The service in America is funny - for an Aussy it does seem that people don't really want to help you in the USA. No different at the Peabody. But then again, you don't really need it. I was there for 3 nights for business, and it was a pleasant stay.
ROOMS: The room is BIG. I was in a standard room, for $150 USD per night. There was a huge beautifully comfortable bed, with a separate couch, sitting table a desk and ample space for all you need. The pillows were beautiful and they had some selections. The room was very clean. No decent view from my room, but not to worry. There are 2 huge windows which let in a lot of natural light during the day. The decor is definitely a little bit older than any modern hotels. If you've ever stayed at the Windsor, Melbourne, you'll know what I mean. But all in all, not too shabby. There are about 90 channels, so by the time you've scrolled through them, the show you were watching on channel 1 has changed! With no real guide, its impossible to know what you're going to watch. No big deal. The TV was a big 42 inch TV with average picture quality.
BATHROOM: Huge - a combined shower/bath (Which sucks in general) was workable, with a 2 layered shower curtain so you don't mess up the floor everywhere. The marble was very well maintained, and there was not a hint of dirtiness. Amenities were very good, but like most hotels - no toothbrush/toothpaste...I gotta start remembering to bring those one of these days. There is a little convenience store on the ground floor of the hotel open early and til late, so you can get bits and bobs from there no problems.
SERVICE: What service? Not much to speak of. The only ones who try to show you service all expect tips. Not common for Aussies and feels a little weird and uncomfortable. But its the custom.
PROXIMITY: Central to almost the entire Memphis city. A short walk to anywhere, so don't both cabbing it. You can get to all the blues and jazz cafes a couple of blocks down.
And then there are the DUCKS! There is a ritual everyday when 4 little cute ducks get walked down a red carpet to a massive crowd packing the lobby and into a water fountain where they play all day until they get marched back upstairs to their little home. Get there at 1030 for the ducks to walk down at 11 if you want a spot to actually see them and take some photos. Upper deck vantage points are not worth the trouble - you won't see much. They go home around 5pm. Equally packed.
Double good is the proximity to Memphis' famous Rendezvous restaurant which serves special dry ribs (a specialty there) and boy do they taste good! not open sunday and monday nights I found out with dismay.
Included breakfast is a bit crap. Just a few bits of bacon, powdered eggs, filtered average coffee and that's about it. Your best bet is to eat heaps of the fruit there...also tastes quite tasteless compared to australian fruit. Don't be suckered in my any deals with breakfast included. You could go down the street and get a better breakfast for $5.
Overall, the Peabody was a very pleasant hotel. Definitely would stay there again. Would I go back to Memphis? If not for business, probably not. Not a lot to do there unless you are there mid may for the festivities (They pick a country every year and celebrate it with copious drinking and ribs) and then the Ribs cookoff competition. I got there the weekend after, so everyone was a bit worse for wear I think.
Hope this helps!
hotel reviews