Charlottesville: Omni Charlottesville (May 2011)

My spouse and I stayed at this hotel over the Memorial Day weekend in late May 2011. This hotel has a prime location on the downtown pedestrian mall. The hotel was a bit difficult to find by car, but perhaps relying solely on our GPS led us astray. It’s also difficult to see the hotel entrance from the street, as well as its name on the marquis over the door. An atrium filled with trees and a fountain is quite attractive; part of the restaurant/bar also enters into the lobby, making it a pleasant place to eat or drink. The hotel restaurant also has outdoor seating overlooking the mall. Outside the entrance to the restaurant, complimentary coffee is offered in the morning; complimentary water is offered in the lobby throughout the rest of the day. The hotel has a small coffee shop serving Starbucks products, but it is only open limited hours; the shop also sells items that you may have forgotten and a few souvenir items. Be sure to sign up for the Omni Select Guest program, which delivers a hot beverage and a cold beverage to every guest in your room at a self-selected time each morning, along with either a local or national newspaper. In the evenings, Select Guests receive a turndown, with some sort of small bar snack and bottled water. (We’ve enjoyed this Omni perk for years, and always wonder how long they can maintain this complimentary service for their guests.) Self-parking is free in a covered garage (alternatively, it costs $10 to valet park). We did not get a room upgrade despite having a coupon; the hotel was supposedly sold out because it was hosting a wedding that weekend. (The atrium area featured both an afternoon reception and an evening reception on the Saturday night that we were there, showing that we were not the only people who found the space attractive.) The hotel has a gym and an indoor/outdoor pool. Both parts of the pool are small, but it was nice to sit outside and get some sun and take a dip if the weather is cooperative. (There were about six lounge chairs, and one table with four chairs and an umbrella.) Our standard king-size room was very large and comfortable, but bathroom was quite small and dated; there is barely enough room for one person to stand, and you could not close the door without squeezing past the toilet. The free city shuttle throughout the town stops near the hotel, but it’s also possible to walk to many restaurants and shops on the pedestrian mall. I would definitely stay here again - the location can’t be beat!