Hotel Parq Central — Hotel in Albuquerque

I was so pleased to finally have an opportunity to stay here. We were greeted by a very friendly roadrunner in the parking lot. She must have been building a nest, she was busy. Our room was a double facing the lovely courtyard area. Loved that they kept all historical aspects of this former railroad hospital including refitting all the windows and replicating certain architectural details. The room was clean and the beds comfortable. I normally shy away from the provided soaps and lotions due to scent concerns. These were refreshing and not over-powering. The shower had a nice high shower head and I didn’t need to crouch with my six foot self. The breakfast was lovely with great coffee and a choice of inside seating or a spot on the patio. We could hear some freeway noise which we were clued in on at check-in and we could not hear any of our neighbors. I believe the design of our room was such that the bathrooms were next to each other and not my neighbors tv hung on the wall behind the bed. On the other side was a stairwell which no one but us used so perfectly quiet. I believe the place may be haunted, as is my own home so I wasn’t surprised when my covers were tugged on a couple of times. My husband noticed the same. We had two dinners at the rooftop restaurant and enjoyed some local beers with it. Service was friendly and the atmosphere really pleasant. The hot tub was a nice touch and so were the rocking chairs. One evening we just sat outside listening to the music and watching birds. We had no trouble parking. My one and only small complaint was there was no coffee on two of the four mornings out in the little coffee bar area. They set out one pot at around 7 am and if you aren’t out there right then you go and get it at the breakfast room. Maybe check on them as my husband doesn’t bother to get up until the crack of 9 and I’ve had two cups by then. Mostly I’m just lazy overall and it didn’t hurt me to run down and get it. And the coffee was way better than those horrid in- room pots at other places anyway. We both really appreciated fresh ice water to refill our bottles, tea and coffee always available in the lobby or close by. We loved the little glimpses of history in the decor. Fun things like old keys and hotel memorabilia in shadow boxes and a framed depression glass plate in our room. ||Here I’ll address some negative comments with which I don’t agree. I don’t picture myself to be the Lady of The Manor wearing white gloves and fainting and needing smelling salts to recover from the site of a single dust bunny or a tiny chip in a tile when I travel. Lives are apparently upended and unbearable for some at such things. I choose not to go there. Until my home can be visited successfully at any hour of the day by the full entourage of Downton Abby ladies I’m going to give some grace to hard working people doing their best at many business establishments. I’ve got some chips in the tile at my own house and so far I’m still alive in spite of that. A chip or a piece of dust is available at almost any place you go. Don’t sit and complain to some poor person at a front desk that’s probably doing four jobs at once about the most minute thing you find in a diligent and intense white glove inspection in search for military perfection. If it’s a flood or not a single scrap of bathroom tissue ok that’s different. If it’s the tiniest spot on the tiniest corner of a sheet, trust me there are much worse things out there. I didn’t notice one single thing that looked out of place or that needed attention. I’ve seen some complaints that wastebaskets weren’t emptied and beds not made. We were told at check-in very clearly and with no question in my mind at all that if you’re only there a couple of days there’s no housekeeping unless you request it. We were told that all we had to do was ask and the best time to let them know about the request was when you went to breakfast. I’m guessing the complainers chose not to listen to those instructions. We were only there for four nights and were absolutely fine without a made up bed or new towels every day. No one makes my bed and hangs up my towels at home and if it’s helping save on some costs that’s fine with me. Yes the neighborhood is right on the edge of good and not quite as good, and this is a city and like most cities there’s some good and not good around every single corner. Folks, there are unhoused people in every city of the world and no one is going to bother you unless you bother them. The reality is if it bothers you to see people humbled by life’s experiences who are less fortunate than you are my advice is best just stay at home where you’re insulated from it. Or maybe donate to a shelter or organization so there can be more services to help available. That said I felt safe the whole time we were there. ||We are planning to go back to New Mexico in July and I would definitely recommend this place based on history, location, beautiful courtyard and rooftop restaurant and kind people working there. Everyone from guest services to wait staff to the team keeping the parking lot and courtyard clean were cordial. The man who checked us in gave us a brief history of the place and a postcard as a souvenir. It’s...

I thought about this for a while, and I decided that I needed to take the time to write to you in regards to our recent stay at your establishment

We were greeted by a pleasant staff with smiles and the helpfulness that cannot be undercut.

However, here it comes. While our stay was good, I cannot give it an outstanding rating for the following reasons.

I called an spoke with your staff prior to booking. I asked about food and was told that the bar did in fact serve “snacks and small” food items. I was told that there would be a breakfast service in the morning until 10AM. I was told about the ice and “coffee service” on each floor” I guess the main short coming of your hotel is in fact the food service. We went out and about the town and decided to come back to the hotel to have a drink and snack before retiring. Upon arrival in the bar, we were told immediately as we got off the elevator that the “kitchen was closed”. We found out at that time that there were not even vending services for a snack.

I really don't understand this. A bar can increase profits and the staying time for customers by simply having what I call finger food up until closing. The next thing is the consumption of foods helps absorb and breakdown the alcohol so a client will not be “as intoxicated”.

