Allure Suites

Here’s the funny thing: I was debating earlier whether or not to give this a 4 or 5 star review. That was until I ran into the wicked witch of the gulf coast working the front desk this morning. Okay, that might be a little over the top, but it sounds cool so I’m sticking with it.
Here’s what I want you to take away from this review: customer service is enough to kill a good experience.
When we booked our room, one of the main considerations was the continental breakfast. We’re a big family (6 of us), so free food while on vacation is a big deal for us. We checked in yesterday afternoon and the guy and gal working the front desk at that time were both awesome. Super friendly and helpful! I asked about the breakfast and the guy told me that they’re in the middle of switching from a Mainstays Suites to Allure and the breakfast was being discontinued as a result. This was unfortunate but understandable. The guy was very friendly as he explained it which goes to prove that bad news can still be delivered and received well. But he assured me that they still had some oatmeal and bagels that he would put out in the morning so we could at least have something. He even went back and checked the kitchen to see if there was anything else he could throw in.
When we got up this morning, I took the kids downstairs to get breakfast only to find there was nothing there. I went to the front desk and the gal working there was different than the ones from yesterday. I asked her if we missed breakfast and she said she just got there but that the night guy (super helpful dude who assured me there would be food, remember) said they weren’t supposed to put anything out because it’s an active construction zone. Now, it’s true that they’re going through a remodel (there is no branding or signage from either the old or the new name anywhere — including outside. We almost drove right by it and only pulled in because I thought we were lost and had missed it), but I wouldn’t call it an active construction zone by any means. There is a small part of the lobby that is taped off and had the floor tiles pulled up (no doubt waiting for new ones), but not only is there no dust in the air, but there aren’t any construction workers anywhere on the premises. She said they were supposed to post signs alerting us to the fact that there wasn’t any breakfast, but there wasn’t anything posted. When I told her the night guy said he would be putting food out, she changed her story and said that the GM had just called her and told her not to put any food out. I told her I wanted to speak the GM and she said she would have to call him. I said that was fine. She called him and told him there was an upset customer that wanted to talk to him about the breakfast. He must have asked about the signs (which she happened to be holding in her hands) because she said the night guy hadn’t hung them up but she didn’t know where they were. So not only does she lie to customers, she throws her co-​workers under the bus, and she lies to her GM. And she was incredibly rude and impatient the entire time. Like I was impeding her from doing something important. She’s a real class act. She hung up the phone and I said I wanted to talk to the GM and she curtly said, «Well he doesn’t want to talk to you.»
The fact is, this is a very clean hotel in the midst of a brand conversion. With he exception of the gal at the front desk this morning, the staff is very friendly. We got a two-​bedroom suite which has a living room with a small kitchen that is very roomy and comfortable for my wife and I and our 4 kids. There is a Publix within walking distance and Starbucks about a half mile away for your morning coffee. It’s located in a quiet neighborhood. Location is great, price is great, facilities are nice and clean, and the staff (for the most part) are friendly. Unfortunately the classless gal this morning ruined this from being a 4 or 5 star review. Be warned.

Pros:
–cheaper option for Ft Myers, especially during spring break
–in between downtown and the beach
–kitchen in the suite
Cons:
–no character or «charm»
–free breakfast is a joke
–fitness center is… wow…outdated to say the very least
–you get two towels for the week and when you ask for more they look at you like you have three eyes
–no wifi (is this 1995?)
–air conditioner was so loud we couldn’t sleep with it on, even on the low setting
If you come here to be outside, which most of us do, then it’s a perfectly okay hotel. But there’s nothing very alluring about it. (See what I did there?) The front desk staff is very rude, with the exception of one guy. Guy with the retro glasses, we salute you.