The Ray Hotel Delray Beach

“Mixed bag - nice style, but service flaws”

My feelings about this hotel: Mixed bag, I have to say. Lovely design & style of rooms and public spaces in the hotel, a very friendly and efficient team at Valet & Stingers, however only some of the receptionists were welcoming, and at the Rooftop Bar & Campi restaurant I really had a very bad ser… Mais

My feelings about this hotel: Mixed bag, I have to say. Lovely design & style of rooms and public spaces in the hotel, a very friendly and efficient team at Valet & Stingers, however only some of the receptionists were welcoming, and at the Rooftop Bar & Campi restaurant I really had a very bad service experience (I was ignored for more than 40 minutes, when I wanted to order food, and again 50 minutes, when I wanted to sign the check; ignored by several waiters/waitresses + the check-in manager at the entrance, rushing by and never looking or intentionally looking away, including the one who had come, told me his name and said, he'd be there for me; this, although it was not superbusy; lots of empty tables and seats). The night before I had dinner there, and it was more or less the same feeling: Some seem to think it is "chic" or maybe New York style to never look at potential guests or people at the tables, because they might make you work, and maybe even expect a smile? That afternoon, I also saw others stand up and go and get their checks, too, when they were tired of waiting. I liked the downtown vibe of The Ray, however, my room was so-to-speak in the front yard of one of the St Patrick's Day bars, with a very happy (and noisy crowd celebrating late into the evening). Had I known that the city has St. Patrick's Day activities going on during my stay, I'd probably asked for another room right upon my arrival. The receptionist would have known, I guess, but apparently forgot to "warn" me. My room was also on the same floor as the banquet room (2nd floor), thus most of the time I had to negotiate my way around carts with glasses and other stuff the party folks need. The room as such was big, however housekeeping was a bit lax: No refills of coffee capsules and water on the 2nd day of my stay. And a kind of door in the wall kept fallen into the room. I put my suitcase in front of it, to keep it from falling. The terrace of my room was actually really big, but had only two chairs, a sofa round the corner and a lot of dust. I did not spend much time there. I would have loved to spend more time at the pool, which unfortunately is much too small when the hotel is booked by party people, who sit in the water and drink during the day and dance the night away in the banquet room at night. I could not get a sunbed, and the pool service person was gone for a long time. When he eventually showed up again, he kindly offered to put me on a waiting list. Well, in the end I gave up. So, in a nutshell, I'd say: service at The Ray Hotel could be improved in most areas, and a friendly smile would not hurt. I loved, however, in every respect Akira Back's restaurant. Best service, ever, and delicious sushi. Whereas my experience at the Italian restaurant (Campi ?) was more than underwhelming: After learning that my reservation was not for 2 but for 1 - my cousin had to cancel last minute - I was given a tiny table in a rather dark corner, which was quickly produced from an even more remote corner and which was not set up - no napkins, no light, no olive oil, no plate, no cutlery on the table. Only one chair was produced - also from a corner - whereas the beautifully laid out table for 2, that supposedly had been mine, had I shown up as a couple, remained empty; very impression; the food was good, though. Akira Back I recommended to my foodie-friends in Ft Lauderdale. It's definitely worth the ride.

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