Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Amarillo The Ambassador Hotel

[bowserco]

Will use the HOTWIRE link next time (sorry). I just signed up for an account.

3.5* in Amarillo

Amenities:

Airport Shuttle

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurants(s)

Business Center

High Speed Internet

Comments post stay:

This property was the highest star level in Hotwire offered (3.5) for Amarillo, but did not deserve it, in my opinion. I may have done better by picking the 3 star property Hotwire offered instead (at $78). The Ambassador was probably a nice hotel in the 1980s. The lobby and atrium areas were nice (glass elevators, fancy looking atrium, pools, fake trees) but the room was dingy at best, with very old furnishings that looked like they were from the 1970s or early 80s. There were nasty looking old water stains on the suspended ceiling panels below the in-ceiling AC unit, which did not work. Some techs responded quickly when I reported the AC unit not working and they did fix it (in so doing they flushed a nasty looking substance through a garden hose into the toilet). The carpets and doors looked old. I did report to hotwire that the hotel probably did not deserve a 3.5 star rating. I stayed in a 3 star hotel a few weeks ago in another city that was far nicer than this. Someone on trip advisor mentioned the Ambassador was like a very old Embassy Suites hotel -- but without the suites as standard. I agree with this assessment .. nice lobby and atrium with pools but nasty rooms that look like they are in need of a major rennovation. If you go out driving further West on I40 (to the newer areas of Amarillo) you will see newer hotels like Hampton Inn and Drury that look much nicer and newer and would probably offer a better stay experience.

On the positive, the high speed wireless Internet access worked surprisingly well. The included hot breakfast buffet was pretty good with eggs, sausage, biscuits, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, etc. although you need to show a pass the front desk gives you to get in.

The onsite restaurant (accessible via lobby) is TGI Fridays. I did not try it.

I think this is one case where Hotwire apparently inflated the star rating of this hotel, which is 3 star on Expedia. Perhaps they were offered an "incentive" to do that. I would say even 3 star is a stretch given the dingy old rooms. 2.5 star would be more appropriate for this one.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Congratulations on your success!

While perhaps a bit overrated, at least it sounds as if you enjoyed your stay and this property served its purpose for this stay.

In terms of the rating, HOTWIRE often uses the rating of other travel services as a 'base' and then adjusts from there, if necessary, based upon user feedback. While this property is 3* rated by Expedia and Travelocity, it appears to be overrated by Orbitz at 4*... averaging these three gives an average rating of 3.5*, which is likely how HOTWIRE came up with the 3.5* rating (if Orbitz more accurately rated this property even 3.5* i think you'd see HOTWIRE rate this 3*)

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

Thanks in advance for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your future travel purchases.

Hope your future stays more accurately reflect your star rating expectations.