HotelChatter

Things look cheap. Blown-on textured "stucco-like" walls everywhere, and boring decor; a cross between totally stark, and quasi (fake) Ralph Lauren.

The rooms have a huge worktable for spreading out when on the road, and even a pull-out mobile table. Too bad the phone on the desk doesn't work in any of the rooms, and the Internet only works via wireless right now [Ed note: Um, Dad? Wireless is a good thing].

On the plus side, the rooms have good lighting and decent soundproofing. Unfortunately, the motel-style Amana fan coil units in each room are very noisy (although they are hidden under the worktable and are not visible). The electrical outlets are either inoperative, broken, or missing faceplates...in fact the electrical everywhere looks like it was butchered.

The shower stall in the bathroom has a cheap, plastic pan, and tiling is "plain jane" -- but the showerheads are powerful.

Foolishly designed lobby (looks like it's not finished yet) has only two seats for guests, and a business center consisting of two computers is still "coming soon."

Overall, the hotel definitely needs to get it together, although we were willing to forgive a lot of the issues because the hotel is brand new and we paid only $99 a night for our room.

Yikes. Thanks Dad! Any one else stayed at the new Sheraton Jacksonville? Let us know how it went.