So, the following morning, we went into the breakfast area. Two young ladies were standing behind the counter next to the juice. That was all they did. They stood there while I looked for something to eat and never offered a piece of information about the service. I even attempted to as if they had anything “hot” for breakfast. Both young ladies looked at each other and continued their conversation. I still have no answer.

I have found that many quality hotels do in fact serve a breakfast. Some of the more up-scale inns even offer the simple “waffle” service while others offer a “breakfast line” of precooked items.

I found that a cup of coffee and a “hardened danish” not to be at the level of your hotel.

I find that with the ratings of Diamonds and the rate of charge that is in place, that a hot breakfast would be something you would offer. Also, I would think that while you do cater to families with children, that some type of food service or room service would also be in order.

Next, I need to comment on the room. While the first impression of the room was outstanding, once settled into the room, the tear in the carpet could not help but to be noticed. That along with the carpet in need of a good steam cleaning just pulled on those stars and made my wife to comment that perhaps we should write a letter to you.

We meet up with family friends for the weekend and it was in fact my recommendation based on my phone calls to your staff and research on the internet, that the Shields Family and my wife and I stayed at your hotel. It is not regretted, but the standards seem to be slipping away.

I hope that you take this note as “constructive” criticism and not as a complaint. I would just like you to know that the thought of food in the bar, a hot breakfast, coffee bars, which were never stocked, are compliments that could relax a customer into overlooking the other small items.

The final item that I would like to suggest. While at your hotel, there were two functions or three on site that attracted a number of vehicles. This caused a displacement of parking for the hotel guests. As a disabled individual, I found myself parking next to the boiler room and walking to the main hotel due to the absence of designated parking. I made mention about this at the desk, because three of the vehicles did not display a placard or plate. It would be considerate if you could suggest or direct attendees of these events, a birthday, engagement or shower, have “reserved parking” in the parking annex next to the boiler room as they are not going to be transporting baggage to the buildings.

SO, the SUMMARY OF MY REVIEW IS SIMPLE. OVER PRICED and living on an OLD REPUTATION AND RATING, think twice about looking at this...

I’m not sure how to put the amazing experience we had staying at Hotel Parq Central (HPC) into words. We spent a week staying here in one of their well-appointed suites while visiting our son, who is a student at the University of New Mexico. Although the purpose of our trip was to visit our son up at UNM in his dorm and to get to know the city a bit, we ended up with so much more because of the warmth, professionalism, and personal attention paid to us by the lovely HPC staff. Before we even arrived, Jeremiah helped us figure out many logistical details in advance of our trip — and over the course of our stay, I was continuously impressed by how personable, helpful, and knowledgeable Jeremiah was about anything and everything. Upon arrival we were greeted by Katie, who is one of the sweetest and most human people I have ever met in the hospitality industry. These traits are topped only by Katie’s refined hotel management skills. She makes things look effortless, and always took the initiative to reach out and help me when she saw me struggling with — well, with anything from making a fresh pot of tea or coffee to helping me find and then plan an amazing experiential birthday outing for my son: going on a three-hour private jeep tour of the rugged Rio Rancho desert and Sandia mountains, customized to his interests — scoping out places to shoot his new films, photographing the gorgeous desert and mountains, and hiking around some of the historical sites, petroglyphs, and ruins of ancient cities. It was Katie’s initiative, determination, and desire to not just meet but exceed our expectations that made this experience come about. (More in a separate review of the NM Jeep Tours!) Okay so now we come to the breakfasts, which are included in the cost of the room. How lovely it was to wake up to THE most amazing coffee, brewed fresh constantly from their exclusive HPC blend! (Which I have to ask them if they sell, it was so rich and good.) Then freshly-baked homemade scones, muffins, croissant, pastries, and a new addition the last couple of days: banana bread made by Chanice, a truly sweet and caring member of the kitchen staff who went out of her way to make our breakfasts special — as did Luana and Richard, all adding to our experience by offering tips about things to do and see in Albuquerque as they brought out plates of steaming hot homemade frittatas to our table. Fresh fruit, yogurts, cottage cheese, cereals, fresh juices, and toasted bagels and muffins completed the daily generous breakfast spreads. It is self-serve, and although there is ample seating inside, most guests take their food out to the tables on the sunny patio outside the dining area. We sat outside every morning, eating breakfast then lingering on the patio to relax next to the fountain to enjoy the sun, the garden foliage, and the serene atmosphere in the hotel at this time of day. garden enjoying the morning sun, and So what about the rooms, you ask? They are bright, airy, spacious impeccably clean, entirely renovated with lovely glass-door modern showers and the crispest white luxury sheets (Frette) and comforters I’ve seen yet in a hotel. The pillows seemed brand new, plump and plentiful and encased in crisp, clean, white Frette pillowcases. The decor is modern New Mexico, paying tribute to the historical building that was renovated to creat this outstanding luxury hotel. On the first floor, a lovely sun room and business center beckon. But I think the aspect that really clinched this as the best hotel in Albuquerque for me is the rooftop bar and deck, where you can go for Happy Hour or after dinner to relax with a drink or dessert. The views are gorgeous, and you can see the city, the mountains, sunsets, everything! Thank you Hotel Parq Central for making our trip into something...