Hotel Keen — Hotel in Palo Alto

The best thing I can say is that the hotel is located incredibly well, and it was clean. However the positives end there, and you should save your money and find somewhere else to stay, if you can.

The stay went downhill immediately after check in. I walked into the room, and it felt like the heat had not been turned on in months. The room was actually colder than the hallway. When I turned on the heater, it did not work. So, I tried to call the front desk, and phone was not working or connected. I then had to walk down to the front desk, but alas, no one was there. After waiting several minutes, the lovely young woman working the desk offered to move me to a new room (on the first floor, unfortunately) and offered that they knew the room's heater had issues.

The second room's heater worked in the evening, but died the next morning. About the room, it's small. I get it. I've been in small hotel rooms in New York and other places, but there was no room to get out of one side of the bed, and the room's amenities are spartan, save for a bottle of Smart Water. The window looks straight out of the county prison, and maybe it's best I couldn't see what was out there.

The crowning moment, however, occurred when I turned on the shower to heat up the bathroom. The steam set off my smoke alarm, so I called the front desk, but no one answered. They finally came to my room, did not apologize, and laughed it off as a common occurrence. Really?

The hotel tries to overcome the basics by offering a high-design feel and play hip, but it's stripped of any real luxuries. This property is a motel, not a hotel. There are no services, no amenities beyond a spartan breakfast. It's more akin to a Motel 6 than anything else. And while I get Silicon Valley hotels are expensive, it did not warrant a $400/night price tag. This was a $150/night at best.

Good luck to anyone who stays here. Maybe it's better in the summer. But I have to imagine the AC won't...

The location of Hotel Keen is its number one selling point. Its in the heart of Palo Alto. Having visited for a work trip, and having an office in Palo Alto, walking to/from the office was great. Its also right on the border of the Standford campus, so you can walk to the campus and go for a run/etc. Location can't be beat.

The rooms are very small. Think NYC or Japan style rooms. They're about 10'x12' total. Its VERY small, though I actually liked this as I dont need much and it had everything I needed. For one person this is a great sized room and gets the job done.

Rooms were clean for the most part and I wasn't skeeved out by anything really.

So why the 4 star and not 5?

The toilet ran if the handle got stuck (every time) - I notified maintenance and they're fixing it The paint was peeling in the bathroom Part of the shower, near the door runners was quite dirty The outside of the toilet (bottom part) hadn't been cleaned in awhile (seems like they just miss it) No Iron in the room, so be sure to request one. They said that each room had one, it did not, it had a clothes steamer that, when used sets off the fire alarm. Lastly, and most importantly, they run on shared hot water. If you take a shower at peak times (6am-9am) you're rolling the dice if you're going to get hot water. One day I had a luke warm shower, the other day, a somewhat cold shower. While this is not the end of the world and I think its good for resilience to take cold showers, not everyone agrees with me so its good to know. Take a shower at night or super early in the am or mid day? Then you're fine - so I know its a shared hot water situation.

Would I stay here again? YES. If I'm going to Palo Alto again for work or just a solo trip. I'd absolutely stay here as the location is prime. Just be aware of some of the issues. They staff is helpful and responsive and will get you what you need, but as with anything - its not all puppy dogs...

This hotel is so out of place in Palo Alto, it is an absolutely terrible place to stay. You can literally hear everything going on around you... The doors, walls, and floors do nothing to deaden the sound. I can literally hear the person's phone on the desk in the other room on vibrate. I can clearly hear when others have the TV on, and I can make out every word in a normal conversation. I can hear every footstep of the people above me.

The climate control does not go low enough for my liking, and it blows air like an asthmatic through a straw. It makes next to no noise, so I can't use it to try and sleep. I've been forced to play white noise on my phone at full volume to not be woken up for every little noise.

There is no Do Not Disturb sign, so I cannot prevent housekeeping from making up my room. Housekeeping rearranges my personal items, which is unacceptable.

The water pressure, well there is none. The shower is the least effective shower I've ever used and it takes me at least three times the amount of time as a normal shower at a normal hotel. There is no bathroom door, which is just unacceptable.

The "breakfast" is 5 pastries and 3 bins of cereal sitting on a counter near the front desk. It's very clear the front desk area has flooded because the floor is very warped, moves when you step on it, and was never properly replaced.

The bed is one of the least comfortable beds I've stayed on. It has almost no give, and feels a bit lumpy.

There are a couple nice things about this hotel: The internet is fast, I'm using it to type this review right now. The pillows and bedspread are nice. It is in an amazing location. But this doesn't justify the cost of this hotel.

I am here twice on a business trip, and I have unfortunately booked it again for my next stay already using a platform that does not allow cancellations. I will be avoiding...