Homestead Hotel

Elite '09

244

1027

Rachel R.

Santa Clara, CA

6/26/2007

Evanston is cute!  The Homestead is in a great location, easily walkable to the beach, a park, and Chicago Ave with its host of shops and restaurants.  It is across from a gorgeous church, which will add a little oomph to walking around naked in your room with the blinds open (just kidding!).

Street parking can be a pain.  They offer free access to a garage that is one block away, not a long walk but can be painful if schlepping a lot of luggage.

My stay here was not perfect.  They guy who let me in for late check-in was unbearably slow (even though It was 2:30 am and I was holding a baby and saying, "I'm sorry but I'm exhausted...").  No one had made me a room key and he couldn't get the machine to work (he insisted on trying dozens and dozens of times).  He also misinformed me about where I could park (the signs on the street are quite explicit).  The continental breakfast ends at 9:30 weekdays and 10 on weekends, much too early for me on California time.

I first stayed in a "guest room" (the cheapest room).  This is an old building.  The decor is off-white with a boring framed painting and a framed doily.  Even running the air conditioning full time, it was too hot for me (in mid-June).  The cleaning staff was a bit rude.  There was no sign to hang on the door if you didn't want to be disturbed, and it was often difficult to reach the front desk.

Some of the nice touches are a really small TV (i.e. you're going to do something besides watch TV in your room) and a ton of hangers (i.e. they don't assume you're going to steal them).  There was also an empty fridge (which I loved because usually I take stuff out of the minibar to store my leftovers and snacks).

The suites are nicer.  Still with an ineffective air-conditioning, there was a small kitchen that gave the room the feel of your small college apartment.

Then, oh la la, it was on to the one-bedroom suites.  Here you've got modern air-conditioners, one in the bedroom and one in the living room.  Newer toilets.  A couch!  This is a suite you could take up residence in.  Until this room, I had been thinking that the only positive about the Homestead was the location, but here you've got a truly outstanding, upscale domicile.

I would have stayed at one of the cheaper hotels nearby, but they were all booked when I called.

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