and asked the waiter for a drink menu.

After the shower problems, we had asked to change rooms and we were told that that was not possible.

Once we had checked out we sat in the lobby on two separate occasions and were able to listen to the way that the staff on Reception and the doorman for the rooftop bar dealt with people coming in off the street and that really wasn’t impressive either.

The pool area was great and the roof top bar fabulous for watching the sunset with a delicious cocktail.

The staff was extremely helpful, pool and rooftop bar are beautiful.

It was cool having access to the rooftop deck, the staff at the rooftop bar was very friendly and hospitable.

The hotel is an attractive art deco building, with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor, and a rooftop bar ideal for viewing the sunsets.

The roof top bar was definitely a highlight

We utilized the onyx rooftop bar, room service, and their restaurant downstairs for breakfast.

From the lobby, to my room, the elevators, and even their lovely rooftop bar.

The views from our suite and the rooftop bar were amazing.

The rooftop bar was a great place to meet people while watching this unset.we will be back!

Views are crazy and the sunset from the rooftop bar was incredible.

Make sure you spend one night at the rooftop bar.

This was confirmed by Reception at the time.

I was greeted very well, staff took my bags and lead me to the elevator.

The staff was incredibly friendly and the room was really nice.

The service at the reception desk is amateur, the welcoming at arrival is totally absent.

but nonetheless it was clean and helpful staff!

All the employees were really guest relations focused and did a fantastic job of it.

The staff are very friendly and do everything to help.

The staff were lovely the restaurant staff need replacing

though was the Chief Concierge Adrienne Miley - wow!!

Thank you Shanghai la staff we had a great time and will return!

The staff are untrained and unqualified to be in the service industry (except the Valet, who was extremely friendly and courteous).

The staff also messed up on the check in process and then harassed us messing up our experience.

The food is really nice and the staff is friendly and tried to help

The Hotel Shangri-La served up a pleasant and very accommodating experience for my family (two kids).

I have recently just stayed at the Shangri-la Santa Monica after visiting San Fran and Las Vegas and was very much looking forward to ending my holiday at the beach in a beautiful hotel facing the ocean after enjoying the amazing sights of my precious two stops .

After a rough check in experience as the hotel had no booking for us we were upgraded the following day to 2 stunning rooms with the most amazing views!

Had a fabulous 3 night stay and we loved our Art Deco ocean front room complete with jacuzzi bath.

even though they open (but don't have safety retainers, so they bang and blow in the sea breeze).

She went as far as to make sure we had an OCEAN view for our special trip!

Highlights were the friendliness of the staff, spacious room with kitchen (nice to have breakfast in after several weeks on the road), and the rooftop deck with great view.

Lovely and spacious, clean and great sea view.

Our room had a wonderful view, 2 bedrooms with a large living area and kitchen.

Great locatioon and very helpful staff. Ocean view form my (every?)

The hotel is right on Ocean Avenue, so you can see the sea from most rooms.

It has the BEST views of the sun setting so try to go up and snap a photo if you can.

The Deluxe Ocean View King Room had a very picturesque view, with palm trees and the beach just across the street.

The room we had was enormous with a wrap around terrace overlooking the pier.

Loved our one bedroom unit with kitchen, spacious bathroom, and beautiful ocean view!

The final straw was when mosquitoes entered the room because of the open windows and we left the hotel at close to 5am.

On opening the room door , a dark cold wooden floor , dirty , stained thick curtains that you cannot even buy at a rag market anymore , broken glass panels on the wardrobes , a safe that has probably been produced in the 1960s ( you need to enter your code 4 times for it to open ) , white dim depressing lighting , hangers in the wardrobe that are broken.

the windows are rusty metal frame, and have not been cleaned in years,

The furniture was old and outdated, the floors were dusty and dirty and the windows were dirty and couldn't be opened.

The windows are single paned ( as you would expect in an old building)

My room was next to the public lavatory for reception guests, the room had no light since an open  curtain would expose me to people walking by (ground floor, facing street).

