Sheraton Birmingham

One of the perks of my wife's business includes top-tier hotel accommodations whenever we travel to a major city. We've stayed at some incredible hotels and resorts over the years and most recently we had an opportunity to experience the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. As the largest hotel in Alabama, it was no surprise to find a wonderful staff. Everyone was helpful and friendly and seemed genuinely appreciative of our business. The skywalk and glass outside elevator provided breathtaking views and the hotel's location couldn't be any better for downtown convenience. If the review stopped here it's an automatic five stars. But when we entered our room the reality became obvious. The room itself was small and somewhat dated, with tired-looking suspended ceiling tiles complete with the iconic white metal grids. There was no refrigerator and only one comfortable chair. The other two were almost like sitting on a wooden bench. What was once a nice view of the Birmingham skyline was obscured by the dirty double-pane windows. The bathroom was tiny ...barely enough room for two people to stand, let alone move around. The undermount porcelain sink in the vanity had fallen loose and was literally dangling a quarter inch below the countertop. With tax and valet, even a corporate rate at the Birmingham Sheraton is easily over $200 for a standard king room. There's a dollar charge for local calls, and if you get the munchies and order up a cheeseburger youll need to fork over $16 plus tip. And for the more adventurous, a bottle of Scotch or Cognac will add another $295 to your room tab. We've stayed at budget hotels along the interstates for $70 that were roomier and nicer. In summary, this is a nice hotel that is simply long overdue for a facelift. It has a great staff that has the right attitude, but the physical accommodations fall short in backing it up.