The Fairmont San Jose was a great deal at the room rate we had ($160/night) for a nearby conference and expo. My room was large with a proper work desk, loveseat, chair and plenty of floor space. The bathroom was large and clean, as was the closet. I also really liked that there was a separate WC room and a vanity area outside the bathroom, which makes it easy for multiple people to get ready in the morning.
I found the lobby lounge lovely with really friendly, down-to-earth staff, as was the onsite restaurant, the Grill. I also had very pleasant service from the front desk, concierge and housekeeping.
I didn't try the pool, but the gym was above average for a hotel. The location was also perfect for easy walking to the convention center and many Downtown restaurants.
However, a few things should be noted that keep me from giving this a higher rating:
1. The trash bin was not empty when I checked into my room, though I saw no further evidence of poor cleaning throughout my stay
2. The shower stall was a little small for my taste. i would rather have given up the separate shower and tub than have something this size.
3. There was a weird smell in my room sometimes. Kind of like sewer, to be frank. I noticed this same smell wafting along First Street during parts of some days, so I think it's not the hotel's fault, but rather it just gets sucked in to the ventilation system when the wind blows a certain way. It wasn't constant or strong, but any hint of such a smell is really unwelcome.
So, all that said, I think the qualification I first made - for the room rate of $160 - makes a difference. I don't think this hotel is worth $200+
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