I think my window was actually painted shut on the outside.

The floor and windows and desk were dirty.

but had been screwed closed and the old shower curtain that used to hang in front of the doors were gone with hooks left in the tracks.

The rooms are average size, clean and modern except for the dirty old windows and frames.

but could use a remodel; TV not working, cracked windows, curtains not working, rust showing due to proximity to ocean.

Curtains in the bathroom / shower had mold on them

I’m not sure you can appreciate the dust on the shelf and window through the pictures

Hotel Shangri-La

window

elevator

request

staff

view

location

Original room was 93 degrees upon check in, the air conditioning unit was poor by anyone's standard, we asked to switch rooms.

When arriving at the hotel (at 3pm for check-in) our room was not ready, the First Lady we spoke to at the desk (a manager I think) was very unhelpful and basically told us to wait.

we arrive at the deskt to do our check in, we were just waiting in line and the manager was just standing there without saying anything, like "Give just one second i am into something or so" he was just sitting, from time to time watching his computer till I finally step up and we could make our checkin.

but unfortunately they fell short and we ended up checking out early.

I had reserved a room a week before checking in, there was no reservation on file

but when you’re told at time of check in, the hotel has you where they want you and you don’t have any options but to stay in a small room.

Upon arriving in my room there was a giant rip in the seam of the carpet and the room was insanely dusty.

We found hair on the walls of our shower and toilet when we arrived.

When I arrived, I went to the front desk 4 times in 5 days.

I had paid for early check-in and overnight parking.

They need to stop checking in people to rooms already occupied at least at 10pm.

I called the day before we arrived to ask questions, and he not only gave me wrong information,

When we checked out and went to get our car it had 2 busted out windows and the 3rd window was severely cracked.

From our person at check in not telling us about breakfast or coffee in the morning to some general rudeness from the upstairs pool/broken shaker staff about my towel, and getting a reservation.

Lastly cleanliness ohhh man, the rooms were never cleaned unless checking out or checking in occurred, bathrooms were only touched on, no towels beside e one you get when checking in after that good luck finding towels.

The room I booked was not available when I checked in so I had to take a smaller room.

Due to our late check in, we didn't experience the pool,

but never offered to park the car, asked if I was staying, etc), checking in which took 15 minutes, rude staff, very small room that smelled and the window was super thin and didn't close completely so it sounded like I was on the street (after opting for one of the 'nicer' rooms).

He didn't say even 1 word to me during check-in.

but I will go into that in a few momments) she yell at us asking us "wher did we get this card as it was from another room".

Also $50 dollars to park your car there overnight when there is a car park round the corner that charges $10 was extortionate.

I’m still waiting on the refund to my card for the amount they pre authorized which was more than the final cost.

I had to call and have the charges reversed.

And who ever is charge of the music playlist is the real MVP.

So i called down to the desk and the nicest man came all the way up to my room to help me get in, and give me a new key card.

At night, they lock the elevator area and you need to use your key card to access which makes me feel safer.

I was charged a room deposit of $50 which has still not being refunded

but I was charge for valet when I don’t even have a car.

It was so dark, with a dark door and trim, that I could not see where to scan the card.

I was a little shocked to find out that i had been charged for the water cartons in my room, as it is generally expected that you get free water.

If I had not shown up, they would have billed me.

This is unfair to charge for something you never enjoy.

the barista made a snide comment about how quickly I ate my croissant; check out staff so slow that I was late for a meeting (see below). The ugly: there was an unwarranted cafe charge on my bill of $54 (!!!)

There is absolutely no way these conditions are recent and I can’t even fathom how a place can charge so much without fixing glaring problems like this.

After wasting around 20 min a day to use the elevator (really sub-par and unbelievably stressful due to age and to the fact that they turn off some of the elevators at times), we finally left on the 12th (not before being charged a miscellaneous $35 dollar fee because of our packages, which I was more than happy to pay just to be gone soon).

The breakfast charge also has not been removed.

