I stayed at the Radisson LAX, like most people there, prior to catching an early flight out the next morning. I checked in with no issue and found the front desk helpful and enthusiastic about their SleepNumber beds. So far, so good...until the elevator bank. It took longer than normal for the elevator to arrive, and once it did it was small, and bounced upon arriving at each floor. I figured it was just the one elevator I happened to choose, only to later realize this was not the case.
Having returned my rental car earlier in the evening, and not caring to dare to explore the area around the LA airport by foot (not recommended), I thought I would check out the restaurant fare offered at the Radisson. Much to my chagrin, the Palmira restaurant downstairs off the lobby looked like too heavy a menu with a weak wine list, the lobby bar didn't have enough food, and the heavily advertised "Top of the Radisson Lounge" was amazingly disappointing. So they took the same menu from the Palmira bar, replicated it on the PH floor, (again, elevator issues up and down, one elevator wouldn't allow me to punch PH, the other bounced on the way up,) and the way the restaurant is structured, they created frosted glass walls obstructing views of the runways, and there are about four tables that have a decent view in the entire lounge. Kenny G blaring through the speakers and the weak menu made me leave before ordering to return to the Palmira.
I ordered salmon and it came served on what looked like a hash brown patty (frozen/reheated) on top of frozen corn. They do an incredible job with smoke and mirrors - the decor, lighting and ambiance may lend itself towards an upscale restaurant, but one look at the wine list and a taste of the rubbery shrimp, and I wish I had stayed in my room and ordered a pizza.
All that said, the room itself was not bad. It appeared clean, did not have any funny smells, and was highly functional. The SleepNumber bed was interesting, though not by any means an incentive for me to be persuaded to return. I did not try the high speed internet, and was disappointed the next morning when I received push-back from the front desk upon attempting to check out over the phone. After challenging them, they agreed to allow it and email me my receipt, but acted like it was a chore. I have yet to receive the receipt...
The kicker, and the reason why I cannot fathom a reason to stay at this Radisson again was, you guessed it, the elevators. I mentioned earlier that there was clearly a situation the night before, and there were several hotel staff, even one person claiming to work "for the owners" on the elevator when it was bouncing up and down on each floor, with the doors closing in mere seconds of opening upon arriving at every floor...yet, NONE of the elevators worked the next morning. Walking down the many, many flights of stairs (with luggage in tow) arriving at a door with arrows pointing to it stating "LOBBY" and, at the same time marked with: "ALARM WILL SOUND WHEN OPENED," I took my chances and opened the door. Alas, no alarm. I shot out the door and barely made my departing bus for the airport.
I would not recommend this hotel for the seasoned business traveler. For tourists on a budget, you will take your chances with the facilities, but if you have an early flight out, the actual rooms are clean, it's quiet, the wake-up call was on time, and the front desk staff and restaurant staff were mostly friendly and helpful.
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