The final straw was the fact that the hotel double charged me for the room and a holding fee equivalent to the room plus £100.

But it was mostly the Sahara like environment of the hot room.

Would 100% recommend for the views, the state of the art rooms, and local connections 

The room we got moved into was lovely, and there were amazing

Upon explaining the situation to the manager, he called over four security guards even larger than myself as a clear intimidation tactic where they tried to gaslight me into believing that I had caused a scene on the roof deck and had verbally assaulted their staff.

but it was adorable - kids loved the bunk beds & I love the old Art Deco building :)

The mattresses and pillows were pleasantly firm and the design was on point (I say this as an interior designer).

Very unique chain filled with taste that can suit various style preferences.

We loved our room; the design and the decor were unique and the amenities were generous.

It has more of a HI type vibe than a boutique hotel vibe, very young crowd and weed smells everywhere.

The lobby interior was rich and warm with lots of space to hang, work, meet up, and/or grab a coffee.

The Sunday DJ was amazing and it was a great vibe.

I am on a healing journey my mind body spirit and soul 

I am balancing my life and moving forward

all is well good energy and good vibes 

diversity culture with people from all walks of life

at the freehand.

Love the design of the hotel has like a vintage look .I like it has valet services, because it does get tricky looking for a location to park you're car.

Handsome design, with impeccably clean, comfortable room.

Freehand has a well thought interior design.

The hotel itself had a great atmosphere, was close to everything I needed, and the staff were kind.

It is chic, the restaurants are nice, and the lobby is lovely.

Close to everything downtown, close to Whole Foods, Target, central library etc.

The GM and his staff should be applauded for this gem in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.

made our night by upgrading our room with a view of the downtown skyline for the same price.

It's located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and is only about 2 miles from the Dodgers stadium.

It was the perfect place to stay as it’s downtown LA, close to a lot of restaurants, museums and such.

Convenient  location downtown, great for being in the thick of it .

LA down town was a blast, LA seee you soon again.

I’ve stayed at numerous downtown hotels and like to try new ones

I have tried almost all the hotels downtown and Freehand is my favorite.

I was looking for a nice hotel with a nice view of downtown and this one met my expectations !!

Central location in downtown LA, easy to get to/from airport using the Flyaway bus from LAX ($10) to nearby Union station and then a cheap uber to hotel, instead of a $70 uber directly from airport.

Tourist Scavenger hunt, Los Angeles Downtown, Pacific Town Car Los Angeles, Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, Yampu Tours, David Di Acupuncture, Lindy Loft, Mrs.

It’s right in the middle of downtown LA, and the lockers are the perfect size for carry on luggage, and there was still room for 2 more backpacks if you have any.

Amazing experience Stayed in downtown Los Angeles got a great view of the city lots of social events in the area friendly staff amazing food and drinks on the rooftop bar easy to easy access to get in and out will be coming again

This and the ACE hotel downtown are the two best affordable hotels in the area.

I totally recommend this hotel and bar for a quintessential downtown LA stay.

This was a fun and quirky hotel downtown.

That made me feel extremely safe since we are in the downtown area.

and constantly in use because of the rooftop bar so it took us waiting for a few packed elevators to get up and down to the hot AF rooms which probably added to our level of frustration.

Only complaint was elevators were small and slow.

We paid extra for late checkout only to have our keys stop working at noon so we couldn’t access our room or elevator, and no one notified us of this.

Didn't like the wait times for the elevator/small elevators.

(And as a side note, there was a private party on the rooftop, and all the elevators were being used, so I walked up the stairs to my room, only to find out my key card was not working. Bummer.

Of the three elevators, only one worked as it should.

What made my stay a 5-star rating was that when we were coming back from the bar across the street around 2AM, there was an extra security door that you needed to go through in order to get through to the elevators.

The hotel is terribly understaffed and so you have to wait awhile to get help with the front desk, which isn’t such an issue until you are just trying to go up to your room and the door to access the elevator is locked & you must ask a staff member to let you up.

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